Official 2026 Belgian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

After an enjoyable British GP we re at another classic circuit, Spa Francorchamps, for what is always a great race.

Weather (like last year) might mix things up, but the power-units will be exposed here again, so expect to see a lot of 500hp F1 cars at the end of the straights.

Mercedes will clearly be up there, with Antonelli probably leading the way. It will be interesting to see if Leclerc/Ferrari can repeat their Silverstone performance level here. There will be a lot of focus on what rear wing Red Bull turns up with.

Antonelli gets my vote for the win, he had George on toast at Silverstone.

Here s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of competitive sessions.





2025 Highlights: Piastri win, wet/dry race

https://youtu.be/yApM21L0GgY?si=vj6X5pWQMe0gMr-x

Tyres:

Medium compounds: C2 C3 C4



2025 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Sunday 12th July 07:22

Edited by Piginapoke on Sunday 12th July 21:25

[Arrivalist]

Cheers, as always, PiaP - always appreciate your work getting these threads going.

I think Kimi will be back at the top this weekend with Lewis and either Charles or George.

[HocusPocus]

Thank you PiaP. Reliable as a Swiss banker

Will the cars reach the top of Eau Rouge flat out, or will the algorithm make it a charging point for Radillon? Hmm, desp8te all the "action" this year, I am not yet convinced the formula works as a proper fight on track.

Russell to win this one.

[wevster]

Kimi for the win.

I hope the Ferrari's are competitive

[wevster]

Thanks PiaP

[Sandpit Steve]

HocusPocus said:

Thank you PiaP. Reliable as a Swiss banker

Will the cars reach the top of Eau Rouge flat out, or will the algorithm make it a charging point for Radillon? Hmm, desp8te all the "action" this year, I am not yet convinced the formula works as a proper fight on track.

Russell to win this one.

Sadly I suspect this will be worst track we’ve seen so far for the new power units. Let’s not expect too many TV pictures of the cars at the end of the Kemmel Straight, nor on the run from Blanchimont down to the chicane at the end of the lap.

Crofty will however think that all of the ‘overtaking’ is awesome.

[Sandpit Steve]

@piginapoke the track map image above is of Silverstone not Spa.

[Jasandjules]

I wonder how much speed they will bleed off into the final chicane............. Or whether all the battery will be gone to get them up Eau Rouge.

[F355GTS]

thanks PiaP, I think Mercedes will be strong here, Antonelli has the edge

[Still Mulling]

Cheers’en, PiaP

[Piginapoke]

Sandpit Steve said:

@piginapoke the track map image above is of Silverstone not Spa.

Cheers Steve- strangely the link was correct but it showed as Silverstone. Good old Thumbsnap. Let me know if you still can't see Spa?

[tozerman]

Isn't the track image still wrong?

[TrevorHill]

tozerman said:

Isn't the track image still wrong?

Yes that s Miami. Spa is pretty much unmistakable/iconic.

[Sandpit Steve]

Piginapoke said:

Sandpit Steve said:

@piginapoke the track map image above is of Silverstone not Spa.

Cheers Steve- strangely the link was correct but it showed as Silverstone. Good old Thumbsnap. Let me know if you still can't see Spa?

It changed from Silverstone to Miami!

This is Spa, feel free to copy and paste.

[Milkyway]

Voted NORRIS... Still living in hope.

Alonso reporting that they may run out of juice during a lap & they will be slower than a F2 car.
So.... What's new 'Fred'.
(AM ever thought of joining F2... might be competitive.)

Rumours of Max to MotoGP (Aprilla)... Or have I got something wrong.

[paulguitar]

Milkyway said:

Rumours of Max to MotoGP (Aprilla)... Or have I got something wrong.

The latter, one suspects!

[Big Nanas]

paulguitar said:

Milkyway said:

Rumours of Max to MotoGP (Aprilla)... Or have I got something wrong.

The latter, one suspects!

From what I understand, it's something about owning an MotoGP team. I know he's a talent, but going straight into MotoGp as a rider would be QUITE the achievement!

As for Alonso's comments re F2 being quicker this weekend - I doubt that. There were similar fears at Silverstone, but the F1 cars were 11 seconds quicker in qualifying. (Of course, he could've been talking about Aston Martin.... ;D)

Although, Spa will most likely be the most energy starved circuit so far this year...

[thegreenhell]

paulguitar said:

Milkyway said:

Rumours of Max to MotoGP (Aprilla)... Or have I got something wrong.

The latter, one suspects!

The rumour is that he's buying a team, not going to ride.

[Milkyway]

thegreenhell said:

The rumour is that he's buying a team, not going to ride.

He could be the next John Surtees... it's been a while.

[TVR Sagaris]

Hoping something interesting will happen here, although it seems unlikely.

By the way, PiaP, I know a couple of us have said this already, but you know it's now really easy to upload images to PistonHeads directly rather than using Thumbsnap - just click 'Upload an image' on your post. (Thumbsnap is blocked/doesn't work for some of us.)