The iconic Spa Francorchamps plays host to the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images
Formula 1 returns to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix, with the championship fight tightening at a crucial stage of the season.
The 7.004km Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which has hosted all but 12 of the previous 70 world championship Belgian Grands Prix, remains one of the calendar’s great tests with its dramatic elevation changes and iconic sections including Eau Rouge, Raidillon, the Kemmel Straight, Pouhon and Blanchimont.
Belgium also begins the final double-header before F1 enters its month-long summer break, creating a critical phase of the championship.
Kimi Antonelli remains the driver they are all chasing, although his championship advantage has been significantly reduced across the past three rounds.
The Mercedes driver held a 66-point lead following the Monaco Grand Prix, but has not won a grand prix since his five-race winning streak came to an end. A retirement in Barcelona and a non-points finish in Britain have cut Antonelli’s advantage to just 25 points, with his Silverstone sprint victory his only win since Monaco.
Teammate George Russell has remained consistent during that period, finishing second in Barcelona, winning in Austria and placing second again in Britain to maintain his hopes of a maiden world championship.
Ferrari has also capitalised on Antonelli’s drop in form, winning two of the past three races through Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona and Charles Leclerc last time out at Silverstone.
Hamilton enters the weekend only seven points behind Russell and 32 adrift of Antonelli, while Leclerc remains fourth, albeit 71 points behind the championship leader.
Ferrari holds the record for the most Belgian Grand Prix victories, although it has not won at Spa since Leclerc claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory in 2019.
Mercedes last won the race in 2024, when Hamilton inherited victory after then-teammate Russell was disqualified for failing to meet the minimum weight requirement after crossing the line first.
Hamilton holds the record for the most Belgian Grand Prix victories among the current grid with five, while Max Verstappen is next with three.
The weekend also represents a second home race for Verstappen, who was born in Belgium and can expect plenty of support as he continues his pursuit of a first victory of the season.
Lando Norris can also claim a connection to the race through his Belgian mother and dual British-Belgian nationality, with the McLaren driver also hoping to secure his first grand prix victory of 2026. His teammate Oscar Piastri returns as the defending winner after triumphing at Spa 12 months ago.
With Antonelli’s lead shrinking and Russell and Ferrari carrying momentum, Spa shapes as another crucial weekend of the 2026 season.
When is the Belgian Grand Prix?
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps takes place on July 17-19 (AEST).
What time does the Belgian Grand Prix start?
The Belgian Grand Prix will start at 11pm AEST on Sunday, July 19. Scroll down for more time zones.
What is the weather for the Belgian Grand Prix?
The Belgian Grand Prix is known for its unpredictable weather, so any forecast is always taken with a grain of salt. Right now, a cool and cloudy weekend is expected at Spa-Francorchamps, with maximum temperatures of 23 degrees celsius on Friday and 21 degrees on Saturday, before race day reaches a forecast high of 20 degrees under similarly overcast conditions
How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix in Australia
The Belgian Grand Prix will be live on Fox Sports 506. There is no live free-to-air coverage or post-race free-to-air highlights of the event in Australia.
Can I live stream the Belgian Grand Prix in Australia?
The Belgian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Foxtel’s subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports.
How to watch F1 TV commentary feed
The alternative F1 TV commentary feed is available to Foxtel customers with a set top box. Kayo Sports subscribers can only watch the F1 TV feed during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Belgian Grand Prix Fox Sports broadcast times (AEST)
Friday, July 17
Practice 1: 9:00pm-10:58pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Saturday, July 18
Practice 2: 12:35am-2:15am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Practice 3: 8:15pm-10:10pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Qualifying: 11:55pm-1:05am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Sunday, July 19
Build-up: 9:30pm-10:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Race: 10:55pm-1:00am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix in New Zealand
Sky Sport will broadcast the Belgian Grand Prix, with Sky Sport 3 carrying the action on Friday, Sky Sport 2 on Saturday and Sky Sport 1 on Sunday.
Can I live stream the Belgian Grand Prix in New Zealand?
The Belgian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sport’s subscription streaming service Sky Go or Sky Sport Now.
Belgian Grand Prix Sky Sports broadcast times (NZST)
Friday, July 17
Practice 1: 11:00pm-1:00am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Saturday, July 18
Practice 2: 2:35am-4:15am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Practice 3: 10:15pm-12:10am NZST
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Sunday, July 19
Qualifying: 1:15am-4:00am NZST
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Build-up: 11:30pm-12:55am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Monday, July 20
Race: 12:55am-3:00am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix schedule
Friday, 17 July
Session
Duration
Local
AEST
ACST
AWST
NZST
FIA Formula 3
Practice Session
45 minutes
9:55
17:55
17:25
15:55
19:55
FIA Formula 2
Practice Session
45 minutes
11:05
19:05
18:35
17:05
21:05
FORMULA 1
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
13:30
21:30
21:00
19:30
23:30
FIA Formula 3
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
15:00
23:00
22:30
21:00
1:00
FIA Formula 2
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
15:55
23:55
23:25
21:55
1:55
FORMULA 1
SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
17:00
1:00
0:30
23:00
3:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Practice Session
45 minutes
18:30
2:30
2:00
0:30
4:30
Satuday, 18 July
FIA Formula 3
Sprint Race (12 Laps or 40 Mins +1 Lap)
40 minutes
10:00
18:00
17:30
16:00
20:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
11:20
19:20
18:50
17:20
21:20
FORMULA 1
THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
20:30
20:00
18:30
22:30
FIA Formula 2
Sprint Race (18 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
14:15
22:15
21:45
20:15
0:15
FORMULA 1
QUALIFYING SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
0:00
23:30
22:00
2:00
Sunday, 19 July
FIA Formula 3
Feature Race (15 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
8:30
16:30
16:00
14:30
18:30
FIA Formula 2
Feature Race (25 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap)
60 minutes
10:00
18:00
17:30
16:00
20:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Race (12 Laps or 30 Mins +1 Lap)
30 minutes
11:45
19:45
19:15
17:45
21:45
FORMULA 1
GRAND PRIX (44 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
120 minutes
15:00
23:00
22:30
21:00
1:00
Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship (After British GP)
Pos
Num
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
5
5
179
2
63
George Russell
Mercedes
2
4
154
25
25
3
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
1
0
147
32
7
4
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1
0
108
71
39
5
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
0
97
82
11
6
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
0
82
97
15
7
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
0
76
78
6
8
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
0
0
52
127
24
9
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
0
0
42
137
10
10
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
0
0
39
140
3
11
6
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
0
0
20
159
19
12
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas
0
0
18
161
2
12
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
0
0
18
161
0
14
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
0
0
6
173
12
14
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
0
6
173
0
16
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
0
5
174
1
17
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
0
3
176
2
18
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
0
1
178
2
19
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
0
0
179
1
19
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
0
0
179
0
19
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
0
0
179
0
19
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0
0
0
179
0