All articles tagged with #spa francorchamps
Mercedes' Spa floor teardown reveals how the 2026 F1 aero package relies on diffuser and underbody flow to generate rear downforce and stability. The analysis highlights features like the diffuser kick line, inner 'hole', and floor edges that energize underbody airflow and control flow separation and tyre squirt, with Mercedes tweaking the Canadian GP setup to improve rear grip and driver confidence.
F1’s 2026 power-unit changes, including reduced downforce and restricted electrical energy deployment, are reshaping Spa’s lap: sector two relies more on the ICE, erasing some high-speed carries and altering speeds through Blanchimont and Pouhon; teams are experimenting with multiple energy-usage presets as they adapt to the new regime, with 2027–28 tweaks anticipated to recover some circuit character.
Live Belgian Grand Prix qualifying from Spa-Francorchamps where Kimi Antonelli led a tight Q3 ahead of Max Verstappen, with Lando Norris hit by a 10-place race penalty and Isack Hadjar also penalised, reshaping the starting order. Q2 was disrupted by gravel and a hydraulic leak from Hulkenberg, and several drivers were eliminated in Q1/Q2. Hamilton, who crashed in practice, still took part in qualifying as teams navigated penalties and strategic tyre choices.
In Spa-Francorchamps qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, Antonelli makes a comeback as Q1 eliminates six drivers, 16 advance to Q2, and the top-10 battle for pole unfolds, with traffic expected to be manageable but the threat of a red flag keeping chaos on standby.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the FP3 pace at Spa with a 1:45.990, beating Norris and Verstappen, as Lewis Hamilton crashed at Turn 13 at the session end, potentially impacting Ferrari's qualifying repairs.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli led FP3 at Spa-Francorchamps with Norris and Verstappen close behind, while Lewis Hamilton ended the session by crashing into the wall, setting the stage for qualifying.
Kimi Antonelli led FP2 at Spa with a 1:45.944, just ahead of Lando Norris by 0.190s, as the session was interrupted twice—first by gravel and then by Pierre Gasly’s late crash that ripped off his rear wing. Verstappen was third and Hamilton fourth after a timing-board hiccup was resolved. Isack Hadjar posted the early top time on medium tyres but will take a hefty grid penalty for Sunday due to powertrain changes; Piastri missed the opening minutes due to hydraulics issues in FP1.
Max Verstappen led the opening F1 practice at Spa-Francorchamps, setting a 1:47.070 on softs to beat Lewis Hamilton by 0.145s as Red Bull showed strong pace. Charles Leclerc and Ido Hadjar split the Bulls, with Piastri fifth despite a late-session hiccup that required a return to the pits. Lando Norris and George Russell joined the top eight, while rookie Jak Crawford finished last and Lance Stroll endured a difficult session further down the times.
Max Verstappen led FP1 at Spa-Francorchamps with a 1:47.070 as Lando Norris received a 10-place grid penalty for a new battery; early front-runners included Hadjar and Leclerc, with the session taking place in dry, hot conditions ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Spa-Francorchamps will be a defining test for the 2026 F1 energy strategy, as long straights and fast corners push drivers to split battery deployment across the lap. Alonso and Norris warn that aggressive energy use could ruin sectors, with teams anticipating 'super clipping' on key run-ins while balancing downforce choices. With power units delivering roughly 540hp (versus F2’s ~610hp), energy management will shape both strategy and performance, keeping Spa from being a pure speed test. McLaren and Williams flag a difficult, energy-sensitive weekend, and the race also marks Spa’s absence in 2027 due to rotation (returning in 2028 with a 60-40 split favoring combustion).
Formula 1 has extended the Las Vegas Grand Prix for at least a decade, keeping the race on the Strip through 2037 under a new 10-year deal backed by local authorities. In contrast, Spa-Francorchamps will become a rotational Belgian GP through 2031, hosting only select years (2026, 2027, 2029, 2031) while Barcelona will fill the calendar in Spa’s off- years (notably 2028, 2030, 2032), with both venues racing in 2026. The Dutch GP will cease after 2026; Istanbul Park and Portimão are returning to the calendar in 2027, with Portimão on a two-year deal (2027–28) and Turkey on a multi-year rejoin plan.
Rainy Spa-Francorchamps sets the stage for the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa as WEC teams prep with driver debuts and schedule-driven shifts: van der Linde and Vanthoor return with BMW Team WRT, Aitken and Barrichello also join after IMSA duties, and Louis Deletraz makes his Hypercar debut in the No. 12 Cadillac. With Qatar’s race timing compressing Le Mans prep, teams emphasize cross-program data between BMW’s GTP and Hypercar efforts, while hydrogen-technology discussions and the FIAWEC+ app expand fan access at Spa.
The 2023 Belgian GP at Spa was delayed over 90 minutes due to heavy rain, safety concerns, and driver feedback, highlighting F1's ongoing challenges with wet conditions and safety protocols, ultimately leading to a cautious approach that affected the race's excitement.
Carlos Sainz supported the race director's decision to delay the Belgian GP start by 80 minutes due to rain, emphasizing safety given the track's history and recent accidents. Despite a disappointing race, he praised the cautious approach, which included a rolling start under safety car conditions, and acknowledged the gamble of starting from the pitlane did not pay off.
The start of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa was delayed due to heavy rain causing poor visibility, leading race control to suspend the start with a red flag. The race is rescheduled to begin at 16:20 after conditions improved, although more rain is expected during the race.