Full Breakdown
Verstappen Leads FP1, Antonelli Tops FP2 at Spa-Francorchamps
7/17/2026, 9:07:52 PM
Core Practice Results
- FP1 (Friday, 17 July) – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest lap of 1:47.070, 0.145 s ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was third, Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) fourth and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) fifth. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) recorded sixth.
- FP2 (Friday, 17 July) – Kimi Antonelli posted the quickest time of 1:45.944 on soft tyres, 0.190 s clear of Lando Norris (McLaren). Max Verstappen was third, 0.472 s slower. The session was interrupted twice: first for gravel at Turn 15, then for Pierre Gasly’s (Alpine) crash at the Fagnes chicane.
Background & Context
The Belgian Grand Prix returns to Spa-Francorchamps after a one-year hiatus, marking the final round before the summer break. Teams arrived with a mix of minor upgrades; Red Bull ran an older-spec rear wing after abandoning the “macarena” device that had caused crashes at Austria and Silverstone. Mercedes fitted a higher-downforce rear wing following a lackluster FP1.
Key Technical Developments
- Red Bull: Reverted to a conventional rear wing; RB22’s internal-combustion engine praised by the FIA as the grid’s best.
- Mercedes: Introduced a new rear wing to improve mid-sector grip; Antonelli’s power-unit was also a fresh spec for the weekend.
- Penalties: Lando Norris (McLaren) carries a 10-place grid drop for exceeding his power-unit element limit; Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) will start from the back after a 20-place penalty for a power-unit change.
Data & Statistics
| Position | Driver | Team | Time (s) | Gap to leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:47.070 | – |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.145 | – |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.207 | – |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +0.252 | – |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.452 | – |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.533 | – |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 1 (FP2) | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:45.944 | – |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.190 | – |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.472 | – |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.747 | – |
| 5 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +0.770 | – |
Why It Matters
Antonelli’s FP2 performance positions Mercedes as the early favourite for pole, while Verstappen’s FP1 dominance restores Red Bull’s credibility after a winless start to the season. The penalties for Norris and Hadjar will shape the grid order, potentially reshuffling the championship battle between Antonelli (19 pts lead) and his rivals.
Official Statements & Responses
- Red Bull confirmed the removal of the “macarena” rear wing, citing reliability concerns after Verstappen’s crashes in Austria and Silverstone.
- Mercedes announced the installation of a higher-downforce rear wing to address the “mid-sector weakness” observed in FP1.
- Team radios captured Verstappen’s frustration with gear-shift reliability: “These s**t shifts,” he told Red Bull (source 8).
Criticism & Opposition
- Kimi Antonelli publicly called Williams driver Carlos Sainz an “idiot” after being blocked during a fast lap (source 3).
- Pierre Gasly described his FP2 accident as a loss of rear control: “Just absolutely lost it out of nowhere… I must have lost the rear.” (source 23).
On-the-Ground Reports
Drivers reported mixed tyre temperatures. George Russell complained over radio that his rear tyres felt “too cold, and I was sliding around a lot, but not 1.2 seconds cold” (source 20).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Verstappen’s FP1 time appears as 1:47.070 in most sources, but one report lists 1:47.069 (source 36). No official clarification has been issued.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Max always finds the limit more quickly than others but that looked very solid from Red Bull,” — Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1 commentator (source 39)
- “These s**t shifts,” — Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver (source 8)
- “I just absolutely lost it out of nowhere.” — Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver (source 23)
- “I must have lost the rear.” — Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver (source 23)
What’s Next
The final practice (FP3) is scheduled for Saturday 18 July at 12:30 local time, followed by qualifying at 16:00 local time on the same day. The race will take place on Sunday 19 July at 14:00 local time.
