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Surprise Top Spot for Verstappen at Spa, Concerns for Aston Martin
At the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Max Verstappen led opening practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, while Aston Martin endured a troubling start.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-17T12:35:24.000Z - 1 min read
The Formula 1 circus has arrived at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, which takes place in the traditional format this weekend. Opening practice immediately set the tone for what promises to be a compelling race weekend.
Max Verstappen posted the quickest lap in his Red Bull during FP1, a rare result considering Ferrari and Mercedes' dominance in previous opening practice sessions. His time of 1m47.070s was enough to hold off Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who followed 0.145s and 0.207s behind respectively. Isack Hadjar also showed strong speed to finish fourth.
The start of the weekend was far less promising for Aston Martin. Lance Stroll and Jak Crawford finished 5.7 and 6.1 seconds off Verstappen's benchmark, a worrying sign. This start potentially confirms the team's fears that Spa will be one of their most difficult circuits of the season.
Following the opening session, second practice takes place later today. The weekend continues with final practice and qualifying on Saturday, before the Belgian Grand Prix reaches its climax on Sunday afternoon.