F1 LIVE: Belgian Grand Prix 2026 start time, grid, commentary and updates from Spa-Francorchamps
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Ferrari faces challenges at Spa with cooler conditions and car characteristics not suiting the track; Charles Leclerc aims for a podium finish while Lewis Hamilton starts fifth after repairs from a crash.
- Energy management at Spa could lead to yo-yo racing due to the slipstream effect and battery usage, impacting drivers like Lando Norris who is starting with a grid penalty after receiving a new battery.
- Mercedes struggles with a mysterious lack of straight-line speed affecting George Russell's performance, despite improvements in cornering, while Russell remains second in the championship.
- Red Bull's Max Verstappen benefited from a slipstream tow by teammate Isack Hadjar during qualifying, helping him secure second place on the grid, and Red Bull is set to hire Mercedes' driver scout Gwen Lagrue.
- Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, marking his sixth pole of the season, while Carlos Sainz and other drivers face grid penalties, pushing them to the back of the field.
