NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix

The next round of the 2026 Formula 1 season is nearly upon us, with the Belgian Grand Prix hosting the 10th event of the season.

Free Practice 1 and 2 will take place on Friday, July 17, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday, July 18, and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday, July 19.

Vital Statistics

• First Grand Prix – 1950
• Track Length – 7.004 km
• Lap record – 1m 44.701s, Sergio Perez, Red Bull, 2024
• Most pole positions – Lewis Hamilton (6)
• Most wins – Michael Schumacher (6)
• Trivia – Spa is the longest circuit on the current F1 calendar
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 165 metres
• Overtakes completed in 2025 – 49
• Safety Car probability – 50%*
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 0%*
• Pit stop time loss – 18.5 seconds

*From the last eight races in Belgium

The driver’s verdict

Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: Spa is a really nice, flowing circuit. It’s always a trade-off between downforce levels. Do you go low downforce for the first and third sector? Or do you put on some downforce for the middle part of the lap?

You’ve also got to think about how raceable you want your car to be on Sunday, because if you prioritise the middle part of the lap, it can help you in Qualifying on Saturday, but you might be a sitting duck on the straights.

The start of the Grand Prix is always crucial. Being on pole is not necessarily the magic bullet here given that you can get out-dragged along the lengthy Kemmel Straight towards Les Combes on Lap 1.

It’s the longest lap on the calendar in terms of distance and it feels it as well. You’re going a long way away up the hill to Les Combes, and then that’s where your flow starts for the lap, through the right-left-right down the hill.

Probably the biggest challenge, or the most exhilarating part, is Pouhon, which is flat or right on the edge of it in the current-spec cars. But again, in race conditions, it can be a little bit trickier.

Then you need to get your braking right for the Bus Stop, which is the easiest place to mess up the lap. You think you’re a hero and then you just overcook it on the brakes for the final corner and the whole thing goes to pot. You can’t be cautious either. It’s the one that can make or break your lap.

Last five Belgian GP polesitters

• 2025 – Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 2024 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)*
• 2023 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)**
• 2022 – Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)***
• 2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

*Max Verstappen was fastest in Qualifying but received a 10-place grid penalty **Verstappen was fastest in Qualifying but received a 5-place grid penalty ***Verstappen was fastest in Qualifying but required to start from the back of the grid

Last five Belgian GP winners

• 2025 – Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• 2024 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Tyre and strategy insight

“Spa-Francorchamps ranks among the most demanding circuits for tyres in terms of loads and forces, though not reaching the levels of Suzuka or Silverstone,” reads Pirelli’s weekend preview, with the tyre compounds for this event confirmed as the C2, C3 and C4.

“The track was completely resurfaced a couple of years ago and, in the early days of the weekend, generally offers a relatively low level of grip. Grip levels may improve thanks to the recent GT racing weekend, with the 24 Hours of Spa leaving additional rubber on the track.

“The three sectors of the circuit each have very different characteristics and have always posed a set-up puzzle for teams. The first is the fastest and includes a long straight where overtaking is common; the second is more technical, with medium-speed corners, many of which are downhill; the third is more flowing and develops on a gentle uphill gradient.

“This year, the introduction of new aerodynamics should make it easier to find the right compromise in terms of downforce. The cars will be able to run higher downforce configurations for the more technical sections while benefiting from straight-line mode on the straights. As seen at Silverstone, the drivers’ ability to manage and efficiently recharge the power unit will also be crucial.

“Temperatures could also have a significant influence on the weekend and race strategies. During the 24 Hours of Spa, held at the end of June, track temperatures exceeded 55°C.

"With such high values, it is plausible that thermal tyre degradation will increase, raising the likelihood of two-stop strategies. In any case, the two hardest compounds in the range are expected to be the protagonists in Sunday’s race.”

Current form

Ahead of the British Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli held a 40-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over team mate George Russell – but following Antonelli’s reliability issue and five-second time penalty on Sunday at Silverstone, the Italian’s advantage was slashed to 25 points.

While Russell is now even closer in the fight for P1, the Briton was not satisfied with his outing at his home event, commenting after his second-place finish: “I'm not going to fight for a championship if the performances continue like that.”

The Mercedes pair are also unlikely to rest easy given the proximity of both Ferrari drivers. Lewis Hamilton remains third in the standings – only seven points behind Russell – and, though Charles Leclerc is a more distant fourth, the Monegasque has gained some momentum after returning to the top step of the podium at Silverstone.

Behind them, McLaren have shown flashes of potential – and while Lando Norris conceded after the British Grand Prix that the squad had “a lot to improve”, the reigning World Champion also voiced his belief that they “can turn things around”. Can they make another step this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps – a venue where the team claimed a 1-2 finish last year – or will that come with upgrades planned for Hungary?

Over at Red Bull, the Silverstone weekend marked a tough outing off the back of a stronger one in Austria, with Max Verstappen crashing out of Sunday’s race following a rear wing issue. The Dutchman was left hoping that the team can “sort things about before Spa”, a circuit that he has previously won at on three occasions.

Elsewhere, another double points finish for Racing Bulls has seen them close in even further on Alpine in the battle for fifth place of the Teams’ Championship, with the gap now down to just one point. Could the Red Bull sister outfit topple their rivals this weekend?

Iconic moment

Another classic venue on the F1 calendar, there are plenty of dramatic moments and epic overtakes to choose from when it comes to the Belgian Grand Prix. This time, we’re taking it back to the 2000 season...

Hunting down title rival Michael Schumacher, and after an earlier run-in, Mika Hakkinen pulled off one of the most iconic moves in F1 history by using backmarker Ricardo Zonta to his advantage at the exit of the Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex.

While Schumacher went to the left of the BAR-Honda, Hakkinen darted out of the double slipstream to the right, duly storming past both drivers under braking for Les Combes and taking a lead he would not relinquish.

Watch the magic move from various angles in the video player below...