F1 news covering race results, driver standings, team updates, Grand Prix coverage, and Formula 1 racing analysis.
Kimi Antonelli secured pole for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, outpacing Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds. Verstappen credited teammate Isack Hadjar for a tow in the final sector, but Hadjar will start from the back after a power unit penalty.
Lewis Hamilton crashed at Turn 13 in final practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, damaging his Ferrari's rear-right wheel and suspension. Mechanics have just over two hours to repair the car before qualifying. Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time of the session with a 1m45.990s.
Lewis Hamilton explained that his FP3 crash at Spa-Francorchamps cost him a potential third-place qualifying result, as the repaired car felt different and he was missing a couple of tenths. He qualified sixth for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, two-tenths off Charles Leclerc in fifth and half a second behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli.
Ferrari is working to repair Lewis Hamilton's car for Belgian GP qualifying after he crashed in practice at Spa-Francorchamps. Hamilton hit a barrier with his rear-right wheel, damaging the suspension and rear, and apologized over the radio.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Naomi Schiff stated Max Verstappen is justified in exploring options beyond Red Bull. Verstappen, currently seventh in standings, reportedly has an exit clause if outside top two by summer break, two races away.
This commentary analyzes Formula 1 practice data from the Belgian Grand Prix, arguing that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has a significant race pace advantage over rivals Red Bull and McLaren. It contends that Red Bull's tyre degradation issues could be a decisive weakness, while noting Ferrari's potential based on limited data.
This commentary argues that Williams team principal James Vowles maintains driver trust through transparency and involvement, ensuring drivers are first to know about issues. It suggests that giving drivers a platform to contribute to team improvement is more powerful than management directives alone.
Lewis Hamilton was called a "legend" by fans after an emotional hug with a supporter he recognized from a previous meeting. The interaction came after Hamilton crashed in practice, but Ferrari repaired his car in time for qualifying. He qualified sixth, starting fifth after a grid penalty.
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi said he wrote to Lando Norris to express pride after Norris won his maiden Formula 1 world championship in 2025. Rossi noted that Norris followed him as a child and that seeing Norris's neon yellow supporters reminds him of his own fans.
This commentary argues that the 2026 F1 regulations make driving at Spa-Francorchamps less exciting, citing reduced power in sector two. It contends that drivers face a painful experience through corners like Pouhon due to limited MGU-K deployment, comparing the car's performance to an F3 car with F1 downforce.