If you ever needed a reminder that Formula 1 is a sport of perpetual reinvention, look no further than the opening act of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps, that ancient cathedral of speed and rain, delivered a Free Practice 1 session that was less a gentle warm-up and more a slap across the face with a wet tire blanket. Oscar Piastri, the championship leader with the face of a choirboy and the heart of a streetfighter, topped the timesheets for McLaren, while the rest of the grid scrambled to decode a session brimming with surprises, technical intrigue, and the sort of Spa-specific chaos that makes historians like myself reach for the archive keys.
The Numbers Don’t Lie—But They Do Tease
Let’s start with the cold, hard facts. Here are your top ten from FP1, and yes, you may want to sit down for some of these names and gaps:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:42.022 | 23 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.404 | 28 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.504 | 19 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.576 | 25 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.906 | 19 |
| 6 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.957 | 21 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.063 | 20 |
| 8 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.090 | 17 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1.098 | 21 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +1.100 | 21 |
For the full results, see the official session report at F1i.com.
Piastri’s Statement Lap: The New Normal?
Oscar Piastri’s 1:42.022 on the soft C4 compound wasn’t just quick—it was a gauntlet thrown at the feet of the establishment. In a session where most teams spent the first 40 minutes fiddling with new aerodynamic upgrades and praying to the Spa weather gods, Piastri’s late flyer was a reminder that McLaren’s resurgence is no longer a subplot. It’s the headline.
McLaren driver and F1 2025 championship leader Oscar Piastri set the pace in FP1 at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
PlanetF1.com
The Australian’s lap was not a fluke. McLaren’s MCL39, sporting a new low-downforce rear wing, looked planted and eager, especially in the middle sector where Verstappen’s Red Bull was visibly struggling with understeer. For those of us who remember the McLaren-Honda years (and still wake up screaming), this is a renaissance worthy of a Netflix documentary—though, mercifully, with fewer PR platitudes.
Red Bull: New Boss, Old Problems
If you thought the only drama at Red Bull this weekend would be the absence of Christian Horner, think again. Max Verstappen, Spa’s local hero and perennial favorite, was second fastest but nearly half a second adrift. The RB21, festooned with a new front wing and revised sidepods, looked quick in sectors one and three but lost time in the twisty middle sector—a classic Spa conundrum.
Verstappen was losing time to the McLaren in the middle twisty sector while faster in the first and last sectors, his RB21 running a low downforce setup.
GrandPrix247
The new team principal, Laurent Mekies, watched as Verstappen alternated between new and old aero configurations, searching for a balance that never quite materialized. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, without the latest upgrades, languished in 18th—a stark reminder that in F1, not all cars are created equal, even within the same garage.
Ferrari: The Suspension of Disbelief
Ferrari arrived at Spa with a much-hyped new rear suspension, tested at Mugello and whispered about in the paddock like a state secret. The result? Charles Leclerc was fifth, nearly a second off the pace, while Lewis Hamilton—yes, still in red—was seventh after a wild moment at Les Combes and a bumpy ride through Eau Rouge.
It doesn’t seem that Ferrari’s hyped rear suspension seems to be working for now, or the team are yet to get their head around setting it up properly for the SF-25.
GrandPrix247
Hamilton’s session was further spiced up by an impeding incident with Gabriel Bortoleto at Eau Rouge, a moment that will no doubt be replayed endlessly on social media and in the stewards’ office.
Mercedes and the Rise of Antonelli
George Russell quietly slotted into fourth, while rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was sixth—just a tenth behind Leclerc. For a team that has spent the last two years oscillating between hope and despair, this was a quietly encouraging session. Antonelli’s off at La Source was a reminder that Spa is no respecter of reputations, but his pace suggests Mercedes may have found a future star.
Aston Martin and the Rookie Revolution
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, both testing new front wings, were eighth and ninth. But the real surprise was Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls rookie, who rounded out the top ten. In a session dominated by veterans and world champions, Hadjar’s performance was a breath of fresh Ardennes air.
Williams, Sauber, and the Midfield Shuffle
Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, was hampered by a fuel system issue and could only manage 11th. Alexander Albon and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) were next, while Nico Hülkenberg and Liam Lawson completed the midfield. Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) were further back, while Yuki Tsunoda, Franco Colapinto, and Oliver Bearman brought up the rear.
Spa’s FP1: Where History and Chaos Collide
If you’re new to Spa, let me offer a historian’s perspective: FP1 at this circuit is rarely representative, often chaotic, and occasionally farcical. The weather is as reliable as a Ferrari strategy call, and the session is frequently punctuated by red flags, technical failures, and the odd rookie heroics.
From Luciano Burti topping a wet session in 2001 to Max Verstappen’s teenage debut in 2014, Spa’s FP1 has always been a stage for the unexpected. Today’s session was no different—except, perhaps, in the sheer quality at the sharp end.
McLaren at Spa: A Return to Glory?
For McLaren, Spa has been both a theatre of triumph and a house of pain. Mika Häkkinen’s legendary overtake on Michael Schumacher in 2000, Lewis Hamilton’s pole in 2008, and Jenson Button’s win in 2012 are all part of the team’s rich tapestry at this circuit. But so too are the wilderness years, when the team was lucky to escape Q1.
Today’s FP1 result is a reminder that McLaren’s current form is no accident. The team has been building towards this moment for years, and Piastri’s lap was the latest chapter in a story that now feels less like a comeback and more like a coronation.
Rookie Watch: Hadjar’s Moment
Spa has always been a proving ground for rookies. Max Verstappen’s debut here in 2014 was the stuff of legend, and today Isack Hadjar added his name to the list of young guns making a mark at the world’s most daunting circuit. His top-ten finish in FP1 was no fluke—just ask the veterans he outpaced.
The Technical Arms Race
Eight of the ten teams brought upgrades to Spa, from McLaren’s low-downforce rear wing to Red Bull’s new front suspension. The session was as much about data gathering as outright pace, with teams running split programs and drivers often complaining about balance and grip.
Pirelli’s decision to skip the C2 compound and bring the C1, C3, and C4 added another layer of complexity, with teams struggling to find the sweet spot on a track that punishes the indecisive.
The Human Drama
Beyond the lap times and technical bulletins, FP1 was a session rich in human drama. Verstappen, under new management, looked every inch the hunted rather than the hunter. Hamilton, still searching for that elusive eighth title, found himself mired in midfield squabbles. And Piastri, the quiet assassin, delivered a performance that will have sent shivers down the pit lane.
Quotes from the Paddock
McLaren remained as the team to beat with Piastri posting a 1:42.022 to go fastest of all and four tenths faster than Verstappen who was second in the Red Bull as Lando Norris was one tenth further down the road in third in the sister McLaren.
GrandPrix247
What Happens Next?
With Sprint Qualifying looming and the weather forecast as changeable as ever, today’s FP1 was less a dress rehearsal and more a warning shot. McLaren look poised to dominate, but Spa has a habit of making fools of the confident.
For the latest updates and live coverage, follow the action at PlanetF1’s live blog.
Waste a bit more time
- Read the full FP1 results at F1i.com
- Dive into the session analysis at GrandPrix247
- Catch up with the live blog and more at PlanetF1
- For a taste of the paddock mood, check out the official F1 X.com post
