F1 Belgian GP live commentary and updates - media day

Tomorrow: Practice and sprint qualifying at Spa

We'll catch you tomorrow as we cover off the sessions as they happen! Don't forget to stay across Motorsport.com and Autosport throughout the weekend as events unfurl at Spa.

Thanks for joining us! 

Sprint weekend coming up!

Don't forget - the Belgian Grand Prix is hosting a sprint round this weekend - so we'll have just one practice session tomorrow before sprint qualifying. We'll have our sprint race on Saturday before full grand prix quali - then, as usual, the race on Sunday.

There's a big step in tyre compounds as well for this weekend - the C1s, then a jump to the C3 and C4. How will that affect the races?

Norris slowly getting "a little bit back to where I was" last year

Lando Norris has been open about his difficulties with this year's McLaren MCL39, stating that its difficult-to-feel front end has prompted him to explore different styles to get more out of it.

A suspension geometry change has been credited with giving Norris more fidelity behind the wheel, although the Briton has previously suggested this change has been overplayed.

"I feel like I climbed a little bit back to where I was. I certainly feel happier and I think Austria was a place I felt the happiest, even happier than I was in Silverstone with the car, with the knowledge of where I can push, how I can push, and all those things," Norris said.

"It's always been a good track for for me, so I think a selection of things came together and the base I had then in qualifying was quite easily and most convincingly the the best I've had all season. Just in my laps consistently were were always up there in in P1.

"There were some positive things that came from that, we're still trying to work on things to give me more from the car in order to allow me to unlock that more often, like I was doing last season."

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Piastri revisits Silverstone safety car penalty: "I won't brake as hard next time"

Oscar Piastri saw victory escape his clutches when he collected a 10-second penalty at the British Grand Prix having been deemed to have been driving erratically under the safety car. 

Piastri was adjudged to have braked too hard too quickly behind the safety car upon the second restart, which led to other drivers taking evasive action. This cost Piastri the victory versus Lando Norris.

"I still have my feelings about it, but it's in the past now and I've moved on. For me it was a manoeuvre that had been done before by myself in some cases, but other drivers as well in the past in an identical manner," Piastri said.

"Obviously if it needs to be penalised now then then that's fine, and I know that for the future, but yeah obviously immediately after the race I was frustrated.

"We've had discussions with the FIA and I think there was learning on both sides about how that situation could have been handled differently. For myself, I won't break as hard next time, it's as simple as that. But I think also now the threshold I guess is a bit clearer on where that stands, so I will just simply not brake as hard."

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images

1994: When Eau Rouge was slowed down

In the wake of the fatal accidents sustained by Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, the FIA took a very steadfast approach to safety in 1994. Not only were the technical regulations changed to reduce cornering speeds, but some of the corners themselves were changed.

Here's the most high-profile example, when a chicane was installed at Eau Rouge before the ascent to Raidillon.

Erik Comas, Larrousse LH94 Ford, Andrea de Cesaris, Sauber C13 Mercedes, at the Eau Rouge chicane

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Leclerc: Both drivers "aligned" on ideas for Ferrari progress

Charles Leclerc followed up on Lewis Hamilton's discussion of the documents he'd produced with his feedback on Ferrari's development path, stating that he had his own points to make over the direction for 2026.

Leclerc says that he, Hamilton, and the Ferrari team are generally "aligned" on the direction of travel for the future, as it seeks to find more competitiveness.

"He's preparing his points. I'm preparing my points, and then we are doing big meetings where we are both of us inside the meetings and and then we speak about those points that we want to improve," Leclerc said. 

"Of course we are aligned with with everything together with the team and everybody is pushing in the same direction, so that there's no stress whatsoever."

Speaking about Ferrari's Mugello filming day, where it tested a revised rear suspension package, Leclerc declined to comment on whether it demonstrated a clear difference.

"We did not [see a difference in behaviour] and I'm not going to comment on the specific behaviours of this suspension. Obviously these are things that are that remain for us, and it will be quite stupid for us to comment it globally on what does what. But we'll find out tomorrow on track."

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images

Verstappen on Horner departure: "Looking back won't make you faster"

Max Verstappen said his piece on Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull, and says that although he cherished the results that the two had achieved together, he was looking forward to a new dawn at the team.

He said that the decision did not change his view on whether he would remain at the team long-term, and was simply focused on finding more competitiveness with the current car and its 2026 project.

"Sitting here, you look back at those 20 years of Red Bull, I think we've had a lot of great, great years, great results. Next to that of course, are also years where it's not going that well, and I think the last 1.5 years have not gone how we would have liked.

"Management decided they wanted to see the shift in a different direction, probably, and then everyone else has to anyway agree to that. I look forward [to it] and I am looking forward. I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent [Mekies] as well, the last two weeks have been quite intense for him to jump in.

"I'm equally also excited, you know, for, for the team now moving forward because that's what we have to do. Looking back, it doesn't make sense. It's not going to make you faster, but at the same time, you do appreciate those 20 years.

"I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in in the future, and the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it really, and like I said, the last 1.5 years have not been, what we want to be. Now we try and be more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Tsunoda on lost phone and Red Bull's Mekies call

During the interregnum between Silverstone and Spa, Yuki Tsunoda lost his phone in Lake Como, which he theorises is still there. 

"I received a couple of messages on Find my iPhone or whatever, but apparently if you reach a certain point, it wasn't working and it won't work and as soon as I checked it was not working, no signal. Probably it's deep down in Lake Como."

Tsunoda is reunited with Laurent Mekies, who was a big supporter of the Japanese driver at Racing Bulls earlier this year. 

"I've known him since VCARB and we've got on really really well. We had a good start of the year, in terms of performance and we had a lot of trust between us, so I'm looking forward to working with him."

"He's not really yet changed anything, probably dynamics is similar. Probably he will see next few races and we'll see what he can do, but at least we know that we have a good relationship, I can chat and I don't have to really adapt to the relationship or create a relationship, which is good."

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 02, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Russell on 2026 rumours: "My destiny is in Mercedes' hands"

George Russell had his say on the current rumours about Mercedes' 2026 line-up and whether he'll find himself making way for Max Verstappen next season - although rumour suggests that this will be increasingly unlikely as Mercedes seems set to stick.

"Everything will work itself out in due course," Russell said. "I'm managed by Mercedes, and my destiny is in their hands. The conversation has been ongoing but not sort of directly with me - there's a lot more hype around it externally than there is internally.

"The truth is I'm not even [thinking about it], I think about it on a Thursday because you guys asked me questions, but these past few months have sort of allowed me to think how I feel about a scenario like this and you can choose to stress about it, you can choose to try and secure your future or you can choose not to worry about it and focus on the things such as performance, which secures your future for you so right now.

"These two weeks off have been great to reset sort of psychologically and mentally, I feel happier probably now than I was in the months gone by and at peace with everything that's that's going on and I'm just thinking about race by race and I'm in no rush to secure my, my future."

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Belgium in 2000: Hakkinen and 'the pass' on Schumacher

Mika Hakkinen pulled out a healthy lead at the start of the 2000 Belgian GP, but lost it on a drying track at Stavelot to concede a 10-second advantage and gave the lead to Michael Schumacher.

Seeking to make amends, Hakkinen went after Schumacher once more and, on lap 41, used backmarker Ricardo Zonta as a distraction to steal past Schumacher on the Kemmel Straight to reclaim the lead. The below photo shows Hakkinen's hand-based recreation of the move.

Hakkinen said of the pass: "I took Plan B and I went completely inside, overtook the backmarker and at the same time overtook Michael. I got the tow from the backmarker also, and it was a great overtaking manoeuvre. I loved it, but I’m not sure if Michael did.” 

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F1-2000, Mika Hakkinen, McLaren MP4/15 Mercedes

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Mekies in his new Red Bull clobber

New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has been snapped in his new gear, as he replaces Christian Horner for the first time this weekend. Suit you, sir.

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing CEO

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Hamilton explains why he's going all-in with helping Ferrari with 2026 design

In his own appearance in this press conference, Hamilton has opened up on how he's been working with Ferrari and says he's been quite involved in the design and development of next year's car.

And he's had suggestions of his own; he's sent documents to the team detailing with his own inputs on the direction for 2026. 

"I was at the factory two weeks, a couple days each week. We did preparation, naturally going over where we were on the previous race, things that we need to change.

"I hold a lot of meetings, so I've called on lots of meetings with the heads of the team, so I've sat with John, Benedetto and Fred in several meetings. I've sat with the head of our car development, with Loic, with also the heads of different departments, talking about engine for next year, talking about front suspension for next year, talking about rear suspension for next year, things that you want, issues that you have, that I have with this car.

"I've sent documents, so I've done through the year. After the first few races, I did a full document for the team. Then during this break, I had another two documents that I sent in, and so then I come in and want to address those. Some of its structural adjustments that we need to make as a team in order to get better, and all the areas that we want to improve, and then the other one was really about the car, the current issues that I have with this car."

How come Hamilton has got so involved with his inputs for 2026? Perhaps he feels he's not got much time left in F1, so wants to make his mark as he angles for an eighth title.

"The reason for it is that I see a huge amount of potential within this team, the passion - nothing comes close. It is a huge organisation with a lot of moving parts, but parts are not firing on all the cylinders that they need to be. That's ultimately why the team hasn't had the success I feel it deserves.

"I feel it's my job to challenge every area and challenge everybody in the team, especially the guys at the top who are making the decision. If you look at the team in the last 20 years, they've had amazing drivers - Kimi, Fernando, Sebastian. I refuse for that to be the case with me.

"I'm going the extra mile. I'm fortunate to have had experiences in two other great teams. For sure things are going to be different, it's a difficult culture and everything, but if you take the same path all the time you get the same result."

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Antonelli "not worried" about losing Mercedes drive in 2026

One of the long-running plots so far this year is whether Max Verstappen will be trading blue for silver over the upcoming off-season, although Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that he intends to keep both Russell and Antonelli.

Antonelli spoke about the situation himself: "I am not worried. I know the situation and I know what the team wants. Toto has been clear recently which is good to see, the team is working well, the line-up is good and me and George are working well together. We're doing a pretty good job and there's a really good atmosphere in the team."

"I'm sure the team knows what's best for 2026."

Hamilton also patted Antonelli on the shoulder, jokingly offering his services to bat for the young Italian. "I can help you with the contract, I know how to work Toto..." the seven-time champion says.

Antonelli on his weaknesses in 2025

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli did his half-term self-appraisal, and believes that his main issue has been in qualifying - particularly versus team-mate George Russell.

He reckoned that one of the biggest learning curves coming into F1 was in how best to manage his energy between races.

"Qualifying has been a bit weak but I've just been trying to put it all together. I think I've not been that good on doing the right step," Antonelli said.

"Overall it's still been quite positive and I've been learning a lot, and we've got some good results, but now the second half of the season it's important to do the step and find more consistency myself.

"The rhythm of the season has been high, the intensity has been quite high as well, so I had to adjust a little bit, especially after the first triple header."

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Press conference 2: Sainz, Hamilton, Antonelli

Carlos Sainz has opened the second part of the press conference with his review of 2025 so far, particularly on the reliability issues that have flared up of late.

Sainz has shown good speed this year, but has also endured wretched luck with qualifying misses and car reliability troubles as the Williams FW47 seems prone to overheating. 

"There is speed, it is going in the right direction, but when you don't have the result to back it up, it's frustrating," Sainz says. 

"Being back racing in the midfield has its challenges, I have been out in Q1 by two or three milliseconds and you know where those milliseconds are."

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Photo by: Colin McMaster / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hulkenberg on Sauber/Audi prospects: "Don't expect Silverstone repeat"

After his big-hit third place at Silverstone, Nico Hulkenberg was asked what should be expected from Sauber over the rest of the year and into its transition to Audi. 

Sauber has been heavily upgrading its 2025 challenger to help improve its processes back at base, before focusing fully on 2026.

Hulkenberg on 2025 hopes: "I wouldn't expect Silverstone to repeat itself so easily, and so soon. I think it's more that the midfield battle is alive and real and depending on the track you're in the points or you're not. Everyone is very close together there.The gap between P10 and PLast is very tight, small differences make the difference.

"We've had good tyre management, good tyre life, and hopefully we can make use of that for the rest of the season.

On 2026: "2026 is ongoing and parallel, everyone is pushing, developing, and exploiting the new regulations. It's not reality yet, the car will only be available in January next year, obviously some simulator stuff is starting to drip in for us drivers."

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Alonso, Hulkenberg, and Colapinto in opening press conference

As always, six drivers populate the official press conferences on a Thursday, split in two. Fernando Alonso, Franco Colapinto, and Nico Hulkenberg are in the first one.

Alonso is speaking about his group of ex-Renault team members - in Jonathan Wheatley, Alan Permane, and Steve Nielsen - taking on leadership roles - and was high in his praise.

Alonso on Permane, Nielsen: "I'm happy for them, I think with Alan, particularly, I worked with him two times at Renault and Alpine. They have so much experience, and it'll be a good thing for the teams."

Gasly: Rest of 2025 focus on "maximising and extracting"

Pierre Gasly secured Alpine's best result of 2025 with sixth place at Silverstone, which he felt came as some surprise. But he was quick to downplay "consistent" points-scoring over the rest of the year, as the team moves its attention to 2026. 

Gasly on 2025 prospects: "I don't expect us to be consistently scoring points because the car is the same as it was in Barcelona and we know with the sort of decisions we've taken to focus on '26, there won't be any more added to the car.

"We've just got to focus on making the best of what we got at the moment at the minute, and I think Silverstone was a good example for the entire team. No one would have expected us to actually go away on the weekend with our best results of the year, and we actually made it happen.

"Hopefully we can get one or two more results like that until the end of the year, but I think the mindset is very much to just focus on maximising and extracting."

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Prancing Horse on display at Spa

Our own Stuart Codling is on site and has spotted Jacky Ickx's old Ferrari 312B. Ain't it a beaut? 

Ickx was the runner-up in the 1970 F1 standings, in a year won posthumously by Jochen Rindt.

Photo by: Stuart Codling

Bearman hopes for similar Haas set-up feeling in Spa to Silverstone: 'Same feeling as a Ferrari'

Although Haas didn't manage to score points at Silverstone, owing to missed opportunities in the weather (and clashes between team-mates), Ollie Bearman reckoned that the VF-25 felt at its best at the British GP venue.

He reckoned he'd been able to 'replicate the feeling of a Ferrari' with the car, as he qualified eighth for the race.

"We were the fastest midfield car in qualifying and, and in the race I was fighting a Mercedes for the points until the very last corner. Clearly we had a quick car that weekend," Bearman said.

"That was the first time that qualifying was the first time that I've been able to replicate the feeling that I had in a Ferrari, which is full confidence in the car. The upgrade package we brought, it gave me the feeling that I could attack really hard and the car was predictable.

"I knew what it was doing underneath me and with that we were able to qualify in P8. That's a good feeling for me and I really hope that we can replicate it because like I said, that feeling of confidence - even at points where I've had really high confidence with the Haas - it's never matched what I had in previous F1 experiences."

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

F1 Belgian GP gallery

Want to keep up to date with all of the latest snaps from the paddock at Spa-Francorchamps?

Here's your link to today's best photos.

Who's that Pokemon?

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Ocon enjoyed "clear discussion" after Bearman clash at Silverstone

Rule 1 of F1: don't hit your team-mate - a rule that was transgressed when the two Haas drivers made contact at Brooklands during the British GP. Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman were both looking towards points, but ended up indulging in synchronised spinning on the exit of the corner.

"We had both a difficult race at different stages of the race, and of the weekend we should not have been in that position at first - and it was tricky conditions as well," Ocon reviewed.

"Probably if we didn't have that touch we would have both scored points in that race. We realise can't waste this kind of opportunities.

Ocon on post-race discussions: "It was very straightforward, very clear discussion and there is a very good atmosphere in this team, so there's no hiding and and we are all working together towards the same goal, so it's the most important thing."

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lawson: Permane "well suited" to VCARB TP role

Liam Lawson added his voice to his team-mate's in backing Alan Permane to do a good job in charge of Racing Bulls. The Kiwi explained that Mekies had set a great benchmark in redefining the team from 2024, and reckoned Permane would fill the void perfectly.

"I think for sure having his presence has been, has been very nice, but obviously he's still well within the Red Bull family," Lawson said.

"Alan, he's somebody who's been in the team now for a couple of years and is somebody that I think is very well suited for this position and has relationships with everybody and is very motivated as well to carry on sort of Laurent's form with what he was doing. We're all very excited for that."

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hadjar on Mekies departure, Permane promotion

Isack Hadjar says that he was sad to see Laurent Mekies leave for Red Bull but says that, for his day to day, the effect is lessened by the fact that he worked more closely with new team principal Alan Permane.

Hadjar on Permane: "It is major, but to be fair it doesn't really change much for me at like at the moment. Alan is someone I know really well, we've worked closely. He's quiet and you don't see him often, but he was a big part of the team so far.

"I think he's, next to my race engineer, the one I've worked with the most; he's the guy who takes the final decision on car setup and he's been very close to Laurent.

"Laurent has built something very solid over the last two years and now he's just taking it, so it doesn't change anything to the team and to my approach."

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Permane in charge at Racing Bulls

How time flies in two years; at the 2023 Belgian GP, Alan Permane was serving as sporting director at Alpine for the final time before being removed from his role at the team. Permane, who had been at the Enstone outfit in various roles since 1989, found a landing pad at RB last year to fulfil the equivalent role.

Now that Laurent Mekies has taken up the leadership post at Red Bull following Horner's departure, Permane steps in for his first weekend as a team principal at Racing Bulls.

Alan Permane, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Albon surprised by Horner departure from Red Bull

In his session, Alex Albon was asked if Christian Horner's sacking from Red Bull had been of some surprise - and he agreed that it had been. Albon drove for the team in 2019-20, before making way for Sergio Perez and dropping to a reserve role.

"He was obviously someone who's helped me a lot in my Formula One career and, yeah, obviously he's been in the sport for a long time with a lot of success."

Albon on Horner's management: "I joined quite late into the Christian Horner era, let's say. So, on my side, it was clear that he had his people and he brought everyone up together. I think there was a lot of long-standing members at Red Bull who were there for a long time and still are to this day as well.

"He seemed to have a good knack for finding the right people and then building a good circle around them. They seemed to chip away at it and very quickly get to the top. I guess that's a part of his success."

Alexander Albon, Red Bull Racing, with Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

We're going to intersperse the feed today with some images of Belgian grands prix of old, while we wait for driver reaction and anything else that emerges from the paddock.

Shall we start with a classic? Here's Eddie Jordan luxuriating in the champagne wash following his team's first F1 win, which came at Spa in 1998. Damon Hill won a race which opened with a multi-car pile-up out of La Source, and featured a clash between Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard in torrential conditions.

Eddie Jordan, Jordan GP

Photo by: Michael Cooper / Motorsport Images

First up: Bortoleto on Hulkenberg's Silverstone podium

The long-awaited maiden podium for Nico Hulkenberg was a feel-good moment at the British Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, and Gabriel Bortoleto reckoned that his team-mate's third-place finish was "a big achievement for the team.

"It gives a lot of confidence for everyone," he said. "It shows that all the steps we have been doing this year have been paying off."

Bortoleto had gambled on the early stop for slicks in that race, which resulted in a crash at Turn 2 as conditions were still damp.

Bortoleto on British GP decisions: "I was super happy for Nico and I'm still super happy for him, but obviously I would love to be there and fighting for that, but I mean he did the decisions himself.

"If I had done the same decisions as he did, probably I would have been close to that or fighting for the podium myself, but the first decision I took in the race that was pitting for the slicks, it was the wrong decision."

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images

F1 Belgian GP - driver interviews on media day

Hello folks, and welcome to our coverage of the media day ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix - all 20 drivers will be speaking to the media throughout the day.

Our team is in the paddock and poised to bring you whatever comes their way as the day unfolds.