Belgian Grand Prix 2026: What You Need to Know

When and Where is the Race?

Round 10 of the 2026 Formula 1 season is happening at a famous track called Spa-Francorchamps. This is where the Belgian Grand Prix takes place.

• The race weekend runs from 17–19 July.
• The main race is on Sunday.
• Sunday’s race is 44 laps long.
• The race starts at 14:00 BST (British Summer Time).

Who Got the Best Starting Spot?

Think of "qualifying" like a speed test to see who gets to start the race at the very front. The fastest driver gets to be in first place at the start.

• Kimi Antonelli (the current title leader) got the best spot — called "pole position."
• He was also the fastest in both Saturday and Friday practice sessions. That means he was super quick all weekend!
• Antonelli is from Italy.

How Does the Starting Line Look?

Here is the order of the first few drivers at the start of the race:

1. Kimi Antonelli – starting in 1st (P1)
2. Max Verstappen (from Red Bull) – starting in 2nd (P2)
3. George Russell – starting in 3rd (P3)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – starting in 4th (P4)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – starting in 5th (P5)

Important Point: Lando Norris was supposed to be near the front, but he got a 10-place grid penalty. That means he had to move back 10 spots, so he will start in 13th place (P13) instead.

Antonelli’s Strong Saturday

On Saturday, Antonelli was not just fast — he was the fastest all day long.

• He was ahead of his team-mate George Russell by 0.5 seconds.
• In racing, half a second is a big deal! It shows he was in great form.

Summary

To wrap it up:

• The Belgian Grand Prix is Round 10 of the 2026 F1 season, held at Spa from 17–19 July.
• Kimi Antonelli (title leader) starts first after topping all practice and qualifying.
• Verstappen starts second, Russell third, and the two Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton follow.
• Lando Norris drops to P13 because of a 10-place penalty.
• The 44-lap race begins at 14:00 BST on Sunday.

FAQ

What does "pole position" mean?
It means a driver qualified in 1st place, so they start the race at the very front of the line.

Why is Lando Norris starting in 13th?
He got a 10-place grid penalty, which pushed him back 10 spots from where he originally qualified.

What is a grid penalty?
It is like a timeout that moves a driver backward on the starting line as a punishment for a rule break or other reason.

What is BST?
BST stands for British Summer Time, which is the local time in the UK during summer.