Max Verstappen secured a third-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, expressing satisfaction with the outcome despite strategic challenges. The Red Bull driver acknowledged the result as positive, highlighting the car’s consistent balance throughout the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. This podium marks Verstappen’s third top-three finish of the current 2026 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen, starting from second on the grid, made a strong start to briefly claim the lead into Eau Rouge. However, he subsequently dropped positions, with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc moving ahead. The Dutchman later found himself unable to maintain pace with the front-runners, particularly during his second stint on hard compound tyres.
A Virtual Safety Car period significantly impacted Verstappen’s race strategy. He noted that the timing of the VSC was unfortunate for both himself and Antonelli, as it allowed Charles Leclerc to execute a ‘cheap’ pit stop. This strategic advantage enabled Leclerc to gain track position and move into the net lead of the race.
Verstappen reported considerable understeer on the hard tyres, which prevented him from pushing the car to its full potential. This issue necessitated an adaptation of his driving style, making it impossible to match the speed of the Mercedes and Ferrari ahead. Red Bull had opted for an older specification rear wing at Spa, following incidents with an upgraded component earlier in the season.
The Belgian Grand Prix was ultimately won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who extended his championship lead with his sixth victory of the season. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, having initially benefited from the VSC to lead the race before Antonelli re-passed him in the closing stages.
The race also saw significant drama on the opening lap when Mercedes driver George Russell retired after a collision with Lewis Hamilton at Les Combes. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, received a five-second time penalty for his role in the incident. He later finished fourth, though faced a post-race investigation for an unsafe pit release.
Red Bull Racing celebrated their 300th Formula 1 podium finish with Verstappen’s third place. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, also delivered a strong performance, recovering from a grid penalty to finish sixth. Lando Norris, starting 13th due to a power unit penalty, climbed to seventh for McLaren.
Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to the Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend, scheduled for July 24-26, 2026. Verstappen remains cautious about Red Bull’s prospects there, noting the circuit’s different characteristics compared to Spa-Francorchamps and the potential for team upgrades to alter the competitive landscape.
Pirelli supplied the C2 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft) compounds for the Belgian Grand Prix. The soft tyre demonstrated better-than-expected degradation, leading to a strategic split among teams between medium-hard and soft-hard one-stop strategies for the 44-lap race.
‘I tried everything I could in the race. The first stint wasn’t too bad, second stint probably a little bit more difficult but at the same time, I think Kimi and I were unlucky with the VSC as well. I think for us to be on the podium is very good. I gave it everything I had and I think P3 is good.’
