Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets at the first – and only – practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, as the Spaniard led the way at a soaking wet Spa-Francorchamps ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

With just one hour of running ahead of qualifying later today under the new revised Sprint format rules, the drivers were greeted to a wet track, with many opting to utilise the full wet tyres as heavy rain continued to fall at the circuit.

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After 10 minutes of running only six drivers had set a time, with Alex Albon surviving a lock-up at the bus stop chicane to later set the fastest lap. But the rain began to intensify, with all the drivers opting to stay in the pit lane, waiting for conditions to improve.

Then came the first red flag of the weekend, with Logan Sargeant crashing into the barrier at Les Combes. The American driver came on the radio to say he could not turn the car, with replays showing the FW45 going straight on, despite Sargeant’s best efforts to turn the wheel.

However, during the time in which the drivers spent in the garage as the marshals cleared away Sargeant’s Williams, the rain intensified. This meant that even when the session was restarted, all the drivers opted to stay in the garage for the rest of practice.