Free Practice 1 for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix is underway at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The session, which began at 13:30 CET on Friday, July 17, marks the tenth round of the current Formula 1 season. Teams are focusing on initial car setups and assessing track conditions at the demanding 7.004km circuit.
Mercedes enters the weekend as the dominant force in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, holding a 72-point lead over Ferrari. The Mercedes W17 car has proven to be the benchmark, securing seven victories across the nine Grands Prix held so far this season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently leads the World Drivers’ Championship. The Mercedes driver has claimed five wins this season, triumphing in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, and Monaco.
However, Antonelli’s championship lead has been reduced from 88 points to 25 points over teammate George Russell due to recent reliability issues. He acknowledged these mechanical problems as frustrating but part of motorsport.
Ferrari has demonstrated significant progress in recent weeks, with Lewis Hamilton securing a victory in Barcelona. Charles Leclerc also added a win at Silverstone, showcasing the improved performance of the SF-26.
The Scuderia’s 2026 campaign has seen them achieve two Grand Prix victories and eight podium finishes as of the British Grand Prix. Ferrari aims to challenge Mercedes more consistently.
Carlos Sainz, currently driving for Williams, has experienced a challenging 2026 season. He has not finished higher than ninth in any race, recording three ninth-place results in Shanghai, Miami, and Montreal.
Sainz described his performance as ‘worrying and frustrating’ given his expectations for the season. He joined Williams after being replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.
A notable past incident involving Sainz and Antonelli occurred at the 2025 United States Grand Prix. During that race, Antonelli collided with Sainz’s Williams, leading the Mercedes driver to express his frustration over team radio.
‘He took me out,’ Antonelli stated over the radio. ‘What a fuing idiot.’
The collision at Circuit of the Americas saw Sainz’s Williams sustain front-right damage, leading to his retirement on Lap 7. Antonelli was able to recover and continue the race after a pit stop.
This weekend at Spa, teams will focus on finding the correct compromise between straight-line speed, downforce, and energy usage. The circuit’s length and potential for mixed weather conditions add to the strategic complexity.
