TGR Haas F1 Team's 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season continues with Round 10, the Belgian Grand Prix, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the oldest motorsport venues in the world, having first been used in the early 1920s. Competitors drove a triangular route connecting a trio of villages nestled deep in the Ardennes Forest, and the circuit evolved across the decades that followed, ensuring its inclusion as part of Formula 1's inaugural World Championship season in 1950. The 8.6-mile road course was revered and feared because its high-speed blasts and risk of inclement weather resulted in a high accident rate, and through the late 1960s its danger became too great. The old Spa-Francorchamps was dropped, and instead Belgium's grand prix was relocated to Nivelles and Zolder. Spa-Francorchamps returned to the scene in 1983 on a shortened but still spectacular layout, and it has remained the host of the Belgian Grand Prix ever since.

Spa-Francorchamps' 4.3-mile layout is the longest on the Formula 1 calendar, and is among the most popular for drivers, with the circuit carving its way through the forest. The track has several distinct sections, with the first and third sectors featuring largely full-throttle blasts, interspersed by the breathtaking Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex, the flat-out Blanchimont corner, and a start/finish straight bookended by the Bus Stop chicane and La Source hairpin. The lengthy middle sector, meanwhile, features an abundance of medium- and high-speed turns as drivers plunge through the topography. The venue's placement within the Ardennes means showers, heavier bouts of rain, and even misty conditions can strike, and at different parts of the circuit, throwing another complication into proceedings.

Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman scooped a strong fifth and seventh respectively in F1 Sprint - which was run in 2025 in Belgium. This year's event marks 10 years since Ocon made his debut in Formula 1 at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix.

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "Spa is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, so it's important we maximize every session from Friday onwards. This is especially the case following two challenging race weekends, where our cars were ultimately not fast enough to challenge for the points-scoring positions. We have a clear test plan in mind, not only to get the best out of the car at Spa, but also to provide valuable feedback to the factory for future development of the VF-26. We've operated at a high level in the last few races, so we're focused on building on that and getting the maximum out of the planned program. We'll continue to move forward together as a team to ensure we come away with a positive result from the weekend."

Ollie Bearman: "Spa is a circuit every driver looks forward to. It's an incredible track with so much history, and every sector is a real challenge. Eau Rouge is obviously a highlight, but Pouhon, for me, is incredible to drive. The weather can also make things interesting as the circuit has its own microclimate, so I'd be shocked if we didn't see a bit of rain, but it keeps everyone on their toes, and for us right now, it could provide a much-needed opportunity to challenge for points. We're working on numerous areas right now, knowing our focus points and limitations, but if we can achieve everything within our control, I'm still excited for what this weekend can bring."

Esteban Ocon: "Silverstone wasn't the easiest weekend for us as a team, but I personally felt much better in the car than the last few races, so we hope to carry that forward into this weekend. Spa is always a circuit I enjoy coming back to. It's such a legendary track, and it's produced some exciting races. It's where I made my debut in 2016 and also where I achieved my best qualifying result, so it holds a lot of memories. I can't believe it's been 10 years since that first race - time flies! The weather is often unpredictable which can create opportunities as well as challenges, so we must be ready to adapt and make the most of every situation. We're currently in a position where we need to seize any opportunity that presents itself, and we'll be focused on maximizing each session and building momentum through the weekend."

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Belgian Grand Prix: Preview - Haas

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