Formula 1 3 Days

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying Drama

Max Verstappen secured a front-row start for the Belgian Grand Prix from Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar for his qualifying performance. The reigning champion acknowledged the significant boost provided by Hadjar, stating it was essential for his grid position. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc faced a significant setback when he was in the closing moments of qualifying, which ultimately cost him a better starting spot. Lewis Hamilton's practice session ended prematurely with a crash at the exit of Fagnes. Despite the incident, Hamilton suggested Mercedes and McLaren could be strong contenders, even as Ferrari appeared to struggle in early practice. Isack Hadjar is set to start from the back of the grid due to exceeding his power unit allocation.

Practice Session Highlights and Setbacks

Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets in the final practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix ahead of the qualifying action. The session was interrupted by Lewis Hamilton’s crash, which occurred just as the checkered flag was shown. Pierre Gasly also experienced an incident in Free Practice and bringing the session to a halt. Amidst the mixed practice pace, Lando Norris expressed caution despite showing competitive speed.

Team Strategies and Driver Developments

Red Bull has opted to revert to its original rear wing design for the Belgian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen experienced issues with its newer "Macarena" concept. In a surprising move, Red Bull announced a connection with a McLaren junior driver in a unique way. George Russell admitted to struggling to match the performance of teammate Kimi Antonelli, likening the challenge to drawing the Mona Lisa. Racing Bulls implemented an unusual system to decide which driver would receive an upgraded car cooling component for the Belgian GP.