2026 F1 Belgian GP FP3 live: final practice at Spa before qualifying. Can Ferrari rediscover its FP1 form in the final practice session at Spa?.

Good morning and happy Saturday to all ScuderiaFans.com readers. We are live for FP3 at the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, with the final practice session at Spa-Francorchamps scheduled to begin at 12:30 CEST and finish at 13:30, exactly 60 minutes later.

This will be a particularly important session, as it represents the final meaningful opportunity for the teams to make the necessary set-up changes and optimise the aerodynamic, chassis and power-unit package ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. With Spa also presenting teams with a demanding energy-management puzzle under the FIA’s latest rules, the final hour of running could prove especially revealing.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads an uncertain field into Belgian GP FP3

Andrea Kimi Antonelli was the fastest driver on Friday, returning to the top of the timesheets in FP2 after an unusually difficult opening practice session. The Italian remains the clear favourite heading into the weekend, but predicting the order behind the 19-year-old from Bologna is far more complicated.

Lando Norris put McLaren second in the afternoon session, ahead of Max Verstappen in third and Lewis Hamilton in fourth. However, Ferrari and Red Bull had looked considerably stronger during FP1, underlining just how quickly the competitive picture has changed over the first two practice sessions at Spa.

Ferrari will be looking for a clearer direction after Friday, particularly as Charles Leclerc outlined Ferrari’s expectations for Spa-Francorchamps ahead of the weekend. The team will also need to keep a close eye on the changing conditions, with a rain threat still hanging over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

George Russell aims to recover after difficult Friday

Mercedes also has a major question mark surrounding George Russell, who will be determined to respond after what was described as a horror Friday. His performance in FP3 could be crucial in establishing whether Mercedes can place both cars in contention when qualifying begins later today.

It is therefore impossible to draw a definitive picture of the drivers most likely to challenge Andrea Kimi Antonelli. That uncertainty is precisely why the final practice session of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix deserves such close attention, as Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes prepare for one of the most important qualifying sessions of the season.