Race Previews
2026 Belgian Grand Prix Preview: Title Fight Heats Up at Spa-Francorchamps
Jul
Update: this preview has now played out — read our Belgian Grand Prix race review for full results.
Round 10 Heads to the Ardennes Forest
This Belgian Grand Prix preview looks ahead to Formula 1’s return to action this weekend at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the first half of the season’s final double-header before the summer break (Hungary follows next weekend). At 7.004km, Spa remains the longest lap on the calendar, famous for the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex, dramatic elevation changes, and weather that can flip a race on its head from one sector to the next.
Race Weekend Schedule (Local Time)
| Session | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, July 17 | 13:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, July 17 | 17:00 |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, July 18 | 12:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, July 18 | 16:00 |
| Grand Prix (44 laps) | Sunday, July 19 | 15:00 |
Storylines to Watch
- Mercedes intra-team battle: Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 171 points, but George Russell has closed in with 131 after a strong run of results, including a home podium at Silverstone. With Spa’s long straights and flowing corners suiting the Mercedes package, expect the Silver Arrows to be right at the front again.
- Ferrari’s resurgence: Lewis Hamilton (125 points) and Charles Leclerc have brought Ferrari firmly into the title conversation, with wins and podiums in recent rounds. Leclerc holds a special history at Spa, having taken his first F1 victory here.
- Red Bull’s reliability woes: Max Verstappen sits seventh in the standings after a string of technical issues, including rear wing failures in back-to-back weekends. Red Bull will be under pressure to find consistency as speculation about Verstappen’s future continues to swirl.
- McLaren in the mix: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are separated by a single point in the standings and will be looking to bounce back at a track where Piastri won last year.
- Spa’s unpredictable weather: Rain is a near-constant threat in the Ardennes, and forecasts suggest a chance of showers across the weekend. A wet-dry Spa race has decided championships before — this one could shake up the grid order in a hurry.
With Ferrari’s charge, a tightening Mercedes title fight, and Red Bull’s uncertainty all colliding at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, this weekend at Spa could prove pivotal heading into the summer break.
