Champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull topped the timesheets on Friday in the first practice for the Belgium Grand Prix, the final race before a month-long summer break. The three-time world champion clocked 1 minute 43.372 seconds around the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, 0.531 second ahead Oscar Piastri in the McLaren. There was a big surprise in third place in Alex Albon of Williams, who finished 0.727 second behind Verstappen. Mercedes were fourth and fifth with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton respectively, while Ferrari had Charles Leclerc in sixth and Carlos Sainz in ninth. Sergio Pere…