Championship leader Kimi Antonelli ended Friday as the driver to beat after topping the timesheets in the second free practice session for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
The opening day of running delivered everything Formula 1 fans have come to expect from the iconic Belgian circuit. Max Verstappen led the way in FP1, Ferrari looked competitive throughout, McLaren showed encouraging pace despite setbacks, and two red flags disrupted long-run preparations ahead of Saturday’s crucial qualifying session.
With several drivers already carrying significant grid penalties, Friday also offered the first glimpse into what could become one of the most unpredictable weekends of the 2026 season.
Verstappen Leads the Way in Opening Practice
Max Verstappen made an impressive start to the weekend by setting the fastest lap of the opening practice session with a 1:47.070, giving Red Bull an encouraging start around one of Formula 1’s fastest circuits.
Ferrari immediately established themselves as genuine contenders, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc in third.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar continued his recent impressive form by placing fourth despite knowing he will start Sunday’s race from deep on the grid following power unit changes.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top five after overcoming a brief hydraulic issue that forced him to slow on circuit before returning safely to the pits.
FP1 Talking Points
One of the biggest moments of the session came when championship leader Kimi Antonelli had to take evasive action to avoid a slow-moving Carlos Sainz approaching the pit entry. The Mercedes driver voiced his frustration over team radio after the high-speed incident.
Elsewhere, Lando Norris finished seventh while preparing for a weekend where he will also take a grid penalty.
FP1 Top Five
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:47.070
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Antonelli Hits Back in Disrupted FP2
The afternoon session belonged to Mercedes.
Antonelli produced a stunning lap of 1:45.944, the quickest time recorded across both Friday sessions and the only lap close to breaking into the 1:45 bracket.
McLaren’s Lando Norris responded with the second-fastest time, while Verstappen remained firmly in contention in third.
Ferrari continued their strong Friday with Leclerc finishing fourth, while Piastri rounded out the top five.
Unfortunately, teams were unable to complete their planned race simulations after two separate red flags interrupted the session.
The final stoppage came when Pierre Gasly suffered a heavy accident at the high-speed Fagnes chicane late in the session. The Alpine sustained extensive damage, although the Frenchman climbed from the car unharmed following the impact.
Mercedes Continue Fine Form
Antonelli’s pace once again underlined why he currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, while teammate George Russell continued working through setup changes during the afternoon.
Hamilton also spent much of FP2 searching for improved balance after running wide at La Source and encountering traffic during his qualifying simulations.
FP2 Top Five
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:45.944
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Friday Analysis
Friday’s running suggests qualifying could become a genuine four-team fight.
Mercedes appear to have excellent one-lap pace thanks to Antonelli, Red Bull look far more comfortable around Spa than in recent weekends, Ferrari have shown consistent speed across both sessions, and McLaren remain firmly in contention despite carrying penalties elsewhere in the garage.
The interrupted afternoon means teams head into Saturday with less long-run data than they would have liked, making overnight setup work even more important before qualifying.
If Friday’s pace proves representative, the battle for pole position could be one of the closest of the season.
Key Takeaways
- Fastest Overall: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:45.944
- FP1 Fastest: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Biggest Incident: Pierre Gasly’s heavy FP2 crash at Fagnes
- Biggest Surprise: Ferrari’s consistent pace across both sessions
- Story Heading into Saturday: Four teams appear capable of challenging for pole position.
