The legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit welcomed F1 back for another Belgian Grand Prix with a day that showcased Oscar Piastri’s commanding pace and dramatic qualifying speed. From early mechanical problems to stunning pole positions, day one delivered classic Spa excitement. What unfolded during the opening practice and Sprint Qualifying sessions? Stay tuned with Supercars.com.GH to find out!
FP1
Oscar Piastri dominated the single practice session with a commanding 1:42.022, finishing four-tenths clear of Max Verstappen as McLaren immediately established themselves as the team to beat. The championship leader’s pace was particularly impressive given he achieved it on the hard compound tires, showcasing the McLaren’s versatility across different compounds.
Early dramas struck immediately as Carlos Sainz suffered power unit problems, reporting “I cannot accelerate, it’s just limp home mode” before crawling back to the pits. Lance Stroll also encountered issues with his upgraded Aston Martin after the installation lap, requiring an early return to the garage.
Verstappen showed strong pace in the opening sector with Red Bull’s substantial upgrade package, including new cooling systems and front suspension, but lost time in the middle sector. Lando Norris completed a McLaren one-three after running wide at Stavelot on his qualifying simulation, while George Russell impressed in fourth for Mercedes.
Track limits proved challenging throughout as drivers pushed the boundaries at this high-speed circuit, with multiple runners including Alex Albon and Lewis Hamilton exceeding limits at various corners.
Sprint Qualifying
Piastri continued his dominance by securing Sprint pole with a stunning 1:40.510, nearly half a second clear of Verstappen in a performance that left his rivals scrambling. The Australian delivered when it mattered most in SQ3’s one-lap shootout, with all drivers limited to a single set of soft tires.
The session was full of drama from the start. Lewis Hamilton suffered a shock SQ1 elimination after a high-speed spin at the final chicane, classifying 18th and marking one of the weekend’s biggest surprises. Kimi Antonelli’s session was ruined early by a spectacular 360-degree spin through the gravel at Stavelot, leaving him with flat-spotted tires and last place.
SQ2 provided nail-biting tension as Piastri had his first lap deleted for track limits at Eau Rouge, leaving him dangerously close to elimination. He scraped through by just 0.041 seconds ahead of Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls, while George Russell failed to make the cut alongside both Aston Martins.
Can Piastri convert this dominant form into Sprint victory tomorrow? Join Supercars.com.GH to find out!