Formula 1 qualifying takes place today at Spa-Francorchamps, where the 2026 Belgian GP weekend continues with FP3 before the grid is decided for Sunday’s race.
Qualifying begins at 16:00 local time in Belgium, which is 15:00 in the UK, 10:00 ET and 07:00 PT. Before that, the final practice session starts at 12:30 local time, giving teams one last opportunity to refine their cars after an eventful Friday at Spa.
Kimi Antonelli heads into Saturday with the early advantage after setting the fastest time in FP2 for Mercedes. Max Verstappen had led FP1 for Red Bull Racing, while Lando Norris put McLaren second in the later session.
What time is FP3 today at the Belgian GP?
FP3 for the 2026 Belgian GP starts at 12:30 local time on Saturday, July 18.
The final practice session will run for one hour and gives teams their last chance to make set-up changes before parc ferme restrictions apply for qualifying.
FP3 start times around the world:
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- Belgium / Central Europe (CEST): 12:30
- United Kingdom (BST): 11:30
- United States Eastern (ET): 06:30
- United States Pacific (PT): 03:30
- Australia (AEST): 20:30
- New Zealand (NZST): 22:30
FP3 should be particularly valuable for George Russell, Oscar Piastri and several other drivers who endured disrupted or unrepresentative Friday sessions.
What time does F1 qualifying start today?
Qualifying for the 2026 Belgian GP starts at 16:00 local time at Spa-Francorchamps.
Qualifying start times around the world:
- Belgium / Central Europe (CEST): 16:00
- United Kingdom (BST): 15:00
- United States Eastern (ET): 10:00
- United States Pacific (PT): 07:00
- Australia (AEST): 00:00 Sunday
- New Zealand (NZST): 02:00 Sunday
The session will determine the provisional starting order for Sunday’s race, although grid penalties will alter where several drivers eventually line up.
Full Belgian GP 2026 schedule
The Belgian GP follows the traditional three day weekend format at Spa-Francorchamps.
| Session | Your Time | Local Time (Belgium) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | 17 Jul, 13:30 – 14:30 (CEST) | |
| Free Practice 2 | 17 Jul, 17:00 – 18:00 (CEST) | |
| Free Practice 3 | 18 Jul, 12:30 – 13:30 (CEST) | |
| Qualifying | 18 Jul, 16:00 – 17:00 (CEST) | |
| Belgian Grand Prix | 19 Jul, 15:00 (CEST) |
Sunday’s race is scheduled for 44 laps of the 7.004 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Belgian GP qualifying weather forecast
Saturday is expected to be cooler and more settled than Friday, although the possibility of rain has not completely disappeared.
Temperatures are forecast to rise from around 10C in the morning to a maximum of 21C, with track temperatures potentially reaching the upper 30s. There is a 20% chance of rain, with most of the activity expected to remain south or east of the circuit.
Cloud cover should build during the day, which may limit track temperature increases between FP3 and qualifying. Winds are expected to average around 14 km/h, with gusts potentially reaching 35 km/h.
Those gusts could still influence car balance through Spa’s fastest sections. The run through Eau Rouge and Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont demands confidence, and changing wind direction can quickly make the rear of the car feel unstable.
Antonelli set the pace in FP2
Friday ended with Antonelli at the top of the timesheets after a significant improvement from Mercedes between the two sessions.
The championship leader had finished sixth in FP1 before setting a 1:45.944 in FP2. That put him 0.190 seconds ahead of Norris, with Verstappen third and Lewis Hamilton fourth for Ferrari.
Antonelli looked competitive on both the medium and soft tyres, suggesting his pace was not built around one isolated qualifying lap. However, Mercedes still believe the leading group is closely matched over both single laps and longer runs.
The Italian also carries the pressure of a tightening championship fight. His advantage over George Russell has fallen to 25 points after reliability problems and missed opportunities across recent rounds.
Pole at Spa would give Antonelli the strongest possible platform to rebuild momentum, but the circuit’s long lap leaves little room for mistakes.
Verstappen led FP1 and remains a pole threat
Verstappen opened the weekend by topping FP1 with a 1:47.070, beating Hamilton by 0.145 seconds and Charles Leclerc by just over two tenths.
The Red Bull Racing driver then finished third in FP2, 0.472 seconds behind Antonelli. He reported a generally positive balance, although downshift issues and energy management remained areas for improvement.
Spa places unusual demands on the power unit because of its long full throttle sections and limited heavy braking zones. Teams must carefully manage electrical deployment to avoid running out of usable energy before the end of the lap.
Verstappen has won three times at Spa and has often excelled around the circuit, particularly when grip levels change. If Red Bull Racing can improve its energy deployment and clean up the car’s balance, he should remain firmly in the fight for pole.
McLaren show encouraging pace
Norris finished second in FP2 after improving significantly from the opening session.
The McLaren driver set a 1:46.134, placing him 0.190 seconds behind Antonelli. His one lap pace looked competitive, but the result comes with an important complication: Norris faces a 10 place grid penalty for exceeding his permitted allocation of power unit components.
That means even pole position would leave him starting no higher than 11th on Sunday. Qualifying still matters, however, because every place he gains before the penalty is applied improves his eventual starting position.
Oscar Piastri had a more disrupted Friday. A hydraulic leak at the end of FP1 delayed his appearance in FP2 while McLaren changed the gearbox, limiting his running before he eventually finished sixth.
FP3 will therefore be especially important for Piastri, who won the 2025 Belgian GP and should be a strong contender if he can recover the lost track time.
Ferrari remain close after promising Friday
Ferrari began the weekend strongly, with Hamilton second and Leclerc third in FP1.
Hamilton remained competitive in FP2 and finished fourth, while Leclerc dropped to 11th after losing his quickest lap to track limits. The raw order did not fully reflect the Scuderia’s underlying pace.
Hamilton reported that the balance was generally positive, although he identified the middle sector as an area where the car could improve. That is a critical part of the Spa lap, where downforce and confidence matter more than outright straight line speed.
The compromise will be central to Ferrari’s qualifying prospects. A lower downforce set-up helps along the Kemmel Straight but makes the car more difficult through Pouhon and the faster corners later in the lap.
After winning two of the last three Grands Prix, Ferrari arrive with renewed momentum. Leclerc’s Silverstone victory followed Hamilton’s success in Barcelona, bringing both drivers closer to the championship fight.
Russell needs a response in FP3
Friday was more difficult for Russell, who finished eighth in both sessions.
The Mercedes driver struggled with balance and sliding in FP1 after the team underestimated the available grip. Changes before FP2 improved the car, but his final position still did not reflect the pace expected from him.
Russell’s longer runs were more encouraging, but he needs to find more performance over one lap before qualifying. With only 25 points separating him from Antonelli in the standings, starting several rows behind his teammate could prove costly.
Spa’s long lap gives drivers fewer qualifying attempts than at most circuits. A poorly timed yellow flag, traffic through the final sector or a small mistake at track limits can eliminate an otherwise competitive driver.
That makes FP3 crucial for Russell as he looks to sharpen the car’s single lap balance and restore confidence before Q1.
Gasly crash disrupted FP2
FP2 ended with a red flag after Pierre Gasly lost control of his Alpine at Stavelot.
The rear of the car stepped out and sent Gasly into the barriers, damaging the rear wing and suspension while leaving debris across the circuit. The session resumed only briefly, with drivers completing practice starts rather than further flying laps.
The interruption denied several drivers a final qualifying simulation and limited the amount of representative long run data available to teams.
Gasly’s mechanics also face a substantial repair job before FP3. Any delay on Saturday morning would leave the Frenchman with even less time to prepare for qualifying.
Grid penalties add a strategic complication
Qualifying will not produce the final starting order on its own. Norris carries a 10-place grid penalty, while Isack Hadjar is expected to start from the back following power unit changes on his Red Bull Racing car. Lance Stroll also has a 10-place penalty.
Those penalties could influence how teams approach qualifying. Norris still needs to progress as far as possible, but McLaren may also consider tyre usage and whether preserving sets for Sunday offers greater value than chasing an unlikely front row start.
For drivers without penalties, the altered grid presents an opportunity. A strong Q2 or Q3 performance could translate into a better starting position once the penalties are applied.
Why qualifying matters at Spa
Spa offers more overtaking opportunities than many Formula 1 circuits, but qualifying remains hugely important.
Starting near the front gives drivers access to clean air and reduces the risk of opening lap incidents through La Source, Eau Rouge and Raidillon. It also gives teams greater flexibility with strategy if the race is affected by a Safety Car or changing weather.
The slipstream along the Kemmel Straight can help drivers attack, but following through the middle sector remains difficult. Cars that lose downforce in dirty air may struggle to stay close enough to complete a pass.
The long lap also increases the cost of traffic. Drivers must create space without allowing tyres to cool too much, while teams need to judge precisely when to release cars from the pits.
What to watch during F1 qualifying today
The main question is whether Antonelli can convert his FP2 pace into pole.
Mercedes looked much stronger in the second session, but Verstappen, Norris and Hamilton all remained close enough to challenge. The gaps could tighten further if cooler Saturday conditions suit one team more than another. The key areas to watch include:
- Whether Antonelli can maintain his FP2 advantage
- Whether Verstappen can turn FP1 pace into pole
- How much Norris’ grid penalty influences McLaren’s approach
- Whether Piastri recovers after losing track time
- Whether Hamilton and Leclerc can challenge for Ferrari
- How quickly Russell improves his single lap balance
- Whether wind or showers affect track conditions
- How drivers manage traffic on Spa’s long lap
- Whether track limits decide positions in Q1 or Q2
Qualifying could also be shaped by timing. Even a brief shower at one end of the circuit may force teams to send cars out earlier than planned.
Championship context before qualifying
The 2026 championship has tightened considerably before the Belgian GP. Antonelli leads Russell by 25 points after nine rounds, while Hamilton sits only seven points further back. Ferrari’s recent victories have brought the Scuderia into a title fight that appeared much less competitive earlier in the season.
For Antonelli, pole would be an important response after failing to score in two of the last three races. For Russell, qualifying offers a chance to stop his teammate from rebuilding the lead.
Hamilton also arrives with genuine momentum after winning in Barcelona and finishing strongly at Silverstone. A first row start at Spa would strengthen his position as a serious championship contender.
Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Piastri remain capable of influencing the title battle even if they sit further behind in the standings.
Friday suggested the leading four teams are closely matched. Saturday will reveal whether Antonelli’s FP2 pace was the clearest sign of the true order or only one stage in a qualifying fight that remains wide open.
F1 Today FAQs: Belgian GP qualifying
Qualifying for the Belgian GP starts at 16:00 local time, which is 15:00 in the UK, 10:00 ET and 07:00 PT.
FP3 starts at 12:30 local time in Belgium, which is 11:30 in the UK, 06:30 ET and 03:30 PT.
Max Verstappen was fastest in FP1 for Red Bull Racing, while Kimi Antonelli led FP2 for Mercedes.
Saturday is expected to bring a mixture of cloud and sunshine, with temperatures reaching around 21C and a 20% chance of rain.
Yes. Lando Norris has a 10 place grid penalty for exceeding his permitted power unit component allocation.
The Belgian GP is held at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Spa has the longest lap on the current calendar, which gives drivers fewer attempts and makes traffic, tyre preparation, energy deployment and changing weather especially important.
