Nico Rosberg returned from the summer break on form as he as went fastest during the opening practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday morning.
Key Points from FP1:
– The German posted a 1:51.082 to go quickest by more than two-tenths to team-mate Lewis Hamilton, despite early troubles.
– Hamilton ensured Mercedes were first and second, continuing their dominant form, though Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo wasn’t far behind the leading duo.
– The Australian finished just three-tenths off Rosberg’s best, putting him third ahead of the Ferrari pairing, led by newly re-signed Kimi Raikkonen.
– The session saw just one major drama, as Lotus’s Pastor Maldonado lost control of the rear of his car, spinning him into the barrier, causing a red flag whilst the marshals took ten minutes to carry out barrier repairs.
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 01 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:51.082 | – | 19 |
| 02 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:51.324 | 0.242 | 24 |
| 03 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:51.373 | 0.291 | 18 |
| 04 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1:51.478 | 0.396 | 23 |
| 05 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:51.866 | 0.784 | 21 |
| 06 | Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull | 1:51.960 | 0.878 | 18 |
| 07 | Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 1:52.158 | 1.076 | 27 |
| 08 | Carlos Sainz | Toro Rosso | 1:52.421 | 1.339 | 26 |
| 09 | Sergio Perez | Force India | 1:52.423 | 1.341 | 20 |
| 10 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams | 1:52.511 | 1.429 | 19 |
| 11 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus | 1:52.539 | 1.457 | 15 |
| 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India | 1:52.614 | 1.532 | 20 |
| 13 | Felipe Nasr | Sauber | 1:52.640 | 1.558 | 16 |
| 14 | Felipe Massa | Williams | 1:52.653 | 1.571 | 22 |
| 15 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber | 1:53.426 | 2.344 | 16 |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren | 1:53.502 | 2.420 | 15 |
| 17 | Jolyon Palmer | Lotus | 1:53.799 | 2.717 | 23 |
| 18 | Jenson Button | McLaren | 1:54.225 | 3.143 | 14 |
| 19 | Will Stevens | Marussia | 1:55.501 | 4.419 | 16 |
| 20 | Roberto Merhi | Marussia | 1:56.086 | 5.004 | 17 |
