Verstappen leads Hamilton in first practice at Spa, Mercedes struggles
Sky Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 12:40 PM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Max Verstappen finished first in the initial practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, with Lewis Hamilton closely following in second. Verstappen's time of 1:47.070 was 0.145 seconds faster than Hamilton's. Mercedes faced difficulties as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell placed sixth and eighth, respectively, while Red Bull showed strong performance with Isack Hadjar in fourth. Teams prepare for the second practice later in the day and qualifying scheduled for Saturday.
- •Verstappen tops the timesheet, showing strong early pace.
- •Hamilton finishes second, with Charles Leclerc in third.
- •Mercedes drivers Antonelli and Russell lag behind in sixth and eighth.
- •Isack Hadjar positions fourth, representing Red Bull's potential.
- •Second practice is set to occur later today.
"Max Verstappen was surprisingly fastest from Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes were off the pace in first practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
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