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Alex Albon shows progress in Belgian GP practice

2026-07-17 · Alex Albon · Match Report

Alex Albon shows progress in Belgian GP practice

Alex Albon showed signs of progress during Friday practice for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, working through setup changes and energy management strategies at Spa-Francorchamps. The Williams driver logged 21 laps in the opening session, steadily improving his pace on medium tires.

What happened in practice?

Albon made steady gains throughout the session, cutting 1.3 seconds from his early lap times. At one point, he sat just 0.050 seconds outside the top 10. The Thai-British driver focused on energy management, a critical factor at the power-hungry Spa circuit.

Williams tested multiple setup options, with Albon and teammate Carlos Sainz providing feedback on balance and performance. Sainz, however, struggled with flat-spotted tires and traffic, finishing 20th with a best time of 1:50.862.

Why it matters for Alex Albon

The Belgian GP weekend represents a key opportunity for Albon to build momentum. After a challenging Silverstone round, the Williams driver noted improvements in car feel at Spa. "The car is feeling marginally better this weekend compared to Silverstone," Albon said. "We’ve got a long way to go to the midfield, but tomorrow will be all about maximizing the package we have available."

Energy management remains a focus, particularly in low-fuel conditions for qualifying. The team worked extensively at Grove to prepare for Spa’s energy-sensitive demands.

What comes next?

Williams will analyze data from Friday’s sessions to finalize setup choices for qualifying. Albon emphasized the need to find the right balance, especially in the second sector. "We made a number of setup changes across the sessions to test various options," he said. "We’ll regroup this evening to review the data and put us in the best position possible for the weekend ahead."

Qualifying on Saturday will test Williams’ progress, with Albon aiming to secure a strong starting position for Sunday’s race. The team remains focused on incremental gains as they work to close the gap to the midfield.

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