Formula One 2026: Kimi Antonelli takes pole at F1 Belgian Grand Prix – as it happened

The championship leader earned pole position at Spa-Francorchamps from Max Verstappen

 Updated 7d agoPhilip CornwallSat 18 Jul 2026 11.49 EDTFirst published on Sat 18 Jul 2026 09.15 EDTShareKey events

View image in fullscreen

Key events
• 7d agoPreamble
7d ago11.49 EDT

And here is Giles’s report:

Mercedes’ Antonelli outpaces Verstappen to grab F1 Belgian Grand Prix pole positionRead more

7d ago11.40 EDT

Right, that’s all from me. Giles Richards’ report will be along shortly, and Yara El Shaboury will be with you tomorrow to see if Antonelli can get back to extending his championship lead. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

7d ago11.37 EDT

Karun Chandhok explains that a yellow flag for the pit lane was in Leclerc’s line of sight on the track.

7d ago11.35 EDT

Leclerc says fifth was in line with what was expected. Disappointed by his last lap due to an issue with a yellow flag.

7d ago11.33 EDT

Wolff is hoping for two cars that can drive in front, saying Russell was mysteriously losing time on the straights. He worries about the start and cars breathing down Antonelli’s neck.

7d ago11.31 EDT

Toto Wolff says Antonelli had overheating tyre problems to start with: “Slowly but surely he comes back and at the end he is dominant.”

7d ago11.27 EDT

Here are the top-10 timings

1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:44.3612 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.3173 Lando Norris McLaren +0.4404 George Russell Mercedes +0.50085 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.5326 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.5347 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.6558 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls +0.7829 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +1.26710 Isack Hadjar Red Bull no time

Hadjar goes to the back and Norris drops 10 places.

7d ago11.24 EDT

Russell will start third, immediately behind his teammate and alongside Charles Leclerc.

7d ago11.22 EDT

Antonelli has six poles this season. He shares the front row with a car that probably would be sixth if it hadn’t had a helping hand. Yes, he will face pressure from Verstappen but get the start right and it could be perfect for the 19-year-old.

7d ago11.19 EDT

Norris, like Verstappen half Belgian, says: “It’s nice to be standing here, not nice knowing I’ll be 10 places back.”

7d ago11.18 EDT

He continues: “I’ll see if we can hang in there.”

7d ago11.18 EDT

Verstappen asked about the tow: “It was definitely helping me, otherwise I’d be P6 … Tomorrow I’ll be looking in my mirrors. The car has been quite decent all weekend.”

7d ago11.17 EDT

Antonelli speaks. “It’s great to be on pole. Not a very straightforward session … But tomorrow is another day and I have Max starting next to me.”

View image in fullscreen

7d ago11.15 EDT

Russell more than half a second behind Antonelli.

7d ago11.14 EDT

Antonelli with the largest pole margin of the season, +0.317.

7d ago11.13 EDT

Norris drops to 13th. He can be happy with that.

7d ago11.12 EDT

Red Bull radio tells Verstappen he should “thank Isack” for P2.

7d ago11.11 EDT

Verstappen gets the tow and beats Norris but Antonelli beats him with 1:44.361. Verstappen +0.317, Norris left at +0.440, Russell +0.508.

View image in fullscreen

7d ago11.07 EDT

Hadjar once again leading Verstappen. Bortoleto is the Audi meat in a Mercedes sandwich, which could just help Russell, suggests David Croft.

View image in fullscreen

7d ago11.06 EDT

We are back under way. Bernie Collins has been arguing Lando Norris should stick, as he would overtake quickly anyone in 11th to 15th that might wind up ahead, but he is going to twist.

7d ago11.01 EDT

We will be back under way shortly. Here is the test card.

View image in fullscreen

7d ago10.58 EDT

Hadjar did not set a time, he just did his job for Verstappen. Piastri touched the gravel, it seems, and is +0.661 on partially used tyres.

7d ago10.57 EDT

Red flag for gravel. Norris, remember, is heading for 11th as it stands.

7d ago10.56 EDT

It is so tight at the top. Antonelli +0.039, Leclerc +0.092, Verstappen +0.183. Hamilton 0.261, Russell 0.355.

7d ago10.55 EDT

Norris fastest in 1:44.801! Leclerc up to third.

View image in fullscreen

7d ago10.54 EDT

First Q3 times see Verstappen 1:44.984, but Antonelli 1:44.840.

7d ago10.52 EDT

Hadjar out in front of Verstappen, able to give him a tow, as predicted.

7d ago10.50 EDT

That delay was not too bad and Q3 is on.

7d ago10.47 EDT

Karun Chandhok uses the lull to show how Antonelli is just attacking the corners much better than Russell.

7d ago10.44 EDT

Q3 delayed. Hulkenberg has a hydraulic leak and has to stop on the circuit.

7d ago10.43 EDT

Out go Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Sainz and Bearman. Bortoleto gets the Audi into Q3, a good result for him worth eighth on the grid, given the penalties for Norris and Hadjar.

7d ago10.40 EDT

Russell stays eighth.

7d ago10.39 EDT

The question here is can anyone get out of the drop zone to mess up Hadjar and Red Bull.

7d ago10.37 EDT

Final runs starting and Russell is saving new tyres for Q3. Mercedes confident he is through.

7d ago10.35 EDT

Russell is more than half a second down on Antonelli but has 0.45 over Lawson in 11th.

7d ago10.34 EDT

The drop zone has Lawson, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz and Bearman.

7d ago10.33 EDT

Norris third at 0.312 and Hamilton 0.401. Russell pushed down to eighth …

7d ago10.32 EDT

Verstappen splits the Mercedes pair. 0.447 behind Antonelli, but then Leclerc goes +0.255.

Explore more on these topics
• 7d agoAntonelli takes pole
• Motor sport
ShareReuse this content