Ferrari’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend did not begin in the best possible way, but Friday’s race-pace data still offers hope of a closely contested podium battle. The Maranello team appeared to take a wrong turn with its setup between FP1 and FP2, yet Lewis Hamilton’s earlier high-fuel running suggested the SF-26 could remain competitive over a race stint.
Ferrari arrived at Spa-Francorchamps aiming to confirm the progress made between Barcelona and Silverstone, while recognising how difficult it would be to extract the maximum from its power unit across the circuit’s long full-throttle sections. Friday confirmed those concerns, with energy deployment, aerodynamic configuration and changing track conditions all affecting the competitive picture.
Why Ferrari’s performance changed between FP1 and FP2
The performance order changed dramatically between the two Friday sessions. Part of that variation came from how each driver and team configured electrical energy recovery and deployment around the lap, but setup choices and aerodynamic load were also decisive.
The scale of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s progress between FP1 and FP2 demonstrated how much performance could be unlocked by changing the car’s configuration. Ferrari moved in the opposite direction, taking a step backwards after its encouraging Belgian GP FP1 performance.
Rain between the sessions may also have contributed to the dramatic differences. The track temperature fell from approximately 41°C in FP1 to 33°C in FP2, altering the available grip and the way the tyres behaved.
Ferrari probably made setup changes that did not suit those cooler and less grippy conditions. That remains an interpretation rather than a confirmed explanation, but it would help account for the SF-26’s disappointing step between the sessions.
The team still has time to recover, although the task will not be straightforward. FP3 represents Ferrari’s only remaining opportunity to verify that its overnight decisions are correct. If the car is not operating close to its full potential by then, making further corrections before qualifying will become much more difficult.
Red flag prevents Ferrari from completing its FP2 long runs
Friday’s high-fuel simulations provide only a partial picture. Pierre Gasly’s late FP2 accident prevented Ferrari and Oscar Piastri from completing representative laps with significant fuel on board. Lando Norris was also limited to only two laps.
As a result, the Spa FP2 results reveal much more about single-lap performance than sustained race pace. Ferrari’s lack of afternoon long-run data means its earlier FP1 work must be used as the main reference.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen completed the most useful running before the interruption. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was exceptionally quick and consistent after a complicated opening session. Increasing the aerodynamic load at the rear helped the championship leader make a substantial step and understand how to approach Spa over both a qualifying lap and a longer stint.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari race pace keeps podium hopes alive
The positive news for Ferrari is that its available high-fuel data places the SF-26 very close to the approximate pace demonstrated by the other leading cars. Despite Ferrari’s FP2 setback, the relevant simulations were all in the region of 1m51.8s.
Lewis Hamilton was able to maintain that pace on the Soft C4 tyre, while the other comparable runs were completed on the Medium C3. George Russell also appeared to belong to this closely matched group.
The compound difference makes the comparison particularly interesting, although it does not provide definitive proof of Ferrari’s position. The runs came from different sessions and conditions, while the precise fuel loads remain unknown. Ferrari’s FP1 data nevertheless suggests that the SF-26 has not fallen out of podium contention.
The picture is also consistent with the idea that Ferrari’s main Friday concern involved extracting performance over a single qualifying lap rather than a complete absence of race pace. The team’s hybrid energy-management difficulties in FP2 may have exaggerated its deficit across Spa’s long lap.
Ferrari’s podium battle could be closely contested
Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull appeared closely matched around the 1m51.8s race-pace benchmark, with George Russell’s Mercedes also part of the group. If that comparison remains representative, the fight for the final podium places could be extremely close.
Oscar Piastri was comfortably the quickest driver during the FP1 high-fuel running, but the analysis considers his car likely to have been carrying less fuel. For that reason, his times were excluded from the direct comparison. The exact McLaren fuel load was not disclosed, so this remains an analytical judgement rather than a confirmed fact.
Ferrari must now use FP3 to determine whether its overnight changes have restored the balance and grip lost during the afternoon. The engineers must also refine the SF-26’s energy strategy under the demanding 2026 energy rules at Spa.
Lewis Hamilton’s ability to produce competitive high-fuel times on the Soft tyre is encouraging, but Ferrari still needs more representative running before drawing firm conclusions. Tyre degradation, fuel-corrected pace and the precise effect of the team’s setup changes remain important unknowns.
The technical configuration selected for the Belgian Grand Prix will be put to its final practice test in FP3. Ferrari’s Friday mistake has complicated the weekend, but the available race data suggests Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can still compete for a place on the podium.
Leave a Reply