Belgian Grand Prix 2026 – Friday

The first day of the Belgian Grand Prix 2026 at Spa-Francorchamps got off to a challenging start for the team, with neither driver satisfied with the car’s balance during the first practice session. Kimi Antonelli finished sixth and George Russell eighth in FP1. However, thanks to the team’s solid work between sessions, improvements were made, and Kimi led the time sheets in the second practice, while George ended the day eighth after only one attempt on soft tires. The usual long-run tests were interrupted by a lengthy red flag period after Pierre Gasly’s Alpine crashed into the barrier in turn 13. This means the team will head into the weekend with more unknowns than usual, expecting a fiercely competitive Saturday and Sunday. Kimi Antonelli noted that after a difficult first practice, several changes were made to the car, which led to an improvement, giving the team a positive direction to follow. George Russell stated that the team had a difficult Friday, having overestimated the grip in the first practice, resulting in a non-optimal starting setup. Despite this, they were able to gain some insights and make improvements for the second practice. Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, explained that the grip was lower than expected in the first practice, resulting in the car having too little downforce, making it difficult for the drivers to find the right balance. However, the changes made between sessions were successful, and the car was much better in the second practice. The team’s goal remains to score as many points as possible and fight for the win, with Kimi feeling well-prepared after a disappointing Silverstone and George looking to improve further on Saturday and Sunday.