Formula 1 3 Days

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

Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying Drama and Incidents

Charles Leclerc avoided a penalty for contact with Oscar Piastri during the Belgian Grand Prix, with stewards determining he did not deliberately cause the collision. Meanwhile, a yellow flag error in qualifying, costing him a grid position. Lewis Hamilton his Ferrari teammate after a practice crash, stating the car "didn't feel the same" afterwards. Max Verstappen credited Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar for providing a crucial "tow and a half" that a front-row start.

Team Strategies and Technical Observations

McLaren suspects power is contributing to Oscar Piastri's performance deficit compared to Lando Norris, suggesting it's not related to driving. The Racing Bulls team which of their drivers would receive an F1 car cooling upgrade for the Belgian Grand Prix. Alpine and Pierre Gasly addressed the cause of his crash that red-flagged Free Practice. Red Bull is internally, with Tom Hart set to become Max Verstappen's next race engineer.

Driver Perspectives and Future Outlooks

Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism about Mercedes and McLaren's potential at the Belgian Grand Prix, despite Ferrari's practice struggles. Lando Norris, however, remained downbeat despite strong practice pace, indicating the team wasn't getting ahead of themselves. George Russell to match teammate Kimi Antonelli's performance, likening it to a difficult artistic challenge. In an interesting development, Max Verstappen, despite his own strong links to the team. Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is poised to start from the back of the Belgian Grand Prix grid due to an engine change.