Get ready for the Formula 1 race in Stavelot at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from 17 to 19 July 2026. Follow practice, qualifying and 44 laps on one of the championship's most demanding circuits, then plan your ticket purchase for the full three-day programme
Formula 1 at Spa-Francorchamps: three days of speed, strategy and changing conditions
Formula 1 returns to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the classic three-day race weekend format. Friday brings two free practice sessions, Saturday the final practice session and qualifying, and Sunday the race on one of the longest and most technically diverse circuits in the championship. The three-day ticket covers all three days, allowing visitors to follow how the cars and strategies develop from the first installation laps to the start of the main race.
The long straights require a low level of aerodynamic drag, the fast corners demand a stable car, and the elevation changes and possible rain punish every incorrect assessment.
Tickets for this event are in high demand. Availability for some grandstands and zones is already very limited, and no tickets are sold at the venue itself.
What awaits spectators at the circuit
A lap of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is 7.004 kilometres long. Sunday’s race is run over 44 laps, covering a total distance of 308.052 kilometres. The Formula 1 programme lasts up to two hours, but the dynamics of Spa-Francorchamps mean that the key moments are often spread throughout the entire race: the start at La Source, the slipstream towards Les Combes, tyre changes caused by local showers and the final attacks on the long straights.
The most recognisable part of the lap begins after the La Source hairpin. The cars descend towards Eau Rouge, abruptly change direction and climb through Raidillon towards the Kemmel Straight. The exit from this complex is crucial because strong acceleration creates an attacking opportunity in the braking zone for Les Combes. This is one of the places where spectators can clearly see the relationship between maximum speed, slipstreaming and the driver’s confidence in the car.
The second half of the lap offers a different test. Bruxelles demands control on the descent, Pouhon is a long and very fast left-hand corner, and Blanchimont maintains high speed before the final Bus Stop chicane. Settings that help on the Kemmel Straight can make life more difficult in the corners, while a car with more aerodynamic downforce loses time on the straight.
- Friday: first practice from 13:30 to 14:30 and second practice from 17:00 to 18:00.
- Saturday: third practice from 12:30 to 13:30 and qualifying from 16:00 to 17:00.
- Sunday: drivers’ parade from 13:00 to 13:30, with the Grand Prix starting at 15:00.
- Main race: 44 laps or a maximum of 120 minutes according to the published schedule.
The schedule is listed in local time and is subject to change. The weekend also includes FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and demonstration runs by historic F1 cars.
The favourites arrive under different kinds of pressure
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Belgium as the leader of the drivers’ standings with 179 points. George Russell is second with 154, while Lewis Hamilton is third with 147 points. Mercedes also leads the teams’ standings with 333 points, ahead of Ferrari with 255, McLaren with 179 and Red Bull Racing with 128 points. Those figures provide a clear framework for the weekend: Mercedes is defending its advantage, Ferrari is trying to extend its momentum, while McLaren and Red Bull Racing need a result that would reduce the gap.
Antonelli won in China, Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco. Russell triumphed in Australia and Austria, and finished second in the most recent race in Great Britain. Mercedes arrives with the most consistent points-scoring performance, but Spa quickly exposes any weakness in maximum speed, tyre management or driving on a partially wet track.
Ferrari arrives after a very strong run. Hamilton won at Barcelona-Catalunya, while Charles Leclerc triumphed at Silverstone, where Russell and Hamilton completed the podium. Leclerc also has a historic connection with Spa because he achieved his first Formula 1 victory there in 2019. Ferrari will therefore be among the teams that spectators follow particularly closely in qualifying, when it will become clear whether the speed shown in previous races can be transferred to the long and fast Belgian circuit.
McLaren has additional motivation. Oscar Piastri won at Spa-Francorchamps in 2025 ahead of Lando Norris after a race marked by rain, a delayed start and a switch to dry-weather tyres. Piastri took the lead on the first true racing lap, using his exit through Eau Rouge and the slipstream towards Les Combes. That example shows precisely where a race can be won in Belgium and why the leader after La Source does not yet have control of the opening lap.
Max Verstappen arrives in Belgium seventh in the championship with 76 points, but Spa is a circuit where his previous performance remains important. He won in 2022 and 2023, and the configuration with long straights and rapid changes of direction has often allowed him to make aggressive progress through the field. Red Bull Racing currently does not have the points position it enjoyed in those seasons, so Friday’s practice will provide the first real answer as to whether Verstappen can once again be a candidate for the front row or victory.
Qualifying can shape the entire race
The starting position is important, but it offers no protection. The driver on pole position must negotiate La Source well and then avoid a slipstream attack on the Kemmel Straight. One car can therefore be set up for the straights and overtaking, while another may be configured for a more stable middle sector and tyre preservation.
La Source is also the most sensitive point of the opening lap. The field bunches up there immediately after the start, and the exit from the corner determines the order before Eau Rouge. Spectators along the start-finish straight get the best view of the starting procedure, pit work and the finish, while the grandstands around Eau Rouge offer a panoramic view from La Source to the climb through Raidillon. Pouhon provides a different perspective: it is the place where spectators can best appreciate how long a modern F1 car can maintain speed under lateral load.
Places are disappearing quickly. It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially for zones offering views of Eau Rouge, Raidillon, La Source or Pouhon.
Weather in the Ardennes is not a background detail
Spa-Francorchamps is so extensive that conditions do not have to be the same around the entire circuit. One sector can be dry while rain remains in another. This affects tyre temperature, the timing of pit stops and the assessment of whether the track is ready for slick tyres. The first driver to switch to a dry compound can gain a great deal, but a misjudgement at Pouhon, Blanchimont or under braking for Les Combes carries a significantly greater risk than on a slower circuit.
The forecast available at the beginning of the week indicates the possibility of thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday and occasional showers on Sunday, with maximum daytime temperatures of approximately 22 to 24 degrees Celsius. The forecast should be checked again immediately before departure because conditions in the Ardennes can change rapidly.
For visitors, this means that waterproof outerwear and footwear suitable for grassy, earthy and sloping paths have practical value. Spa is not a compact street circuit: the distances between individual zones can be considerable, the terrain is undulating, and walking is an integral part of a day at the track.
The trackside experience: sound, visibility and different zones
The Spa-Francorchamps experience depends on the chosen location. At Eau Rouge, spectators can see the elevation change and sudden change of direction, while also hearing the drivers pass through the complex under heavy load. Along the Kemmel Straight, the emphasis is on acceleration, slipstreaming and braking. At Pouhon, the difference between a stable car and one that requires steering corrections is easiest to recognise.
Visitors with access to general areas should bear in mind that arriving early is important when choosing a position. Seats in the grandstands are generally numbered for each day, while free seating is provided in the 17-27 Blanchimont area. A three-day grandstand ticket normally retains the same seat throughout the entire weekend.
The new Combes Fan Zone is located in the Green Zone and includes simulators, food, drinks and a stage programme. Extended opening hours until 00:30 have been announced, as well as a broadcast of the football World Cup final from 21:00 on Sunday. This changes the rhythm of the visit for spectators who do not want to head towards the exits immediately after the race, especially when traffic around the circuit begins to become congested.
Arrival, parking and movement around the venue
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is located near Stavelot in the Belgian Ardennes, at Route du Circuit 55, B-4970 Francorchamps. The surroundings are rural and the access roads have limited capacity, so long delays develop during the Grand Prix weekend. Arrival by car should be planned with a substantial time allowance, and a parking space should be arranged in advance.
A shuttle service to the Combes entrance operates during the day from the car park in Malmedy. Daily bus services are also available from several cities in Belgium and from border areas of France, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The planned arrival of these buses at the circuit is around 9:00, with the return journey around 19:00, although the times may subsequently change. Visitors choosing this mode of transport should coordinate their return with the evening programme because the bus departure may be earlier than the closing time of the fan zones.
- Arrive well before the first session you want to watch because of traffic, security checks and the walk to your zone.
- Arrange parking before arrival; car parks and campsites are not included with every ticket.
- Visitors are permitted to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks into the venue, but not in glass containers.
- There are more than 25 drinking-water points around the circuit.
- Smoking is not permitted in the grandstands or VIP areas, and passageways and staircases must remain clear.
- Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, skateboards, generators, weapons and objects that may obstruct the view or endanger spectators are not permitted within the spectator zones.
Ticket sales for this event are under way. Because of the limited remaining availability and the fact that no tickets are sold at the entrance, the visit plan should be completed before travelling.
Stavelot and Spa as bases for visitors
Stavelot is a small town in the province of Liège and the closest urban centre to the circuit itself, while Spa is known as a historic thermal destination. During the Grand Prix weekend, accommodation options extend to Malmedy, Verviers, Liège and locations across the border, but a greater distance also means an earlier departure for the circuit.
Friday is more than an introduction: two F1 practice sessions allow comparisons of long-run pace and qualifying simulations. Saturday provides the clearest picture of the competitive order, while Sunday combines a full-day programme, the drivers’ parade and the race.
Why Spa retains a special place in Formula 1
The Belgian race was part of the inaugural World Championship season in 1950, when Juan Manuel Fangio won. Michael Schumacher achieved his first Formula 1 victory there in 1992, and Charles Leclerc also claimed his first victory there in 2019.
Lewis Hamilton is recorded as the 2024 winner after George Russell was disqualified because his car was underweight. One year later, Oscar Piastri won after a wet start and a direct duel with Lando Norris. Those two editions offer a useful reminder: at Spa-Francorchamps, the result is not determined by pure speed alone. Tyre wear, car weight, the timing of tyre changes, behaviour behind the safety car and the driver’s ability to make immediate use of the slipstream are all important.
The race lap record on the current configuration is 1:44.701, set by Sergio Perez in 2024. However, the most important comparison for spectators will not be the time of a single lap alone. The first practice session will reveal maximum speeds and stability, the second long-run pace, the third preparation for qualifying, and Saturday’s outcome will show who has the best combination of straight-line speed and control through the fast corners.
Sources:
- Formula 1 - weekend schedule, circuit length, number of laps, drivers’ and teams’ standings, results of previous races and historical data.
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - event date, weekend format, address and information about the programme at the venue.
- Belgian Grand Prix - visitor information about transport, parking, entry regulations, water at the venue, fan zones and ticket availability.
- Weather forecast for Stavelot - expected temperatures and the possibility of showers during the weekend.