New F1 cars set for first wet race weekend at Spa

Formula 1’s new-generation cars have yet to face a fully wet competitive session, but that could change this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix. Weather forecasts for Spa-Francorchamps are currently predicting unsettled conditions across the entire event, with rain potentially affecting all three days of track action.

So far this season, every official session during a Grand Prix weekend has been held in predominantly dry conditions. A wet Belgian race weekend would therefore provide teams with their first real opportunity to understand how the 2026-specification cars perform on a damp track.

Several drivers have already experienced the new machinery in wet conditions. Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad have all driven in the rain either during pre-season running or dedicated Pirelli tyre tests. However, none of those experiences have come during an official competitive session of a Formula 1 weekend.

The closest the championship has come to wet-weather action this year was the Canadian Grand Prix, where light rain affected the start of the race. Despite the drizzle, most drivers opted for slick tyres as conditions remained suitable for dry-weather rubber.

Current forecasts suggest there is around a 50–65% chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, potentially affecting practice sessions, Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint race. The risk appears slightly lower for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, with the probability of precipitation currently estimated at around 40% for the 15:00 local start.

Temperatures are expected to remain relatively mild throughout the weekend, sitting around the low-to-mid 20s Celsius. While conditions are not expected to be extreme, the combination of cooler temperatures, possible rain and Spa’s demanding layout could create a challenging environment for both drivers and engineers.