Feeder Series Preview: Spa-Francorchamps

Written by Trisha Lynnette and Morgan Holiday

Credit: Formula 2

Formula 2 and Formula 3 are racing alongside Formula 1 this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most awaited tracks on the calendar for drivers and fans alike.

Learn everything you need to know about the upcoming rounds in Belgium in DIVEBOMB's weekend preview.

Formula 2

Formula 2 heads to Spa-Francorchamps for Round 8 of the 2026 season, coming off the back of a week off following their trip to Silverstone, where Nikola Tsolov took both race wins in a generational run that granted him the lead of the championship.

The Sprint and Feature Race wins for Tsolov marked his second and third consecutive race wins, and his fifth and sixth wins of the season. Just one more race win this year will tie him with Charles Leclerc and George Russell for most wins in an FIA F2 season. Looking at his current form, it’s hard to imagine he won’t just equal that record but break it.

Tsolov now leads the standings by 17 points over Gabriele Minì, who was leading the championship by two points coming into Silverstone. Comparatively, 17 points is a big margin, but it’s less than a Feature Race win’s worth of points, so nothing is set in stone. Rafael Câmara sits 30 points behind Minì in third, 47 points behind Tsolov. It’s looking more and more like the main contenders of the title fight are set as Tsolov and Minì battle for the lead.

The setting of their next battle is Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, arguably the most iconic race on the calendar, or even of all time. This 19 corner race track is known for the fabled corner combination of Raidillon and Eau Rouge, a turn that starts a steep uphill climb that can be both exciting and treacherous for drivers to navigate.

Last year’s polesitter in F2 at Spa is on the grid again this year, as it was rookie Alex Dunne who was fastest in the 2025 qualifying session. He went on to score points in both races but never managed a top five finish, so he’ll be looking for redemption this weekend.

2025’s F2 race winners at Spa were eventual champion Leonardo Fornaroli in the Sprint Race and Roman Staněk in the Feature. 

As rainy weather tends to be a big deciding factor at Spa-Francorchamps, drivers will be hoping for a clear weekend. Currently it’s looking like Friday has the strongest chance for rain, but we won’t know for sure till it’s time. F2 is set to hit the track for the first time on Friday at 11:05 local time for Free Practice.

They’ll qualify later that day at 16:00 local time, assuming that the weather cooperates. Their first race of the weekend, the Sprint Race, will take place on Saturday morning at 14:15, followed by Sunday’s Feature Race at 10:00.

Formula 3

The FIA Formula 3 Championship travels to the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for round six of the 2026 season, with on-track activity taking place from 17th to 19th July. Widely regarded as one of the greatest circuits in the world, Spa is a drivers' dream: its intimidating mix of fast corners, sweeping altitude changes and changeable weather regularly produces some of the most unpredictable racing of the year.

Spa-Francorchamps, at 4.352 mi (7.004 km), is the longest track on the calendar, and it tests every facet of car and driver ability. The iconic combination of Eau Rouge and Raidillon requires bravery and accuracy, while the high-speed Pouhon and Blanchimont corners test the aerodynamic adhesion of the cars to their maximum.

Credit: Formula 3 via X

Striking the right balance between low drag to accelerate down the long Kemmel Straight and sufficient downforce to sustain speed through Spa's fast middle sector remains paramount to a competitive car.

Tyre management is, as ever, a prime consideration at Spa, particularly given the circuit's mix of rapid corners and sweeping straights. Pirelli continues to supply the FIA Formula 3 grid for the event, and drivers and teams will need to work hard to control tyre temperatures through the demanding middle sector, where lateral loads cause graining. The long straights that follow allow the tyres to cool, though the concern there shifts to not letting the rubber drop out of its working range too quickly.

The other perennial threat at Spa is the weather. The Ardennes forest is notoriously unpredictable, and even a shower lasting a few minutes can totally transform a session. Rain is possible across all three days of the weekend, leaving teams on high alert for quick-changing track conditions and having to make snap decisions on tyre strategy and set-up to remain competitive if the weather sets in.

A tight title fight

Taking a look at the championship landscape, the 2026 F3 season remains finely balanced. Ugo Ugochukwu continues to lead the drivers' championship for Campos Racing, having extended his advantage at the previous round at Silverstone with victory in the sprint race and a further podium in the feature race. Freddie Slater has continued to close the gap for Trident, having been promoted to second in the British Grand Prix feature race classification after a chaotic finish, while Campos team-mate Théophile Naël and Trident's Noah Strømsted make up the rest of the leading group.

Credit: Formula 3 via X

Further back, a number of young drivers continue to make their mark. Maciej Gładysz inherited victory in the Silverstone feature race, lifting the Pole up to sixth in the standings, while Rodin Motorsport's Brando Badoer, AIX Racing's Yevan David and Hitech's Jin Nakamura have all shown strong pace in recent rounds.

Campos Racing, the reigning teams' champion, remains top of the teams' standings heading into Belgium, having extended its advantage over Trident after a productive weekend at Silverstone. Van Amersfoort Racing sits third, with ART Grand Prix having recently moved ahead of Rodin Motorsport into fourth place. With four rounds still to come after Spa, the fight for both titles remains far from settled.

Weekend schedule

Practice opens the weekend on Friday morning at 08:55 CEST (07:55 BST), with qualifying following in the afternoon at 14:00 CEST (13:00 BST). The Sprint Race takes place on Saturday at 10:00 CEST (09:00 BST), before the Feature Race rounds out the weekend on Sunday morning at 08:30 CEST (07:30 BST). As with the rest of the Spa weekend, F3 running shares the schedule with F2 and the Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa is a track where overtaking opportunities exist due to the long straights, but holding position near the front of the grid remains important, given that rain is possible throughout the weekend.

With the championship remaining nicely in the balance, round six at Spa guarantees to deliver another F3 weekend of old-school intensity. Long straights, demanding corners and the unpredictability of the weather make it a perfect battleground for tight racing and tactical risks.

Qualifying, tyre management and quick reactions to changing conditions will probably be the keys to success.

Credit: Formula 3 via X

Look forward to thrilling wheel-to-wheel action as these up-and-coming drivers take their Dallara F3 2025 cars to the limit around one of the sport's most revered circuits. Spa has a habit of producing memories that last a lifetime, and this year is no different.

Be sure to tune in to each session live, and if you miss some of the action, return to DIVEBOMB or the official F3 channels for all the action from what is set to be another exciting instalment in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship.