The 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, often referred to as the Kimi Antonelli showcase, unfolded under bright, dry skies at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The day was briefly interrupted by an actual safety‑car deployment on the opening lap to remove a stranded vehicle, and several virtual safety‑car periods were later called to clear debris and high‑tech litter from the racing line. Spa has been meticulously refined over the years, offering a near‑perfect blend of heritage and modernity. Yet, navigating the venue remains a logistical challenge, with new crowd‑control systems and regulations appearing almost daily to manage the massive fan base that gathers each weekend.
I spent Friday on the trackside during practice, watching the cars sprint past the grandstands with astonishing speed. After 45 years of racing at Spa, I was still stunned by the sheer volume of spectators and the intensity of the atmosphere. The drivers demonstrated impressive car control, especially when extracting power through the medium‑speed chicane exits.
However, similar to the situation at Silverstone, there was an underlying narrative that tempered the on‑track excitement. The competitors appeared unusually restrained, perhaps reluctant to voice criticism about the evolving nature of the circuit. The iconic Eau Rouge and Raidillon sections have lost some of their character as modern, high‑downforce machines equipped with ultra‑grippy tyres dominate the track. Consequently, the stretch from the La Source hairpin through to the Les Combes chicane now feels more like a long straight than a series of technical corners.
Adding to this, the hybrid power‑unit strategy required for a fast circuit like Spa forces drivers to divert engine output to charge the batteries. This reduces the entry speeds into classic high‑speed bends such as Pouhon, effectively turning them into "bendy" straights, much as the high‑speed sections at Silverstone have been altered. The 2026 Formula 1 calendar, with its full schedule of races, can be streamed without a contract, and fans can follow the F1 Show podcast or get updates via Sky Sports on WhatsApp. Yet, on circuits where the high‑speed, driver‑defining corners have been softened, the spectacle loses some of its edge.
Similar concerns have been raised about Suzuka, and while Budapest’s upcoming race promises fewer high‑speed challenges, it should still provide solid racing. The governing bodies have been aware of these issues for some time and are planning adjustments for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. However, the last two races have made it clear that a fundamental change in power‑unit philosophy is needed much sooner rather than later. Reliability teething problems were expected, but as the summer break approaches, phrases like "deployment issues" and "no battery" are becoming all too common.
George Russell, despite his pedigree, has struggled to find the necessary battery energy at crucial moments. Whether this is due to a lack of straight‑line speed compared to his teammate Kimi Antonelli in qualifying, or simply a mysterious shortfall on the opening lap up the hill to turn five, the result was the same: Russell entered the race with a deficit.
Antonelli launched well from the grid, and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull also got off the line cleanly. Verstappen appeared to make a clever move past the Eau Rouge area, but his post‑race comments suggested his car was over‑using battery power, casting doubt on any deliberate tactic. Both Mercedes drivers started the race with less battery charge than ideal. This shortfall hit Russell hardest on the long ascent to the critical braking zone at turn five, where he was overtaken by three cars, including Lewis Hamilton.
Russell attempted an impressively late braking maneuver to regain position, moving to the outside of Hamilton. Hamilton, following closely behind Max Verstappen, drifted slightly wide and made contact with Russell, sending the latter spinning into retirement and severely damaging Hamilton’s championship hopes.
The first lap of a race often allows a bit more leeway for stewards because the field is bunched together, fuel loads are high, and tyre and brake temperatures are not yet optimal. I described the incident as a racing incident in my commentary, unless the stewards could prove Hamilton lost control, which they could not. Russell later returned to the pits on a scooter and reiterated that it was a racing incident, though he was visibly upset about his ongoing power‑unit problems. Ferrari also labeled the collision a racing incident, a stance shared by many observers.
The stewards, however, imposed a five‑second penalty on Hamilton, reduced from the usual ten seconds, a decision that may have cost him a podium finish, though that remains speculative. Later, Charles Leclerc squeezed Oscar Piastri in the turn‑five braking zone, resulting in contact that damaged Piastri’s aerodynamic components. In my view, that move warranted at least a warning, if not a more severe penalty, according to the guidelines. The stewards instead focused on the relative positions of the front axles and who had the right to the corner.
Leclerc’s reaction in the cooldown room made the situation clear to anyone watching. Hamilton endured a tumultuous weekend: a practice accident, the five‑second penalty involving Russell, and a near‑miss with one of his own mechanics during a pit stop.
The latter incident resulted in a team fine rather than a race penalty, and Hamilton seemed relieved to finish fourth—a result he may have never imagined achieving. Despite the damage, Piastri fought back to finish fifth after switching to hard‑compound tyres on lap 20 of 44, showing resilience even if his pace was compromised. Lando Norris performed admirably all weekend but was forced to start thirteenth because his power‑unit control electronics exceeded the regulatory allowance, a rule intended to curb spending by wealthier teams.
McLaren’s strategy was unusual: they avoided using virtual safety cars and delayed a straightforward pit stop until Norris finally pitted on lap 30, discarding his hard‑compound tyres. This left him with a significant gap to make up on Isack Hadjar, who started from the back row due to multiple power‑unit penalties but managed an impressive sixth‑place finish. Red Bull executed a rapid pit‑stop sequence on Hadjar, pitting him on lap one, again on lap two to meet the mandatory two‑compound tyre rule under the Russell safety car, and once more under a virtual safety car on lap 20.
The timing worked perfectly for the team. The lap‑20 VSC also benefited Leclerc, whose time loss was roughly 11 seconds while rivals were circulating at reduced speed.
Antonelli had already pitted on lap 18 under green‑flag conditions as Mercedes tried to cover Red Bull’s pit strategy for Verstappen on lap 17. Through these strategic moves, Leclerc briefly overtook both Mercedes drivers and led the race, although Norris was still ahead of him on track. Eventually, the young Italian took the lead, a logical outcome given his consistent speed throughout the event.
Leclerc fought back fiercely and crossed the line just two seconds behind, securing second place. Verstappen completed the podium in third, his safety‑car timing denying Leclerc a chance at a higher finish. The remaining points went to Gabriel Bortoleto and Audi in eighth, Arvid Lindblad with Racing Bulls in ninth, and Franco Colapinto for Alpine in tenth. The various safety‑car deployments played a pivotal role in shaping the final order.
Reflecting on the results, the progress over a single year is striking. Antonelli, who debuted at Spa last season and never finished higher than 14th, was a class‑of‑one performer this year. Mercedes also celebrated their eighth victory of the season, surpassing the combined total of their wins across the previous four ground‑effect eras. This dominant form positions them strongly for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
The Formula 1 circus now moves to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with every session broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 starting Friday. Fans can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a contract and cancel at any time.