Max Verstappen sets storming pace in FP1 of F1 Belgian GP ahead of race-winner Oscar Piastri, as Alexander Albon was third.
In a weekend where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be forced to a 10-place grid penalty, the Dutchman came out all guns blazing after his storming 1m43.372s lap in FP1 of F1 Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps, which was 0.531s lap quicker than P2.
It was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in second, fresh from his first F1 win in Hungarian GP. Williams’ Alexander Albon surprised with a quick first and third sectors to be third in the order, to drop the two Mercedes cars to fourth and fifth.
It was George Russell ahead of Lewis Hamilton, where both had a moment during the course of the session. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was sixth from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who did not have a great feel in his car, to be 0.957s behind the Dutchman.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was eighth which included a lock-up, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll rounded out the Top 10. His teammate Fernando Alonso ran 11th but was pipped by Deadpool and Wolverine-liveried Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
The Spaniard had to settle for 12th ahead of Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, who started his FP1 session after a spin to bring out the yellow flags. Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas was 14th from Williams’ Logan Sargeant, who looked to be in a good shape.
The other Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was 16th after not feeling in-sync, with the Haas pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen only 17th and 18th, from Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu, who rounded out the 19 runners.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon didn’t manage to set a lap time after a suspected water leak. In terms of the PU elements, Verstappen and Tsunoda will take their fifth ICE with Ocon and Albon on their fourth for the F1 Belgian GP weekend.
The two have taken up their fourth TC, MGU-H and MGU-K, with the Japanese driver taking his fifth. Tsunoda also took his third ES and CE to make it a full package. Here’s PU elements list: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Belgian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20New%20PU%20elements%20for%20this%20Competition.pdf
Here’s F1 Belgian GP details
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact