Winners and losers from Belgian GP F1 practice - The Race
Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell experienced contrasting fortunes during Friday practice for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix. While Antonelli showed strong pace in his long runs, Russell struggled significantly with his car's setup and power unit performance.
Why it matters
Provides insight into the competitive landscape of the 2026 F1 season and the performance trajectory of Mercedes' driver lineup.
Formula 1 Winners and losers from Belgian GP F1 practice Samarth Kanal, Valentin Khorounzhiy 17 Jul 2026 — 4 min read Formula 1 returns to Spa-Francorchamps for the 71st Belgian Grand Prix but 2026 brings harvesting woes and worries.
Friday practice was therefore prime time to test harvesting strategies - and trial new parts, of which there were many declared in Belgium.
Here's who we thought won - and lost - over Friday's pair of practice sessions.
Mercedes' relatively low-key performance in FP1 hinted at a harder weekend than anticipated, but certainly on Antonelli's side of the garage, there was already a major course correction come the second session.
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