The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is always a special event, but this year's edition was particularly intriguing, with a focus on harvesting strategies and new parts testing. While some teams and drivers shone, others struggled, and the practice sessions provided a glimpse into the potential winners and losers for the upcoming race. In my opinion, the standout performer was Kimi Antonelli, who demonstrated a significant course correction between the first and second practice sessions. Mercedes' initial low-key performance in FP1 suggested a challenging weekend, but Antonelli's car was in the right place, and he was happier with the car in the afternoon. This is what makes this particularly fascinating: the ability to make such a quick adjustment and see immediate results. It's a testament to Antonelli's skill and Mercedes' ability to respond to challenges. What many people don't realize is that this kind of adaptability is crucial in Formula 1, where conditions can change rapidly and strategies must be adjusted on the fly. On the other hand, George Russell had a difficult day, with a power unit issue in FP1 and a 1.285s deficit to his team-mate in FP2. This raises a deeper question: is Russell suffering on the straights compared to Antonelli? If so, it could be a significant issue at Spa-Francorchamps, given its long straights. This is something Russell needs to address swiftly. Moving on, Max Verstappen topped a practice session for the first time in 2026 with his FP1 performance, and then finished third in FP2. The Dutchman had his usual gearbox gripes, but the positives were clear: long-run pace sufficient to put him in contention with Mercedes, and short runs that could put him in pole contention. This is an interesting development, as Verstappen has been struggling with gearbox issues all season. It will be fascinating to see if he can maintain this form and challenge for the pole position. Another standout performer was Franco Colapinto, who surprised everyone with his seventh-place finish in FP2, ahead of Mercedes' struggling George Russell. Colapinto attributed his turn of pace to the cooler conditions and some of the "lower-speed" corners at Spa-Francorchamps. This is a detail that I find especially interesting, as it highlights the importance of track conditions and the ability to adapt to them. It also shows the potential for underdogs to rise to the occasion. On the other hand, Aston Martin had a difficult day, with both cars over five seconds adrift in both sessions. Team representative Mike Krack insists the pace is not worse than expected, but it's still quite something to see the timesheets so merciless. This is a worrying trend for Aston Martin, as it suggests that the team is struggling to keep up with the rest of the field. Finally, Haas had a decent showing, with Ollie Bearman saying the car "felt strong" on Friday. The team tested a new front wing, which represented a slight improvement, despite conceding that they were "nowhere near" Racing Bulls and Alpine. This is a positive step for Haas, as it seeks to close the gap to Williams. In conclusion, the Belgian Grand Prix practice sessions provided a glimpse into the potential winners and losers for the upcoming race. While some teams and drivers shone, others struggled, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions and make quick adjustments will be crucial in determining the race's outcome. Personally, I think that the standout performers, such as Kimi Antonelli and Franco Colapinto, will have a strong chance of success in the race, while teams like Aston Martin and George Russell will need to work hard to improve their performance.
