(Motorsport-Total.com) – There are crucial questions at every Formula 1 race weekend in 2026. Namely: What is the weather forecast? Is wet track expected on site? Are intermediates or even rain tires needed? Or will it remain consistently dry from practice through qualifying to the race, making dry tires sufficient? In short: What should drivers like Nico Hülkenberg, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton prepare for?
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To answer these questions, our editors have been closely monitoring the weather at the Formula 1 venues several days before the start of tests or race weekends. During the event, this preview article is updated with new weather data such as temperature in degrees Celsius, wind strength, cloud cover, and expected precipitation for each day of the weekend.
The result is as precise a weather forecast as possible for the respective Grands Prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season. However, all information is without guarantee, as some motorsport locations like Spa-Francorchamps or the Nürburgring are known for particularly changeable weather that cannot always be predicted accurately. Precipitation can also occur there unexpectedly.
The next time Formula 1 hits the track is in Silverstone, from July 3 to 5, 2026, for the British Grand Prix, the ninth race weekend of the year. (Retrieve the complete 2026 Formula 1 calendar here!)
Friday, July 3, 2026
1st Free Practice (1:30-2:30 PM)
Nearly ideal conditions are expected to kick off the weekend. Various weather services uniformly show a dry afternoon with temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. The rain risk is only in the range of 10 to 20 percent.
A moderate southwest wind at 15 to 20 km/h with occasional gusts around 30 km/h could be noticeable especially in the fast corner combinations of Copse as well as Maggotts and Becketts. Additionally, it mostly means a tailwind on the main straight.
Sprint Qualifying (from 5:30 PM)
The weather calms further for the sprint qualifying. It remains dry and temperatures reach up to 25 degrees. The southwest wind weakens somewhat and mostly only reaches 10 to 15 km/h, though occasional gusts remain possible. The probability of precipitation is below ten percent.
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Saturday, July 4, 2026
Sprint (Start at 1 PM)
Saturday remains by far the most challenging day for the weather forecast according to current status: Some forecasts predict sunshine, others light showers or drizzle. The chance of rain initially ranges between 30 and 40 percent.
Temperatures for the sprint are expected to be between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius. Cloud cover remains variable and denser than on Friday, but clears up by late morning. A west to southwest wind blows at around 15 km/h with gusts up to 30 km/h, again providing a tailwind on the main straight.
Qualifying (from 5 PM)
Forecasts for qualifying indicate dry weather. Temperatures up to 27 degrees and a weaker west wind of about 10 to 15 km/h are expected. The rain risk drops to about 15 to 20 percent – it will likely remain completely dry.
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Grand Prix (Start at 4 PM)
The Grand Prix is likely to take place under the most stable weather conditions of the entire weekend. Forecasts almost unanimously show the influence of a high-pressure system over central and southern England, making dry and summery warm weather probable. Temperatures between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius are expected at race start.
The wind remains moderate at 10 to 15 km/h from the southwest. This means a tendency for tailwind on the main straight. The rain risk is below five percent and thus practically negligible.
Note: This forecast will be updated several times during the week!
First forecasts for the Formula 1 race in Spa-Francorchamps
Typical for the second half of July are daily highs between 20 and 23 degrees, high humidity, and frequently changing cloud cover. Characteristic for Spa are local showers that can occur briefly even during mostly pleasant weather and often affect only individual track sections.
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