Belgian GP: Lewis Hamilton hopeful of closing ‘bigger than anticipated’ Ferrari deficit to Mercedes at Spa-Francorchamps
World Cup 2026
Lewis Hamilton was seven tenths behind Friday pace-setter Kimi Antonelli but thinks they can close their deficit to Mercedes at the Belgian Grand Prix; watch final practice at 11.30am on Saturday with qualifying at 3pm (build-up from 2.15pm), live on Sky Sports F1
Friday 17 July 2026 19:42, UK
Lewis Hamilton says he is hopeful Ferrari can close on their rivals as the Belgian Grand Prix weekend progresses despite admitting the Italian team’s deficit in Friday practice was “bigger than anticipated”.
Match Details
Hamilton was close to the pace in first practice as he finished little more than a tenth behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, but was a concerning seven tenths down on Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli when the world championship leader topped the second session.
Antonelli leads his Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 25 points at the top of the standings, with Hamilton seven points further back in third as he seeks a record eighth F1 title.
– Belgian GP: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports
Tournament Impact
– F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar | F1 Gossip Column
– Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱
– Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺
Stay informed with the latest news on Wararka.so — your trusted source for Somalia and world news.
