F1 Daily News (2026)

20/07/2026

Charles Leclerc ‘Believed in Belgian Grand Prix Win Until the End’

Charles Leclerc said he believed victory was possible until the closing stages of the Belgian Grand Prix after surging into contention and eventually finishing close behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

Fresh from standing on the top step at Silverstone, Leclerc was confident Ferrari could again challenge the Silver Arrows. However, his hopes suffered an early setback when a yellow flag forced him to slow on his final lap in Qualifying, leaving him fourth on the grid.

The Ferrari driver quickly recovered at the start, passing George Russell on the opening lap to move into third before chasing down Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and gaining another position.

Verstappen later fought his way back through, leaving Leclerc under pressure from Oscar Piastri. The pair became involved in a tense battle that resulted in damage to the McLaren.

Leclerc escaped without punishment and Ferrari capitalized on a well timed Virtual Safety Car, calling him into the pits before sending him back onto the track ahead of Antonelli.

Leclerc Maintained Victory Belief

“I believed in the win until the end,” Leclerc said after Antonelli reclaimed the lead with 10 laps remaining. “We had a little bit of luck obviously with the VSC at the right time for us but the pace was relatively strong.”

Leclerc’s podium further tightened the Drivers’ Championship standings after Russell failed to score following a race ending collision with the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton.

The result leaves Leclerc 28 points behind Russell and 33 points behind his Ferrari teammate.

Ferrari Still Has Work to Do

Despite the positive momentum building around the Scuderia, Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari still has areas to address before it can mount a sustained Formula 1 challenge against Mercedes.

Ferrari made the rare decision not to introduce any upgrades at the Belgian Grand Prix, and Leclerc reported balance problems during part of his stint on the hard tires.

“There's been some five, six laps on the hard where I've been struggling with the front axle and then it came back a little bit,” he explained.

“I felt better with the car, there's still some work to do but surely it's a step forward.”

20/07/2026

Russell says Belgian Grand Prix weekend was ‘not good enough’ after first lap retirement

George Russell described his Belgian Grand Prix weekend as “not good enough” after a first lap collision with Lewis Hamilton ended the Mercedes driver’s race at Spa-Francorchamps.

Russell started third in Sunday’s 44-lap Formula 1 race after struggling throughout the weekend with a straight-line speed deficit to team mate and Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

While polesitter Antonelli fought Max Verstappen for the lead on the opening lap, Russell was passed along the Kemmel Straight by the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.

The Briton then attempted to drive around the outside of Hamilton under braking for Les Combes. The pair made contact through the right-left sequence, sending Russell into the gravel and out of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton continued but received a five-second penalty for the incident.

“It all started from the build up. I came out of Turn 1, for whatever reason I was 30%-40% down on my battery and I just got totally swamped by three cars,” Russell said.

“[The] incident with Lewis, I’ve not really seen it. I thought it was probably a racing incident. I’m not going to blame Lewis.

“If things were normal, I wouldn’t have been battling with Lewis, I would have been battling with Kimi and Max ahead.”

Russell arrived at Spa 25 points behind Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship and acknowledged that he needed more from Mercedes to challenge his team mate.

“It’s one thing after another, after another, after another,” Russell said.

“Not good enough on all regards. Try and reset again, done it enough times this season and see what we can do.”

20/07/2026

Antonelli seizes Belgian GP opportunity to extend championship lead

Kimi Antonelli said he must “take every opportunity” in the title battle after winning the Belgian Grand Prix and extending his advantage over Mercedes team mate George Russell to 50 points.

Antonelli secured his sixth victory of the season in Sunday’s 44-lap Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps. It was his first win since the Monaco Grand Prix, following two non-scores in the previous three rounds because of car problems.

Starting from pole position, the Italian teenager briefly lost the lead to Max Verstappen at the exit of La Source. Antonelli recovered first place before Les Combes and controlled the opening stint before making his first pit stop.

However, a short Virtual Safety Car period allowed Charles Leclerc to pit and move ahead of the Mercedes. Antonelli then had to fight his way back to the front, regaining the lead with 10 laps remaining.

“It’s great to be back on the top step after obviously a few difficult rounds,” Antonelli said.

“Was a hard-fought race. We lost first place with a VSC but then we managed to make our way back. Was a tough win because Charles was quick and we had to hold onto that.”

The result carried added significance for the Drivers’ Championship after Russell retired on the opening lap following a collision with Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver received a five-second penalty for the incident.

Antonelli now holds a 45-point advantage over Hamilton, who finished fourth but remained under investigation for an unsafe pit release. Russell sits a further five points behind.

Reflecting on his difficult run before the Belgian Grand Prix, Antonelli said his momentum had never disappeared despite the lack of results.

“I think the momentum was always there,” he said.

“Was just about getting the result and today we were a bit lucky in terms of what happened with the championship but that’s why you’ve got to take every opportunity.

“We saw that it can swing really easily, the situation, so we [have] just got to keep performing, keep bringing the result and we’ll see what happens at the end of the year.”

19/07/2026

Antonelli claims Belgian Grand Prix pole after decisive final qualifying lap

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after producing a major improvement on his final Qualifying lap at Spa-Francorchamps, beating Max Verstappen by more than three-tenths of a second.

The Mercedes driver had set the pace in FP2 and FP3 but admitted that his route to a sixth pole position of the season was far from straightforward.

Antonelli took time to build momentum in Q1, where he was beaten by rivals including Verstappen and George Russell. The Briton finished ahead of his Mercedes teammate for the first time during the weekend.

The Italian responded in Q2 by returning to the top of the timesheets before delivering a 1m 44.361s lap in the final segment of Qualifying. His effort put him 0.317s clear of the leading Red Bull and denied both Verstappen and Lando Norris pole position.

“It's great to be on pole,” Antonelli said. “It was not a very straightforward session. The track changed a lot but we were able to improve lap by lap and bring home pole which was nice.

“Of course, tomorrow is another day. I have Max starting next to me so it's going to be important to get a good start and then try to be ahead into Turn 5.

“The last lap was good, I improved a lot in Sector 2 especially. [It] was a nice lap. Of course, there was still a little bit here and there but it was very clean, so I’m very happy.”

Antonelli will now attempt to end a difficult run that included retirement in Barcelona, a missed opportunity to win in Austria and a non-scoring result at Silverstone.

Despite Mercedes’ reliability problems, Antonelli has regularly converted pole positions into race victories this season. Another win in the Belgian Grand Prix would increase his advantage at the top of the Drivers' Championship.

“Good start and try to have good pace,” he said when asked about his approach to the race. “Degradation of course is going to be very big but we try our best in order to maximise the performance. It’s going to be fun tomorrow.”

Antonelli will have the chance to claim his first Formula 1 victory since Monaco when the Belgian Grand Prix begins at 15:00 local time on Sunday, July 19, at Spa-Francorchamps.

18/07/2026

Alonso joins Norris, Hadjar and Stroll with Belgian GP grid penalty

Fernando Alonso will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Aston Martin replaced several power unit components ahead of Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Honda-powered Aston Martin driver became the latest Formula 1 competitor to receive a grid penalty this weekend following three power unit changes between Friday practice and Saturday’s running.

When FP3 began, it was confirmed that Alonso had taken a new Energy Store, Control Electronics and Ancillary Component, exceeding his season allocation for all three elements.

Under the regulations, the first breach of the permitted allocation for any component carries a 10-place grid penalty. A second breach, and each subsequent infringement, results in a five-place drop, with penalties imposed at the same Grand Prix applied cumulatively.

Any driver who receives penalties totalling more than 15 grid positions must start the race from the back of the field. Alonso has now crossed that threshold.

The sanction is unlikely to have a significant effect on his starting position given Aston Martin’s current struggles. The team has been cut adrift from the rest of the field at Spa as it waits to introduce upgrades at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Alonso is one of four drivers serving power unit-related grid penalties at the Belgian Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Aston Martin team mate Lance Stroll are also set to receive grid drops.

18/07/2026

Antonelli Tops Belgian GP FP3 as Hamilton Crashes Ahead of Qualifying

Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in final practice for the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, edging Lando Norris as Ferrari faced a race against time to repair Lewis Hamilton’s damaged car before Qualifying later on Saturday.

Antonelli continued his strong Friday form by producing a 1m 45.990s lap at Spa, finishing 0.139s ahead of McLaren’s Norris. Max Verstappen placed third, only 0.148s off the pace, while George Russell and Hamilton completed the top five.

Hamilton’s session ended with a crash at Turn 13. The seven time World Champion lost the rear of his Ferrari through the left hander, went into the gravel and glanced the barrier before stopping further down the road.

Quiet Start Before the Qualifying Simulations

Despite the pit lane opening at 12:30 local time in sunny and dry conditions, there was little early activity. Most of the Formula 1 field remained in the garages until close to the 20 minute mark.

Hamilton was the first leading driver to record a representative lap, setting a 1m 47.436s on Pirelli’s soft tyre. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moved within fractions of that time a few minutes later.

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad briefly went fastest before Hamilton reclaimed first place with a 1m 46.789s. At that stage, Antonelli, Russell and Verstappen had yet to appear on track.

Verstappen’s opening lap put him second, four tenths behind Hamilton. Mercedes waited until nearly 25 minutes had passed before sending Antonelli and Russell out, allowing the team to complete its Qualifying simulations in more relevant track conditions.

Antonelli Sets the Benchmark

Antonelli immediately moved to the top with a 1m 45.990s, putting himself eight tenths clear of Hamilton.

Russell could manage only fourth place on his first attempt, 1.2s behind his Mercedes team mate. The Briton complained about a lack of straight line speed after losing six tenths in the opening sector alone.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar also encountered problems. The Frenchman, who will serve a grid penalty this weekend after taking new power unit components, stopped at the pit lane exit before his car was recovered to the garage.

After returning to the track, Hadjar nearly hit the rear of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin approaching Turn 8. He had locked up on his out lap and then abandoned his next flying lap, reporting: “Nothing is ready, everything is too cold.”

Russell returned for another attempt and improved in the first sector, but slower times through the remaining two sectors left him one second behind Antonelli.

Verstappen improved inside the final 15 minutes, climbing to second and moving within two tenths of Antonelli despite putting a wheel into the gravel at the exit of Turn 9.

Russell then closed to within four tenths of his team mate, only for Norris to move ahead of both the Mercedes driver and Verstappen.

Antonelli abandoned his second flying lap after running wide at La Source and reporting: “I didn’t get the gear in.” He tried again inside the final 10 minutes but failed to improve following a major slide through the Les Combes chicane.

His 1m 45.990s lap remained unbeaten, with Norris second ahead of Verstappen and Russell.

Hamilton Crash Leaves Ferrari With Repair Work

Hamilton held fifth place when he crashed on his final lap in an incident similar to Pierre Gasly’s accident during FP2.

The Ferrari driver lost control through the left hander at Turn 13, crossed the gravel and made contact with the barrier before stopping with damage to his car.

Team mate Charles Leclerc finished sixth, while Piastri placed seventh ahead of the two Audis of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Hadjar completed the top 10.

Lindblad and Racing Bulls team mate Liam Lawson followed in 11th and 12th. Haas driver Ollie Bearman split the Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Gasly.

Alex Albon finished 16th for Williams, ahead of Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and the second Williams of Carlos Sainz, who is under investigation for a yellow flag infringement.

Esteban Ocon placed 19th for Haas, followed by Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Stroll ahead of Qualifying later on Saturday.

Belgian Grand Prix FP3 Results

Formula 1 Moët & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix 2026

Position| Driver| Time
1| Kimi Antonelli| 1:45.990
2| Lando Norris| +0.139s
3| Max Verstappen| +0.148s
4| George Russell| +0.367s
5| Lewis Hamilton| +0.392s

18/07/2026

Cadillac explains Formula 1 livery change after abandoning split design

Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon says the team’s decision to move away from its original split Formula 1 livery reflects its determination to take a different approach during its debut campaign.

The American outfit attracted considerable attention when it unveiled an asymmetric black-and-white design during the Super Bowl halftime show ahead of its maiden season in F1.

Cadillac later introduced special liveries for the Miami Grand Prix, incorporating a Stars and Stripes theme, and Silverstone, where it marked America’s 250th birthday.

However, the split design was absent during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, with the team adopting a look similar to the one it used in Miami.

Fan response influenced Cadillac’s latest design

Asked during Friday’s press conference why Cadillac had changed its original livery, Lowdon said the team wanted to demonstrate its willingness to approach Formula 1 differently.

“We’ve had quite a few liveries already,” he said. “We started, as you say, with an asymmetric livery and we launched that during the Super Bowl halftime show, which again we thought was another way of showing that the team wants to approach Formula 1 a little bit differently.

“We said we would try and bring a few different things to Formula 1 and that was a really positive move. We ran that livery for a while. Then we ran a livery in Miami, which was really well received by the fans and we took account of that.

“The livery that we have now is actually quite similar to that Miami livery. And then in the middle of that we introduced the [livery] to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

Cadillac determined to push boundaries in F1

Lowdon said the evolving designs also reflected Cadillac’s broader philosophy as it establishes itself in Formula 1.

He pointed to the number of upgrades introduced by the team as further evidence that Cadillac is not content simply to participate.

“As a team if you look at, not just livery changes but if you look at upgrades, I think we’re pretty high up there on the count of upgrades we brought to the car,” he added.

“Again, I think it’s just a reflection of the way we’ve tried to approach the entry into Formula 1. It’s never been about just getting here, it’s always been about trying to get here as a team and do what all the other teams do, which is push the boundaries.

“We’re not just sitting back. That’s upgrading the car or experimenting with the livery. I have to say the fan reaction has been really positive as well.”

18/07/2026

Verstappen Wary of Rival Pace Despite ‘Good Day’ in Belgian Grand Prix Practice

Max Verstappen said Red Bull maximised its Formula 1 package during Friday practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, but acknowledged that the running also highlighted a gap to its rivals.

The Dutchman finished inside the top three in both sessions, setting the pace in FP1 before ending FP2 in third place.

Verstappen opened the weekend with a benchmark lap of 1m 50.654s. Kimi Antonelli then went faster during the second hour of practice, leaving the Red Bull driver third on the timesheets.

His FP2 session was not without difficulty. Verstappen reported problems with his gear shifts, describing them as “unbelievable” after running wide into a gravel trap. The incident caused a brief red flag while stones scattered across the circuit were cleared.

Despite those issues, Verstappen was satisfied with Red Bull’s overall performance.

“Pretty decent, I think,” he said. “The balance is there straight away, just fine tuning a little bit with the car, which hopefully unlocks a little bit more pace. Honestly, I think from what we have as a package, it’s been a good day.

“We just focus on ourselves. Honestly, I cannot be disappointed or whatever. It’s been a good day for us.

“I’m not sure how much more there is in there compared to the others, but for me, feeling-wise it’s been alright. In the second practice you see a little bit more what the real gap is probably, but hopefully we can eke out of that a little bit towards Qualifying.”

Red Bull Reintroduces Old-Specification Rear Wing

Verstappen also had to readjust to Red Bull’s previous rear wing specification, which the team reintroduced after crashes in Austria and Great Britain caused by an updated faulty component.

The four-time Formula 1 champion said the main difference was that the wing “opens differently”.

Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache provided further detail, explaining that the team was working to understand and resolve the issue seen at Silverstone before bringing back the higher-performance version.

“Everybody saw the issue that we had in Silverstone,” Wache said. “We are trying to reproduce this issue. We understand now, we try to fix the problem and try to bring back the wing as quick as possible because it’s a performance benefit.

“Our first priority is to make sure that the car is safe for the driver and for ourselves, and then we bring a normal activation rear wing that is a little bit down on performance but is able to run on the car.

“I think the balance is clearly far from perfect, which we have to work on, plus some degradation on the long runs that we have to work on. I think it’s a good starting point to improve.”

16/07/2026

Lando Norris Set for 10 Place Belgian Grand Prix Grid Penalty

Lando Norris will take a 10 place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after McLaren elected to install a fourth power electronics unit on his Formula 1 car.

The decision exceeds Norris’ permitted allocation for the season, with McLaren choosing the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as the most suitable venue to absorb the penalty because of its relatively strong overtaking opportunities.

McLaren hopes the new component, which incorporates reliability improvements introduced by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, will help Norris avoid further power unit problems during the remainder of the F1 season.

McLaren Responds to Power Unit Reliability Problems

Mercedes engines have faced criticism in recent rounds following retirements outside the drivers’ control, including Kimi Antonelli’s exit in Barcelona. McLaren, as a Mercedes customer team, has also encountered reliability difficulties.

Norris has been affected by power unit issues on several occasions. A terminal problem prevented him from starting the Chinese Grand Prix, while further complications emerged in Japan and Monaco.

Under Formula 1 regulations, a driver who uses more power unit elements than the permitted allocation receives a grid penalty at the first Grand Prix where each additional component is used.

McLaren confirmed that Norris’ latest change will result in a 10 place penalty.

“McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team will fit car Number 1 with a fourth power electronics [unit] this weekend in Spa, exceeding our permitted number of allocated power electronics units and incurring a 10-place grid penalty,” the team said.

“Car Number 1's first power electronics unit suffered a terminal issue in China, which meant Lando was unable to start the race. Lando’s second power electronics unit, fitted in Japan, needed to be withdrawn for remedial work after suffering issues in Free Practice, which necessitated moving to a third and final power electronics unit within the permitted allocation.

“While the second power electronics unit was able to be repaired after the Japanese Grand Prix, it suffered a terminal issue in FP2 in Monaco, and was withdrawn from our allocation once again.”

Spa Chosen Ahead of Hungary and Zandvoort

McLaren’s recent upgrades have helped Norris recover ground in the Drivers' Championship standings. He is now fifth with 97 points, although the team remains determined to use its refreshed power unit and continued development to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari.

The power electronics unit installed in Japan has operated reliably in every session since Miami. However, McLaren said Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains has since introduced further reliability fixes to its new power electronics systems.

“While the power electronics unit we installed in Japan, and have used in every session since Miami, has worked reliably, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains has since introduced a series of reliability fixes to their new power electronics systems,” the statement continued.

“However, in order to take advantage of these improvements, we must incur a 10-place grid penalty on Lando’s car in order to take a new unit.

“We have chosen to do this in Belgium, a circuit where overtaking is relatively more prevalent, as opposed to the following two events in Hungary and Zandvoort.

“We now plan to use this fourth power electronics unit for the remainder of the season, in order to maximise reliability while minimising sporting penalties on Lando.”

15/07/2026

Ollie Bearman hailed as ‘class act’ after emotional Ayrton Senna Lotus drive

Ollie Bearman earned widespread praise from Formula 1 fans after an emotional run at Silverstone in Ayrton Senna’s race-winning 1985 Lotus 97T.

The 21-year-old British F1 driver was invited to take the iconic black-and-gold Lotus around his home Grand Prix circuit alongside former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok.

The car holds a special place in Formula 1 history, having carried Senna to his maiden Grand Prix victory at Estoril in 1985. For Bearman, climbing into its cockpit proved deeply moving.

“It’s a huge step back in time,” Bearman said before starting the engine. “Seeing the car that he raced and won his first race in is quite an emotional moment.”

The Haas F1 driver completed several laps of Silverstone before returning to the pit lane in tears, overwhelmed by the significance of the experience.

“That was an incredibly special experience,” he said. “Sometimes you have these days in racing where it reminds you of why you fell in love with the sport.”

Bearman’s reaction resonated strongly with supporters, who praised his passion for Formula 1 history and the respect he showed for Senna’s legacy.

“What a grateful chap Ollie is, hands down one of the most respected drivers on the grid right now,” one fan wrote on YouTube.

Another commented: “He’s crying because it’s Senna’s car, the fact that this is what racing is. RAW speed, nothing but man and machine. We’ve lost track of that.”

“The kid is a true enthusiast. So passionate that he cries to drive such a legend of motorsport,” another fan posted.

A further response read: “Ollie is a proper racer. A respectful guy. All-round class act.”

Other supporters reflected on the emotional connection between generations of Formula 1 fans and drivers.

“Brought tears to my eyes, my late brother and I grew up during the Ayrton Senna age and to see the emotional impact on Ollie, who wasn't even born yet hit me right in the heart. I have a newfound admiration for Ollie,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “The pure emotion on Ollie's face was the ultimate sign of pure respect. Such a humble kid.”

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