Antonio Fuoco delivered an impressive performance in WEC Spa FP1 leading a dominant Ferrari 1-2 at the iconic Belgian circuit.
The opening practice for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was held under cool but dry conditions with an air temperature of 13°C and track temperature at 26°C, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely competitive weekend among the world’s premier endurance racing teams.
The morning’s 90-minute session saw the teams and drivers begin the critical task of fine-tuning their setups, evaluating tire compounds, and adapting to the resurfaced areas of the 7.004 km Spa circuit, renowned for its high-speed corners and unpredictable weather.
Antonio Fuoco at the wheel of the No. 50 Ferrari 499P set the WEC Spa FP1 benchmark early, clocking a best lap of 2:02.835. His pace was unmatched throughout the session and his consistency over the 35 laps completed by the car underscored the scuderia’s intent to continue their strong form following victories in Qatar and Imola earlier in the season.
Meanwhile, the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P piloted by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson finished just 0.222 seconds adrift, securing the second-fastest time and confirming Ferrari’s early supremacy in the Hypercar class.
Kubica’s performance in particular was noteworthy as he managed to extract the maximum from the Giallo Modena-liveried car, keeping the pressure on his factory counterparts.
The Alpine Endurance Team’s No. 36 A424 with Jules Gounon, Frédéric Makowiecki and Mick Schumacher sharing driving duties claimed third place in the standings.
Schumacher’s late-session flyer of 2:03.094 put the Alpine just 0.259 seconds off the leading Ferrari, signaling the French manufacturer’s continued upward trajectory after a podium finish at Imola.
The Alpine squad completed 27 laps, focusing on both outright pace and long-run consistency, crucial for the demands of Spa’s undulating layout.
Peugeot TotalEnergies made its presence felt with both of its 9X8 Hypercars inside the top five. The No. 93 car with Paul di Resta, Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne finished fourth setting a best time of 2:03.294, while the No. 94 entry driven by Loïc Duval, Malthe Jakobsen and Stoffel Vandoorne was fifth with a 2:03.578.
Di Resta’s early run briefly put Peugeot as high as second before the Ferraris and Alpine found their ultimate pace.
BMW M Team WRT’s No. 15 M Hybrid V8 with Raffaele Marciello and Kevin Magnussen at the helm slotted into sixth place, 1.163 seconds off the pace while the No. 12 Cadillac V-Series.R of Will Stevens, Alex Lynn and Norman Nato followed in seventh, marking a solid return to Spa after their customer Porsche 963 victory last year and subsequent switch to the Cadillac factory program.
Ferrari’s championship-leading No. 51 499P driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi ended the session in eighth with a best time of 2:04.149.
Toyota Gazoo Racing saw their No. 8 GR010 HYBRID of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa finish ninth, while the No. 6 Porsche Penske 963 rounded out the top ten.
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The session was not without incident as two separate Full Course Yellow (FCY) periods interrupted the flow of running.
The first was triggered when Paul-Loup Chatin’s No. 35 Alpine A424 became stranded in the gravel at Les Combes with 40 minutes remaining. The incident necessitated a nose change for the Alpine but did not result in significant damage.
The second FCY occurred when Sebastien Bourdais driving the No. 38 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series.R went off at Campus with 15 minutes left on the clock.
In the LMGT3 category, Finn Gehrsitz put the Akkodis ASP Team’s No. 78 Lexus RC F GT3 atop the WEC Spa FP1 timesheets with a lap of 2:18.432.
Alessio Rovera in the No. 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 was a close second, just 0.096 seconds behind while Jose Maria Lopez placed the second Lexus third. The competition in LMGT3 was tight, with multiple manufacturers represented at the sharp end of the field highlighting the depth of talent and engineering in the class.
