Belgian GP grid: Antonelli on pole for Spa formula schedule
Kimi Antonelli starts the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix from pole at Spa-Francorchamps, ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell. Lando Norris drops to 13th after a 10-place power-unit penalty. The race is Sunday at 15:00 local time — key times for fans tracking the formula schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed pole with a 1:44.361 lap, nearly three-tenths clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
- George Russell and Charles Leclerc fill the second row after Norris’s penalty reshuffled the official grid.
- Five drivers take penalties: Norris starts 13th; Alonso and Hadjar start from the back; Stroll and Sainz also drop 10 places.
- The Belgian GP, round 10 of 2026, starts at 15:00 local time, with Formula 1 live coverage from 14:00.
- Spa’s 2026 pole is almost four seconds slower than last year’s, underlining energy-management limits on the formula schedule.
Who starts on the front rows at Spa?
According to the official Formula 1 starting grid, Antonelli heads the field after no one could get within three-tenths of a second of the Mercedes teenager in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.
Verstappen lines up second. Russell (Mercedes) and Leclerc (Ferrari) share row two. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri occupy row three for Ferrari and McLaren respectively.
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto locked in seventh and eighth after strong qualifying runs. Liam Lawson and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly round out the top 10.
Which drivers took grid penalties?
Norris’s 10-place drop for a new power-unit element means the reigning World Champion starts 13th, despite a qualifying pace that had him just behind Verstappen before the penalty applied.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar must start from the back after taking on multiple new power-unit elements. They line up behind Lance Stroll and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who carry the same 10-place penalty as Norris.
When does the Belgian GP start on the formula schedule?
Sunday’s race begins at 15:00 local time. Formula 1 says live coverage starts from 14:00, so streamers and TV viewers should lock in early for formation-lap build-up.
For more race-day stream and TV timing alerts, browse our Streaming & TV Alerts category.
Why does Spa feel different under 2026 rules?
Autosport notes this year’s pole of 1:44.361 is almost four seconds slower than Norris’s 2025 Spa pole of 1:40.562. Drivers say energy deployment has changed iconic corners, with Pouhon no longer the same high-commitment test.
That matters for race strategy from Antonelli’s pole — and for how far Norris, Alonso and Hadjar can climb from deep in the order.