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Hamilton Crashes Ferrari in Belgian Grand Prix Practice as Antonelli Leads Qualifying Push

Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari at the Belgian Grand Prix during final practice ahead of F1 qualifying.

Asude Karataş • 18 Temmuz 2026 17:00 • 3 dk okuma • 6 görüntülenme

Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari during final practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, with repair work underway ahead of qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time, extending his championship advantage over teammate George Russell to 25 points. The incident occurred on the exit of the Fagnes corner sequence, mirroring a similar crash by Alpine's Pierre Gasly earlier in the weekend.

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Practice Session Results
Grid Penalties and Competitive Context

Practice Session Results

Antonelli's lap time proved 0.139 seconds faster than McLaren's Lando Norris in second place, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen completing the top three, a further 0.148 seconds adrift. Russell finished fourth, 0.367 seconds behind the pace-setter. Hamilton, despite the late incident, secured fifth fastest ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The Mercedes driver's crash involved significant contact with the barrier on the right-rear wheel, prompting immediate repair concerns.

Ferrari confirmed mechanics would have sufficient time to complete necessary repairs before the qualifying session. The crash represented a setback for Hamilton as he aims to improve his position in the championship standings ahead of the 10th race of the season.

Grid Penalties and Competitive Context

Norris faces a 10-place grid penalty this weekend for exceeding permitted engine component usage, as do several other competitors. These penalties will significantly alter the starting grid composition for Sunday's race, potentially benefiting drivers with clean records. Antonelli's continued strong form across both Friday and Saturday sessions reinforces Mercedes' competitive standing at a circuit traditionally favourable to high-speed, single-lap performance.

The session highlighted the challenging nature of Spa-Francorchamps, where wet and dry conditions create unpredictable grip levels, particularly at high-speed corners like Fagnes. Multiple drivers have encountered difficulties at this location during the weekend.

Why did Lewis Hamilton crash during practice?+

Hamilton lost control on the exit of the Fagnes left-right corner at the Belgian Grand Prix circuit. His Ferrari's right-rear wheel struck the barrier. The crash followed a similar incident by Pierre Gasly at the same corner on Friday, suggesting challenging grip conditions at that particular section of track.

Will Hamilton's car be ready for qualifying?+

Yes. Ferrari stated they would complete the necessary repairs in time for qualifying, scheduled for 15:00 BST. The damage appeared localized to the right-rear area, allowing the team to work within the available time window.

Who was fastest in final practice?+

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes set the fastest time, continuing strong form from Friday practice. He finished 0.139 seconds quicker than McLaren's Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen third, 0.148 seconds back from Antonelli.

What is Antonelli's championship position?+

Antonelli leads his Mercedes teammate George Russell by 25 points heading into the 10th race of the season. The Belgian Grand Prix represents a crucial opportunity for both drivers to extend or close that gap.

Which drivers face grid penalties this weekend?+

Lando Norris is among several drivers receiving 10-place grid penalties for using too many engine parts. These penalties will substantially impact the qualifying order and race starting grid.

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