The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is always a special event, and this year's practice sessions were no exception. With the introduction of harvesting strategies and new parts, the teams were eager to test their setups and gain an advantage. Let's take a closer look at the winners and losers from Friday's practice sessions.
Kimi Antonelli: The Early Leader
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes was the standout performer on Friday. While Mercedes' overall performance was relatively low-key, Antonelli's car was in the right place from the start. The second practice session saw a major course correction for Mercedes, with Antonelli emerging as the happier driver. His long-run pace was particularly impressive, and he was in the expected spot in the qualifying simulations. Antonelli's performance suggests that Mercedes may be on the right track, and he could be a strong contender for the weekend.
George Russell: Struggling Mercedes Driver
In contrast, George Russell had a difficult day. Off the pace in both practice sessions, Russell is set for a long Sunday if his pace continues. Despite a power unit issue in the first session, Russell was still three-tenths behind Antonelli in the second session. The long straights at Spa-Francorchamps may be a challenge for Russell, and he will need to get on top of this issue swiftly. It's a stark contrast to Antonelli's performance, and Russell may need to re-evaluate his strategy for the rest of the weekend.
Max Verstappen: Topping the Practice Sessions
Max Verstappen of Red Bull had a strong showing, topping a practice session for the first time in 2026 with his FP1 performance. While he had his usual gearbox gripes, the positives were clear. Verstappen's long-run pace was sufficient to put him in contention with Mercedes, and his short runs could put him in pole contention too. Although he was a respectable margin off Antonelli in the second session, team-mate Isack Hadjar has a back-of-grid engine penalty to contend with. Verstappen's performance suggests that Red Bull may be a strong contender for the weekend, and he could be a key player in the title race.
Aston Martin: A Humbling Weekend
Aston Martin knew it was in for a difficult weekend at Spa, and so it's proving. Team representative Mike Krack insists the pace is not worse than expected, but it's still quite something to see the timesheets so merciless. Both cars were over five seconds adrift in both sessions, and both regular drivers are aware they're fighting for nothing. While Krack remains optimistic, it's clear that Aston Martin has a long way to go. The team will need to make the right decisions and execute well if it wants to improve its performance.
Franco Colapinto: The Surprise Package
Alpine's Franco Colapinto sprung the biggest surprise in FP2, going seventh for Alpine, ahead of Mercedes' struggling George Russell. Colapinto was 0.15s ahead of the fastest Red Bull, and more reassuring will be the six-tenths gap to next-best midfielder, Haas' Ollie Bearman in 12th. The Argentinian also beat team-mate Pierre Gasly in both practice sessions, by three-tenths in FP1 and then by 1.8s in FP2. Colapinto's performance suggests that Alpine may have found a hidden gem, and he could be a strong contender for the rest of the weekend.
Pierre Gasly: A Crash and a Setback
Pierre Gasly's day took a turn for the worse when he crashed exiting the Fagnes chicane, tearing off his rear wing and damaging his tyres at the end of FP2. The fate of the gearbox and drivetrain is unknown, and it's a significant setback for the Frenchman. Gasly's crash raises questions about the safety of the track and the reliability of the cars. It's a stark contrast to Colapinto's performance, and Gasly will need to work out why he's behind his team-mate.
Haas: A Decent Showing
Haas had a decent showing on Friday, with Ollie Bearman saying the car 'felt strong'. The team tested a new front wing, and Bearman said it represented a slight improvement, despite conceding the team was 'nowhere near' Red Bull and Alpine. Better balance and behaviour represent a good foundation to build on for Haas as it seeks to close the gap to Williams. Esteban Ocon was under two-tenths off Bearman in FP2, after being four-tenths off in FP1. While Q3 and points might be a stretch, Haas is set to capitalize if any of the usual top-10 runners falter.
Conclusion: A Weekend of Surprises and Setbacks
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is always a special event, and this year's practice sessions were no exception. With the introduction of harvesting strategies and new parts, the teams were eager to test their setups and gain an advantage. While some teams had strong performances, others faced setbacks and surprises. The weekend is far from over, and the teams will need to make the right decisions and execute well if they want to improve their performance. It's a weekend of surprises and setbacks, and only time will tell who will come out on top.
