PREVIEW: Spa-Francorchamps is the venue for Round 8

Formula 2 is back in action at Spa-Francorchamps for Round 8 of this thrilling 2026 season.

Nikola Tsolov and Campos Racing lead both championship standings after a historic double victory at Silverstone, but their rivals will be keen to take the fight to them in Belgium.

So as we continue to preview the weekend, here is everything you need to know…

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Spa action gets underway with a 45-minute Free Practice on Friday morning. The session is scheduled to start at 11:05 local time.

Qualifying follows later in the day, with the drivers set to hit the track at 15:55 local time.

That Pole Position shootout will set the grid for both races, the first of which is an 18-lap Sprint that takes place on Saturday at 14:15 local time

The drivers will get one more chance to claim glory in Belgium in Sunday’s Feature Race. Lights out is set for 10:00 local time.

STAT PACK

• The Feature Race winner has not come from pole in Formula 2’s last four trips to Spa-Francorchamps. Yuki Tsunoda’s 2020 victory was the last time pole position was converted into a victory.
• Nikola Tsolov currently leads the Drivers’ Championship with six wins – just one victory shy of Charles Leclerc and George Russell’s record of seven wins in a season.
• Campos Racing have eight wins, which means they are two behind the record for most victories in a season by a single team of 10 – set by PREMA Racing in 2023.
• Through seven rounds, Rafael Câmara’s win in Barcelona is the only time Pole Position has been converted into Feature Race victory.
• Invicta Racing completed the double in Spa last year. Leonardo Fornaroli won the Sprint and Roman Stanek came out on top of the Feature Race.

FROM THE GRID – Colton Herta, Hitech

“For a lot of people it's their number one track because of its fast-flowing nature. It's got a little bit of everything, good elevation change, decreasing radius corners, increasing radius corners, off camber, camber, high speed, low speed, and above all, it sets up great overtaking opportunities.

“There are probably three really good opportunities to overtake, into Turn 1, the Kemmel Straight and going into the last chicane. It races really well and always puts on a good show.

“The hardest part is trying to find that balance of being quick in the middle sector, which is all high-speed corners, versus being trimmed enough so that you are not slow down the straights.

“It's been 10 years since I've been there, and I only raced there once, but I think the layout is fantastic and it takes a very gutsy driver to get everything out of it there.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 2 Technical Director

“Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps provides one of the most unique tests on the calendar for both the driver and their teams.

“On one hand, a huge portion of the lap is spent at full throttle with the first and third sectors made up primarily of long straights. However, the second sector is very technical and is filled with sweeping high-speed corners, therefore finding a nice compromise in downforce levels is key.

“Additionally, all that time spent on throttle means fuel consumption will be high, as will braking demands, with several of the long straights ending with heavy deceleration.

“Lastly, a third DRS zone has been added this year. The drivers will be able to open up their rear wing at the exit of Turn 17 heading into the final chicane.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

There will be a compound step in the tyre selection for the Spa-Francorchamps weekend. Pirelli will in fact bring the Medium and Supersoft compounds to Belgium. The circuit is one of the most demanding for tyres and is a complete track, characterised by very different sectors. The layout features the greatest elevation change on the calendar, clearly represented by the famous Eau Rouge-Raidillon climb.

Given the characteristics of the circuit, graining could occur on both compounds, accelerating their degradation. In this scenario, the Supersoft may already lose competitiveness after six laps. Tyre management therefore becomes crucial, particularly on the Medium, which will be decisive in maintaining a good pace in the closing stages of the race. The Supersoft, on the other hand, could benefit from the long full-throttle sections to contain thermal degradation. On paper, the fastest strategy for the Feature Race is Medium-Supersoft, although potential Safety Car periods will need to be taken into account, as they could favour the opposite approach.