F1 Belgian GP: Kimi Antonelli fastest as Lewis Hamilton crashes at sessi…

Kimi Antonelli emerged as the dominant force in the final practice session for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, setting a blistering 1m45.990s lap to claim the top spot. However, the session ended in dramatic fashion as Lewis Hamilton suffered a heavy crash, leaving Ferrari with a critical repair task ahead of qualifying. The incident, reminiscent of Pierre Gasly’s earlier mishap, raised concerns about Hamilton’s participation but ultimately proved manageable, with the seven-time world champion confirmed to compete in the upcoming qualifying rounds.

Antonelli’s performance in Free Practice 3 underscored his continued dominance, with the Mercedes driver maintaining a commanding lead over his rivals. His initial soft-tyre run of 1m45.990s left him a full eight-tenths ahead of Hamilton, a gap that remained unchallenged despite late efforts from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Verstappen, who finished third, closed the gap to within 0.148s of Antonelli, while Norris edged ahead of Hamilton by 0.009s in a tightly contested final phase. George Russell, meanwhile, secured fourth but trailed Antonelli by 0.367s, highlighting the Italian’s consistent pace throughout the weekend.

Hamilton’s crash occurred in the closing moments of the session, as he lost control of his Ferrari on the exit of Turn 13. The incident mirrored Gasly’s earlier crash, with Hamilton’s car veering into the gravel and clipping the barrier. The impact damaged the rear suspension, floor, and wing, though Ferrari confirmed the car could be repaired in time for qualifying. “I’ve destroyed the car, mate,” Hamilton radioed to his team, before inspecting the damage on the track. Despite the setback, the British driver was cleared to compete, with the Scuderia prioritizing a swift turnaround to ensure his participation in the decisive session.

The crash also triggered a separate incident involving Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, who were summoned to the stewards after a near-collision during the caution period. Verstappen, frustrated by Sainz’s aggressive maneuvering, vented his anger over team radio, calling the situation “unbelievable.” Sainz faced potential penalties for failing to slow under yellow flags, adding another layer of tension to the session’s conclusion.

Other drivers navigated the session with varying degrees of success. Lando Norris, despite carrying a 10-place grid penalty for engine changes, secured second place, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth for Ferrari, nearly four tenths behind Hamilton. Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, trailed Norris by half a second, while Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto claimed eighth and ninth positions. Isack Hadjar, the Red Bull rookie, faced challenges with tyre warmth and a pit lane stall but still managed to finish 10th.

The session’s outcome has set the stage for a high-stakes qualifying round, with Antonelli as the clear favorite. However, the tight margins between the top drivers suggest a competitive battle for pole position. Hamilton’s ability to recover from the crash and maintain his pace will be critical, as Ferrari aims to mitigate the damage and ensure the car’s reliability. Meanwhile, Verstappen and Norris will look to capitalize on any weaknesses in the Mercedes setup, with the latter’s grid penalty complicating his strategy.