Max Verstappen topped first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, lapping 0.145s quicker than Lewis Hamilton at Spa-Francorchamps. Charles Leclerc was third, two tenths off the pace, while Isack Hadjar impressed in fourth despite a power unit penalty that will send him to the back of Sunday's grid.

The Milton Keynes squad dropped their problematic rotating rear wing after Verstappen's crashes in Austria and Silverstone, but the RB22's strong internal combustion engine — deemed the best by the FIA — suited Spa's power-hungry layout. "Max always finds the limit more quickly than others but that looked very solid from Red Bull," said Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle.

Mercedes struggled, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli sixth and 0.533s adrift, while George Russell languished in eighth. Antonelli faces a potential 10-place grid penalty if Mercedes must fit a new engine after discovering a Silverstone power unit issue. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was fifth before a late hydraulics failure, and Lando Norris already carries a 10-place penalty for exceeding control electronics limits.

Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad ninth and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto tenth highlighted the midfield battle, while Jak Crawford stood in for Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin as teams fulfill rookie running requirements. Second practice runs at 3.30pm Friday, with qualifying at 3pm Saturday and the race at 2pm Sunday, all live on Sky Sports F1.