Belgian GP FP3 report: Kimi Antonelli fastest as Lewis Hamilton hits the wall

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes W17), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 2026 F1

Kimi Antonelli topped the Belgian GP FP3 results at Spa-Francorchamps, setting the benchmark ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in the final practice session before qualifying. However, the most significant development for Ferrari came in the closing moments, when Lewis Hamilton crashed heavily and damaged the rear of his SF-26.

Ferrari had entered Saturday needing answers after an unconvincing Friday, with the team assessing overnight changes developed between Spa-Francorchamps and Maranello. The final hour of practice therefore carried extra importance for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, although the session also offered a clearer indication of the competitive order before qualifying.

Quiet beginning before Hamilton sets the early pace

As is often the case in FP3, the opening phase was subdued as teams managed their remaining tyre sets. Franco Colapinto, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were among the first drivers to run, while Isack Hadjar was the first of the leading group to take to the circuit on medium tyres.

Oscar Piastri brought the first McLaren onto the track after 10 minutes on C4 tyres, followed shortly by Lando Norris on C3s and Lewis Hamilton on the softest compound. Lewis Hamilton moved to the top of the timesheets after 15 minutes with a 1:47.436, only 0.025 seconds clear of Oscar Piastri.

Arvid Lindblad briefly displaced the Ferrari driver with a 1:47.342 for Racing Bulls, but Lewis Hamilton soon responded and went 0.533 seconds faster. Both Ferrari cars were carrying flow-vis paint around the rear of the car, underlining the team’s data-gathering work following a difficult Friday. That work came after an eventful build-up to the weekend, including the FIA’s latest energy-management challenge at Spa.

Kimi Antonelli produces a standout lap

Mercedes and Max Verstappen were among the last front-running cars to emerge. Max Verstappen initially went second, 0.378 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc reached fifth on his second attempt with the same set of soft tyres.

Isack Hadjar’s session was interrupted when he stopped at the pit-lane exit and reported a loss of power from his Red Bull power unit. Marshals returned the French driver to the Racing Bulls garage, although he was later able to rejoin the session.

When Mercedes began its qualifying-style work, George Russell went third, 0.497 seconds off the pace. Kimi Antonelli then delivered a remarkable 1:45.990 to take first place, a lap that immediately reset the standard for the rest of the field. Mercedes’ pace also followed its productive Friday running, when the team explored its latest Belgian GP technical developments.

Ferrari focus shifts to race pace and set-up changes

Lewis Hamilton returned to the track on used soft tyres during the second half of FP3 and began a short race-pace run. With grid position traditionally less decisive at Spa than at some circuits, teams were also using the session to prepare for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion produced consistently low 1:50 laps, although his stint lasted only six laps, suggesting Ferrari were not simulating the opening phase of the race with maximum fuel on board. Charles Leclerc improved by a few tenths but remained fifth at that stage, 1.132 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli and roughly four tenths slower than Lewis Hamilton.

With 15 minutes remaining, Charles Leclerc made a lengthy pit stop as Ferrari made substantial set-up changes to his SF-26. The Monegasque driver had not been satisfied with the behaviour of the car during his first runs, having already outlined Ferrari’s cautious expectations for Spa before the weekend.

Lewis Hamilton improves before late crash

Max Verstappen and George Russell fitted fresh tyres for another push lap and moved into second and third respectively, but Kimi Antonelli remained first. Lando Norris then climbed to second place, while Max Verstappen was set to start the Belgian Grand Prix with a 10-place grid penalty after taking a fourth battery pack.

Lewis Hamilton also switched to fresh tyres and improved to fifth, 0.392 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli. Charles Leclerc, after Ferrari’s major set-up revision, finished sixth and was a notable distance behind his team-mate.

The closing moments brought a major setback for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers, leaving the rear of his SF-26 heavily damaged and prompting a race against time for the Ferrari mechanics before qualifying. The incident adds further uncertainty to Ferrari’s Saturday after a weekend in which the team had already been monitoring the potential impact of Spa’s changing conditions on the SF-26.