Belgian GP: Oscar Piastri tops sole practice session as Lando Norris unable to match McLaren team-mate's pace

World championship leader Oscar Piastri topped the sole practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix as his McLaren team-mate and title rival Lando Norris was off the pace in third.

In a frantic finale to the session as the majority of the field fitted soft tyres for the first time with about 10 minutes remaining, Piastri went clearly fastest on his first run before finding another tenth with a subsequent effort of 1:42.022.

Norris, who trails Piastri by eight points at the top of the standings as the season enters its second half, was a full second behind his team-mate after making an error on his first flying lap, but halved the deficit on his next run to move up to third.

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McLaren appear to have a clear advantage over their rivals going into Sprint Qualifying later on Friday, but Max Verstappen took advantage of Norris' shaky start to take second in his upgraded Red Bull, four tenths back from Piastri.

George Russell was fourth as Mercedes opted not to run the soft tyre, instead doing their qualifying simulations on the medium compound, with Kimi Antonelli sixth in the other Silver Arrow.

Ferrari's major upgrade package didn't immediately appear to have much of an impact as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fifth and seventh, respectively.

After two weekends off following the British Grand Prix, the majority of the field brought what could be their final major upgrades of the season to Belgium - with Red Bull and Ferrari's packages appearing to be more significant than the other front-running squads.

All eyes were on the Red Bull pit wall in the first race since Christian Horner was sacked as team principal after more than 20 years at the helm.

Laurent Mekies, Horner's replacement as both team principal and chief executive, oversaw operations as Verstappen continued to impress while team-mate Yuki Tsunoda struggled down in P14.

Sky Sports F1's live Belgian GP schedule

Friday July 25
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Belgian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)

Saturday July 26
8.10am: F3 Sprint
10am: Belgian GP Sprint (lights out at 11am)
12.20pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
12.40pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying (session starts at 3pm)
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 27
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered flag: Belgian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime.

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Belgian GP: Oscar Piastri tops sole practice session as Lando Norris unable to match McLaren team-mate's pace