Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Lewis Hamilton Faces Late Setback as Kimi Antonelli Tops Belgian GP Pole
Highlights
- Kimi Antonelli topped third practice with a 1:45.990 lap time.
- Lewis Hamilton crashed at Turn 13, severely damaging his Ferrari.
- Antonelli led by eight tenths over closest rivals Norris and Verstappen.
- Charles Leclerc finished sixth, unable to match Antonelli’s pace.
- Practice ended early due to Hamilton’s crash, disrupting final runs.
- Teams varied strategies with soft tyres and long stints in practice.
Kimi Antonelli sets a commanding benchmark in FP3 at Spa with a 1:45.990, leading the field ahead of qualifying as Lewis Hamilton crashes at Turn 13, ending the session early.
Antonelli is the only driver in the high 1:45s. Lando Norris and Max Verstappen trail within two tenths. Russell and Hamilton are about four tenths back. Charles Leclerc places sixth.
Antonelli clocks 1:45.990 — the session’s only lap in the high 1:45s.
The session starts quietly. Midfield runners venture out after five minutes, then activity builds. Teams split programmes between longer runs and early soft-tyre qualifying simulations to benchmark the evolving track.
Verstappen delays his first run until around 20 minutes, then joins both Mercedes drivers on softs. By halfway, Antonelli extends an eight‑tenth cushion for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, underlining Mercedes’ single‑lap authority.
Russell lags well behind his teammate at that point, suggesting divergent tyre prep or fuel loads. Hamilton pushes to close the gap but struggles to break into the top three.
Late on, Hamilton loses the rear at Turn 13, clips the barrier, and wrecks the car’s rear. The red flag ends running early. The incident mirrors Pierre Gasly’s FP2 error at the same corner, as explored in Hamilton’s Spa challenge.
Hamilton’s Turn 13 crash inflicts heavy rear damage and triggers an early end to FP3.
Elsewhere, Isack Hadjar suffers a total power loss at pit exit. Red Bull mechanics recover the car, allowing him to rejoin with limited disruption, though his programme inevitably compresses.
Ferrari faces a rapid repair of the SF‑26 before qualifying, working within parc fermé thresholds that begin at Q1. Avoiding component changes will be vital to steer clear of potential penalties.
Ferrari races the clock to ready Hamilton’s SF‑26 before qualifying begins.
On outright pace, Antonelli looks the pole favourite. Yet Spa’s long lap, slipstream effect, and track evolution can compress margins, especially for Norris and Verstappen as temperatures stabilise.
Norris and Verstappen finish within two tenths; Russell and Hamilton sit roughly four tenths back.
Recent analysis of Antonelli’s Mercedes form in Belgium supports that single‑lap strength, but execution in changing conditions will remain decisive through Saturday.
Qualifying stays open, particularly if Ferrari completes repairs and refines Leclerc’s balance. See our 2026 Belgian qualifying preview for scenarios that could threaten Antonelli’s advantage.
Visual Summary
1:45.990
Antonelli
Blazes to Top
The Pace Battle
#1 Antonelli
Norris
Verstappen
Russell
Hamilton
Gap: Norris +0.13s, Verstappen +0.16s, Russell +0.43s, Hamilton +0.44s
Hamilton’s Turn 13 crash 🚨
Antonelli surges toward pole. Can Ferrari rebuild for Hamilton’s shot?
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
