Ferrari Finishes Fifth and Sixth in Belgian GP Final Practice; Hamilton Hits Barriers
Lewis Hamilton placed fifth and Charles Leclerc sixth in the third free practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, with Hamilton damaging his SF-26 after hitting the barriers at Stavelot.
- 34
- 1'46"382
- 1'46"750
- 17
What Happened
Scuderia Ferrari HP finished fifth and sixth in the third free practice session (FP3) for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on 18 July 2026. Lewis Hamilton set a best time of 1'46"382 on Soft tyres, while Charles Leclerc recorded a 1'46"750. Both drivers completed 17 laps each, with the team totaling 34 laps across the session.
Both drivers waited a few minutes before taking to the track. Hamilton was first out, setting an initial 1'46"789 on Softs, followed by Leclerc's 1'47"122. Leclerc then pitted for setup adjustments, while Hamilton completed several laps. In the closing stages, both fitted fresh Soft tyres, yielding their best times.
On his final attempt, Hamilton hit the barriers at Stavelot, damaging his SF-26. The session ended with Hamilton fifth and Leclerc sixth, setting the stage for qualifying later that day.
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
In Friday practice, Hamilton placed fourth and Leclerc 11th after a track limits penalty for Leclerc.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The session is the final preparation before qualifying, and both Ferrari drivers showed competitive but not top pace. Hamilton's late crash could affect car setup and his confidence heading into the grid-determining session, while the team must assess damage to the SF-26.
Terms in This Story
- Soft tyres
- The softest compound of dry-weather racing tyre, offering the most grip but the least durability.
- SF-26
- The chassis designation of Ferrari's 2026 Formula 1 car.
- Stavelot
- A fast right-hand corner at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.