Formula 1: Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix Prediction

In the run-up to the British Grand Prix, expectations surrounding Max Verstappen were high. And yet things went wrong for the Dutchman, despite a fine race at Silverstone. In the end, it was Charles Leclerc who secured his first victory of the Formula 1 season. George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, all from England, rounded off the top four. Will these drivers be back on the podium after the Belgian Grand Prix? Oranje Palace tells you everything you need to know about Formula 1!

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Belgian Grand Prix preview

Of course, many eyes will be on the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday. And yet, with the Belgian Grand Prix, there’s plenty of excitement on the cards. At the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, all the drivers will once again be pulling out all the stops to be the first across the finish line. Can the favourites make their mark? And will George Russell close the gap on his team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli once again?

Latest F1 news

Max Verstappen

As far as Max Verstappen is concerned, the talk over the past week has mainly centred on his rear wing. And that’s hardly surprising, as it was this rear wing that caused the Dutchman – and four-time world champion – to retire from both the Austrian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix. His crash in Britain was particularly dangerous, if we are to believe Verstappen. It is not without reason that many experts believe Red Bull Racing should replace the rear wing. The question, then, is: will they make adjustments to ‘our’ Max’s car?

A dilemma at Mercedes

Of course, there’s plenty of action again at the Belgian Grand Prix concerning Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Both Mercedes drivers are currently in first and second place in the battle for the world championship.

Remarkably, the tide seems to have turned slightly in Russell’s favour in recent weeks. In the last three races, the Englishman has finished ahead of the Italian talent. Nevertheless, 19-year-old Antonelli still leads his team-mate by 25 points. If Antonelli retires and Russell wins the race, both drivers will be joint top of the standings.

History of the Belgian Grand Prix

The Belgian Grand Prix at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is regarded as one of the most iconic races on the Formula 1 calendar. Since 1950, Spa has been renowned for its blisteringly fast corners, significant elevation changes and unpredictable weather conditions.

Michael Schumacher remains the most successful driver ever at Spa, with six victories. Last year, the win went to Oscar Piastri, who secured his sixth victory of the season for McLaren.

Max Verstappen, too, often feels right at home in the Ardennes. The Dutchman won the Belgian Grand Prix three times in a row (2021, 2022 and 2023) and has also regularly finished on the podium. Even when he had to start from the back of the grid due to grid penalties, Verstappen often managed to fight his way up the field impressively. Will he be able to make a big impression at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2026 as well?

Recent Belgian Grand Prix winners

Belgian Grand Prix Betting Tip

Betting Tip 1: George Russell to finish ahead of Kimi Antonelli

We expect the battle within the Mercedes team to continue, with George Russell once again closing the gap on his Italian team-mate. It is no coincidence that the Briton has been the stronger of the two in the last three races. We believe Russell will also be the stronger driver at Spa-Francorchamps. George Russell’s best finishing position compared to Kimi Antonelli will earn you odds of 2.33.

Belgian Grand Prix Prediction

We’re all hoping for a strong performance from Max Verstappen. And yet we shouldn’t expect too much. Laurent Mekies has already indicated that it will undoubtedly be a difficult Grand Prix for the world number one. He also indicated last week that it is undoubtedly going to be a very challenging race due to energy management.

For that reason, we do not expect him to finish on the podium and anticipate that it will once again be a battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. We are slightly favouring a Mercedes victory, particularly as Ferrari has not won a single race in the last six years. Mercedes, on the other hand, has done so twice.