Belgian Grand Prix 2026: Spa Sessions, Weather and Title Fight

Championship Battle Heats Up

Kimi Antonelli now leads teammate George Russell by just 25 points after a quiet British Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc took victory at Silverstone, pushing the Mercedes duo of Russell and Lewis Hamilton onto the podium. This tight margin sets the stage for a decisive fight at Spa‑Francorchamps.

Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, 17 July features first practice from 12:30‑13:30 and a second session 16:00‑17:00, all broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website, app and smart speakers. Saturday delivers third practice 11:30‑12:30 and qualifying 15:00‑16:00, both available on Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, the website and smart speakers. The 44‑lap race on Sunday, 19 July kicks off at 14:00 BST, covered on Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, the website and smart speakers.

How to Follow the Action

Live commentary runs across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Listeners can simply ask most smart speakers to “play Sports Extra” or “play Sports Extra 2”. The post‑race Chequered Flag podcast is now available on BBC iPlayer and YouTube for every grand prix.

Weather Outlook

Belgium could be the season’s first completely wet weekend, with rain expected on all three days. Friday and Saturday bring light rain and a gentle breeze, temperatures between 23 °C and 25 °C, and a 65 % chance of rain for qualifying, which starts at 15:00 local time. Sunday’s 14:00 BST lights‑out may see drizzle, but the sun should break through as the temperature peaks at 23 °C.

Last year’s race at Spa, won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, was delayed for an hour and a half because of heavy rain [Getty Images]