Qualifying Report & Results 2026 Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix
Event: Belgian Grand Prix
Track: Spa-Francorchamps Circuit
Max Verstappen driving the (3) Red Bull Racing RB22 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 18, 2026 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Alastair Staley/LAT Images)
Weather: Partly cloudy & dry 22°C / 71°F
Tarmac: dry 37°C / 100°F
Humidity : 53%
Wind : 7.5 km/h North West
Antonelli Crushes Rivals To Claim Belgian GP Pole
Kimi Antonelli claimed the sixth Formula 1 pole position of his career with a commanding performance at Spa-Francorchamps, securing the top starting position for the Belgian Grand Prix for the first time. It was also the Italian's sixth pole position from the opening ten Grands Prix of the 2026 season, extending Mercedes' perfect Grand Prix qualifying record this year and marking the team's 154th Formula 1 pole position.
For much of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, four teams appeared capable of taking pole position. Then Kimi Antonelli produced one lap that changed the picture completely.
After a fiercely contested session in which Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc all spent time in contention, the Mercedes driver delivered a stunning final lap of 1:44.361 to beat Verstappen by 0.317 seconds. Around the seven-kilometre Spa-Francorchamps circuit, it was comfortably the largest margin seen at the front all weekend.
Antonelli's pole-winning lap was 3.799 seconds slower than Lando Norris' 1:40.562 benchmark from the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. The comparison, however, reflects Formula 1's radically revised 2026 technical regulations rather than any lack of outright performance, with the current generation of cars producing significantly slower lap times than their predecessors.
Norris qualified third but will start only 13th after serving his 10-place grid penalty, promoting George Russell and Charles Leclerc onto the second row for Sunday's race.
Antonelli delivers when it matters most
Antonelli entered qualifying as the favourite after topping both FP2 and FP3, but nothing suggested the decisive margin he would eventually produce.
The opening Q3 runs pointed towards one of the closest qualifying sessions of the season. Norris led the way by just 0.039s from Antonelli, with Leclerc and Verstappen also within two tenths. Even a late red flag, caused after gravel was dragged onto the circuit at Stavelot, did little to separate the frontrunners.
When the session resumed, Antonelli simply delivered.
Having left time on the table in FP3 after an aborted lap and a compromised second qualifying simulation, the Italian produced his cleanest lap of the weekend. Matching Verstappen through the middle sector before pulling clear over the remainder of the lap, he transformed what had looked like an unpredictable pole fight into a commanding victory.
Verstappen extracts everything Red Bull had
Verstappen ensured Red Bull remained firmly in contention throughout qualifying before securing second on the grid with a lap of 1:44.678.
A perfectly timed slipstream from team-mate Isack Hadjar on the decisive lap helped maximise the RB22's potential, something Verstappen openly acknowledged afterwards.
"The tow was definitely helping me, otherwise I would not be standing here, I would be P6 or something."
Even with that assistance, Antonelli still finished more than three tenths ahead. Verstappen nevertheless starts alongside the Mercedes, with Spa's long blast towards Les Combes offering an immediate opportunity to attack into the opening lap.
Norris pays the price despite front-row pace
Few drivers have looked as consistently quick around Spa this weekend as Norris.
The McLaren driver qualified third with a 1:44.801, only 0.123s slower than Verstappen, but his weekend had effectively been compromised before qualifying began. A 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his control electronics allocation means he will line up only 13th despite producing genuine front-row pace.
His final Q3 attempt ended after dipping a wheel into the gravel at Turn 13, preventing any further improvement, although his earlier lap had already confirmed McLaren's competitiveness at Spa.
Ferrari recover from Hamilton scare
Only hours earlier, Hamilton's participation in qualifying had been in doubt after crashing heavily at Fagnes during FP3.
Ferrari completed repairs to the suspension, floor and rear wing in time for qualifying, allowing the seven-time world champion to progress into Q3 without penalty.
Leclerc briefly joined the fight for provisional pole during the opening Q3 runs before qualifying fifth in 1:44.893, while Hamilton finished only 0.002s behind his team-mate with a 1:44.895. Norris' grid penalty subsequently promotes the Ferrari pair to fourth and fifth on Sunday's starting grid.
Russell limits the championship damage
Russell recovered well after spending much of the weekend struggling to match Antonelli's pace.
The Mercedes driver qualified fourth in 1:44.869, finishing 0.508s behind his team-mate after losing valuable time in the final sector of his decisive lap. Norris' penalty promotes him to third on the grid, giving Mercedes two cars inside the top three for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Fine margins everywhere else
The midfield battle proved every bit as competitive as expected.
Alex Albon missed Q2 by just 0.007s, while Liam Lawson narrowly failed to reach Q3 in 11th. Nico Hülkenberg's hydraulic failure delayed the start of the final qualifying segment, and Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto continued their impressive weekends by securing places in Q3.
One exceptional lap settles an open contest
Qualifying began with genuine uncertainty.
Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all looked capable of claiming pole position, while changing track conditions, slipstream tactics and a late interruption repeatedly shifted the balance.
Then Antonelli produced one exceptional lap.
His advantage of more than three tenths transformed what had looked like the closest qualifying session of the weekend into its clearest result.
Antonelli has been the benchmark since Friday afternoon, but Spa rarely rewards the fastest driver with an easy afternoon. Verstappen starts alongside him, Russell lurks directly behind, Ferrari has both cars inside the top five, and Norris faces one of the biggest recovery drives of the season from 13th.
Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix promises to be every bit as compelling as qualifying.
Qualifying Times 2026 Belgian GP
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
| 1 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:46.304 | 1:45.142 | 1:44.361 | 15 |
| 2 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:45.930 | 1:45.589 | 1:44.678 | 12 |
| 3 | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:45.865 | 1:45.454 | 1:44.801 | 11 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:46.185 | 1:45.689 | 1:44.869 | 18 |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:46.278 | 1:45.397 | 1:44.893 | 18 |
| 6 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:46.124 | 1:45.543 | 1:44.895 | 15 |
| 7 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:46.433 | 1:45.671 | 1:45.016 | 17 |
| 8 | 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:46.191 | 1:45.629 | 1:45.143 | 18 |
| 9 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:46.609 | 1:46.082 | 1:45.628 | 18 |
| 10 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:46.062 | 1:45.823 | DNF | 13 |
| 11 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:46.501 | 1:46.120 | 12 | |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:46.679 | 1:46.331 | 12 | |
| 13 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:46.795 | 1:46.392 | 12 | |
| 14 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 1:46.893 | 1:46.671 | 12 | |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:47.080 | 1:46.777 | 12 | |
| 16 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:47.113 | 1:46.779 | 12 | |
| 17 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:47.120 | 6 | ||
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:47.801 | 6 | ||
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:47.823 | 8 | ||
| 20 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | 1:47.971 | 8 | ||
| 21 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:50.002 | 6 | ||
| 22 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:50.177 | 8 |
The quickest sector times during this qualifying session were:
- 30.130 sec. by Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls RB 03.
- 46.050 sec. by Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB22.
- 28.100 sec. by Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17.
The pole position time of last year was a 1:40.562 min, also clocked by Kimi Antonelli with the Mercedes W17.
Check out our: 2026 Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix preview.
What's Your Next F1 Grand Prix Podium Prediction?
São Paulo Grand PrixSao Paulo · round 20 of 23The Predictor F1-Fansite data model
Championship form and recent form. The starting grid joins in after qualifying, then the chances update.
Kimi AntonelliMercedes · #1235%to win
Max VerstappenRed Bull · #316%to win
Lewis HamiltonFerrari · #4412%to winWho's on the podium?
Pick your top 3, then drag the number (or use the arrows) to set the order. You can edit until the race starts.
Scoring: 3 pts for a driver in the exact spot, 1 pt for the right driver in the wrong spot. A perfect podium earns the Oracle badge.
A free account locks it in. We keep your picks while you sign up.
Everyone's picks stay hidden until lights out, so no one can copy.
All 22 drivers: win, podium and points chances
| # | Driver | Win | Podium | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi AntonelliMercedes | 35% | 78% | 100% | P1 in the championship · 4 podiums in the last 5 |
| 2 | Max VerstappenRed Bull | 16% | 48% | 99% | P2 in the championship · 5 podiums in the last 5 |
| 3 | Lewis HamiltonFerrari | 12% | 39% | 98% | P3 in the championship · 2 podiums in the last 5 |
| 4 | Charles LeclercFerrari | 11% | 38% | 98% | P5 in the championship · 2 podiums in the last 5 |
| 5 | George RussellMercedes | 6.5% | 23% | 92% | P4 in the championship · 1 podium in the last 5 |
| 6 | Lando NorrisMcLaren | 5.4% | 20% | 88% | P6 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 1 DNF |
| 7 | Oscar PiastriMcLaren | 3.5% | 13% | 74% | P7 in the championship · no podium in the last 5 |
| 8 | Isack HadjarRed Bull | 2.3% | 8.8% | 63% | P8 in the championship · 1 podium in the last 5 |
| 9 | Liam LawsonRacing Bulls | 1.4% | 6.3% | 50% | P9 in the championship · no podium in the last 5 |
| 10 | Pierre GaslyAlpine | 1.0% | 3.2% | 27% | P10 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 1 DNF |
| 11 | Nico HülkenbergAudi | 0.9% | 3.0% | 26% | P14 in the championship · no podium in the last 5 |
| 12 | Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls | 0.7% | 3.0% | 27% | P11 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 1 DNF |
| 13 | Carlos SainzWilliams | 0.5% | 1.9% | 18% | P17 in the championship · no podium in the last 5 |
| 14 | Oliver BearmanHaas | 0.5% | 2.1% | 20% | P13 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 2 DNFs |
| 15 | Fernando AlonsoAston Martin | 0.5% | 1.9% | 16% | P16 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 2 DNFs |
| 16 | Franco ColapintoAlpine | 0.4% | 1.9% | 19% | P12 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 3 DNFs |
| 17 | Gabriel BortoletoAudi | 0.4% | 1.6% | 17% | P15 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 1 DNF |
| 18 | Ryo HirakawaHaas | 0.4% | 1.7% | 17% | P24 in the championship · no podium in the last 1 |
| 19 | Alex AlbonWilliams | 0.4% | 1.3% | 13% | P19 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 3 DNFs |
| 20 | Lance StrollAston Martin | 0.4% | 1.6% | 14% | P23 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 3 DNFs |
| 21 | Sergio PérezCadillac | 0.4% | 1.4% | 13% | P21 in the championship · no podium in the last 5 |
| 22 | Valtteri BottasCadillac | 0.3% | 1.0% | 11% | P22 in the championship · no podium in the last 5, 3 DNFs |
Podium = chance of a top-three finish, Points = chance of a top-ten. Rounded; the win column adds up to 100%.
Season standings · 2026
How the Predictor works
No bookmakers, no odds: every number comes from the F1-Fansite results database. Each driver gets a strength score from the factors below; the race is then simulated 10,000 times and we count how often each driver wins, finishes on the podium or scores points. It does not know about weather or reliability, and it says so. Grid penalties count as soon as the official starting grid is in.
Before qualifying the model is honest about the odds: three or four candidates share most of the chance. After qualifying the grid takes over and the call sharpens.
Calibration this season: when it said 8%, it happened 5% of the time; when it said 16%, it happened 6% of the time.
