McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri laid down a commanding performance in the only free practice session for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.
The Australian’s late charge on Pirelli’s soft C4 compound in the closing minutes of the hour-long session saw him edge out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by four tenths, signaling McLaren’s strong form heading into the weekend.
The session, dominated by setup work and testing of new aerodynamic upgrades, offered a glimpse into the intense development race as teams fine-tune their packages before the season’s latter stages.
Upgrades and Setup Work Dominate Early Running
With eight of the 10 teams debuting aerodynamic upgrades, including track-specific low-downforce wings tailored for Spa’s high-speed layout, the first 40 minutes saw limited focus on outright pace.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the early benchmark on the hardest C1 compound, while teams methodically dialed in their new components.
McLaren’s MCL39, sporting a new low-downforce rear wing, looked particularly sharp, though Piastri’s final lap underscored its potential.
Meanwhile, incidents punctuated the session: Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Franco Colapinto ran off at La Source, and Lewis Hamilton went wide at Les Combes.
Hamilton also drew scrutiny after impeding Gabriel Bortoleto through the iconic Eau Rouge, adding a moment of tension to the otherwise procedural early running.
Late Soft-Tyre Runs Shake Up the Order
The session came alive in the final 15 minutes as drivers switched to the soft C4 compound for qualifying simulations. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll briefly claimed the top spot before Piastri’s blistering 1m42.123s, later improved to 1m42.022s, reset expectations.
Verstappen, under the gaze of new Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, tested new and older front wing configurations but struggled with mid-corner understeer, settling for second with a 1m42.426s.
Lando Norris overcame a gravel-trap excursion to briefly hold second before dropping to third, half a second off Piastri’s pace.
Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Leclerc rounded out the top five, closely followed by their teammates Antonelli and Hamilton.
Notable Performances and Challenges
Aston Martin’s Stroll and Fernando Alonso, testing a new front wing, secured eighth and ninth, while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with a top-10 finish. Williams’ Carlos Sainz, hampered by a fuel system issue that sidelined him early, managed only 11th.
The session highlighted the tight competition and the critical role of upgrades, with teams like Red Bull still grappling with setup issues.
As the field prepares for the sprint race qualifying at 16:30 local time, Piastri’s pace positions McLaren as the team to beat, though Verstappen’s Red Bull remains a formidable threat despite its setup woes.
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