Formula 1 heads to Belgium from July 17 to July 19, 2026, for one of the most exciting races of the year: the Belgian Grand Prix. The race takes place at a historic track so famous and loved by drivers that many call it their all-time favourite.
What’s Happening in the F1 Championship Right Now
Heading into this weekend, rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ championship standings. However, the title race tightened up significantly at the last round in Silverstone. Antonelli suffered a sudden mechanical failure and retired from the race, allowing his Mercedes teammate George Russell to win and close the points gap to just 25 points.
Meanwhile, Ferrari is mounting a strong comeback. Charles Leclerc claimed his first victory since 2024 at the British GP, and Lewis Hamilton has been consistently gathering points with podium finishes in both the Sprint and main Grand Prix events. Because of these sudden shifts, Mercedes and Ferrari are locked in a fierce battle for the spotlight in Belgium.
Belgian Grand Prix Full Schedule
Here is the official schedule in both local time and Indian Standard Time (IST):
| Session | Local Time (Belgium) | IST (Indian Standard Time) |
| Free Practice 1 (Friday, July 17) | 1:30 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Free Practice 2 (Friday, July 17) | 5:00 PM | 8:30 PM |
| Free Practice 3 (Saturday, July 18) | 12:30 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Qualifying (Saturday, July 18) | 4:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Grand Prix Race (Sunday, July 19) | 3:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
Because fans watch from every corner of the world, the local start times will look different depending on where you live.
Where is the Belgian GP Happening?
The Belgian Grand Prix takes place at the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, tucked deep inside the green hills of the Ardennes forest.
This legendary track first hosted a Grand Prix nearly a century ago in 1925 and was part of the very first official F1 World Championship season back in 1950. Since 1985, Spa has appeared on the racing calendar every single year without fail.
Where Can You Watch It Live?
To watch the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix live, you can tune into the official broadcasting and streaming partners depending on your region:
- Global / Selected Regions: You can stream every session live on F1 TV Pro, which features live onboard cameras and team radio access.
- India: Live coverage of practice, qualifying, and the main race is available to stream via the FanCode App or via F1 TV Pro.
- United Kingdom: Every session will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
- United States: You can watch the full race weekend across ESPN channels and the ESPN+ app.
To track live lap timings, real-time strategies, and official position updates during the race, you can download the official F1 App or follow Formula 1’s live blog on F1.com.
Unique Facts About Spa-Francorchamps
Here are five genuinely surprising details about this historic circuit:
- The ‘Red Water’ River: The corner everyone talks about, Eau Rouge, is named after a real 15-kilometre stream flowing right underneath the track near the bottom of the steep uphill section. The river gets its name because the water looks reddish from high iron levels in the soil.
- Geology in the Names: Because the town of Spa is world-famous for its natural cold springs, several corners are named after water. La Source (the very first hairpin turn) simply means ‘the spring.’ Pouhon, the fast double-left corner, comes from an old local Belgian word for a natural spring where water bubbles up out of the ground.
- Built from Public Roads: Spa originally started life in the 1920s as a massive 14.9-kilometre triangle made entirely from ordinary public roads connecting three small Belgian towns. Designers eventually rebuilt it into the shorter, safer 7.004-kilometre layout fans know today in 1979.
- The Safety Revolution: In 1966, F1 legend Jackie Stewart crashed heavily on the old, high-speed public road layout during a massive downpour. He ended up trapped upside down in his car for close to 30 minutes while fuel leaked out around him. This terrifying experience pushed Stewart to become motorsport’s loudest voice, forcing tracks to build modern medical centers and barriers.
- Microclimates: Because Spa stretches over 7 kilometres through high, uneven forest hills, it is incredibly common for rain to pour heavily on one side of the circuit while the other side stays completely dry. This microclimate makes tyre strategy a total guessing game for the engineers on the pit wall.
Also Read: Top 5 Most Unique F1 World Championship Wins
