The Belgian Grand Prix is this weekend with the title race closer than it has been all season and Spa-Francorchamps has a reputation of making things messier before it makes them clearer.
It’s race week again! 🤩
The mighty Spa-Francorchamps circuit awaits 👊#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/yIFoMZSOxk
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 13, 2026
Championship Race
Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the drivers’ standings, but a tough trio of races – a DNF, P3 and P15 – has allowed teammate George Russell to cut the gap to within 25 points following his home podium at Silverstone.
Lewis Hamilton is not far behind either, sitting just seven points back after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took the win at the British Grand Prix with Hamilton finishing third, according to ESPN.
Mercedes continue to lead the constructors’ table but Ferrari have closed the gap after winning two of the last three races.
The Circuit
Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar at 7.004km and, being so big, the weather may change dramatically from corner to corner, rain on one portion of the lap, dry asphalt on another.
The drivers haven’t had a proper wet race all season and forecasts of thundery storms over the weekend could change that very quickly.
Eau Rouge and Raidillon are still the trademark sequence, a blind, uphill flick that separates the confident from the cautious.
Verstappen
Max Verstappen is under pressure following consecutive woes with the Red Bull car including rear wing problem that curtailed his Silverstone weekend.
He’s already the subject of the conversation and Spa bears extra weight for him this year with his home fans out in force across the border.
There’s one qualifying session on Saturday, then 44 laps on Sunday. Considering Spa’s penchant for throwing curveballs, the math on the title race might look a lot different by Sunday evening.
