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F1: Belgian Grand Prix Predictions and How To Watch

F1 returns to the Belgian Grand Prix for another Sprint weekend. Can anyone stop Red Bull’s momentum ahead of the summer break?

Up next on the F1 calendar is the Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps will play host to the third sprint weekend of the season in the final race before F1 takes a month-long break for the summer.

Heading into this weekend it will be difficult to look past Verstappen for the win as last week out in Hungary saw the reigning world champion take his ninth win of the season, creating an astounding 33.731-second gap to his closest competitor.

Last weekend also showed that Ricciardo could rise to the occasion and beat his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, on his first outing in the Alpha Tauri.

We also witnessed another shift in the order of the grid as both Alfa Romeos made it into the top 10 during qualifying, and Hamilton took pole by 0.003 seconds from Verstappen in what was probably the biggest shock of the weekend.

Once Sunday rolled around, things quickly returned to normal. Verstappen took the lead into turn 1 and both Red Bulls made it onto the podium alongside Lando Norris, proving that the recent uptick in McLaren’s performance is here to stay.

As we set our sights on the Belgian Grand Prix, we will have a slightly busier schedule due to the sprint weekend. To make sure that you don’t miss out on anything this weekend, take a look at the F1 guide below to keep up with all of the action.

The Circuit

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is 7.004 km (4.35 miles) and is located in Stavelot, Belgium. The track made its Formula 1 debut in 1950 and is the longest circuit on the F1 calendar as it boasts a lap record of 1:46.286, which was set by Valtteri Bottas in 2018.

The circuit offers up a mix of long straights and high-speed corners making this weekend one that you cannot miss, especially during qualifying as the drivers push the cars to the absolute limit.

Spa is a fan favorite and is also one of F1’s most beloved circuits amongst the drivers, with Lewis Hamilton stating that “There aren’t many like it.” However, its future on the F1 calendar has been called into question in recent years.

Although Spa signed a one-year extension in 2022, we have not received any further news to confirm that the circuit will remain on the calendar beyond 2023, leaving the fate of the Belgian Grand Prix hanging in the balance.

A Lap of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The drivers will complete 44 laps of the iconic track starting with a run down to the tight hairpin of Turn 1, the exit of this first corner is key as it’s followed by a straight that leads right into a few of F1’s most infamous and dangerous corners.

The drivers climb up to Eau Rouge and Raidillon, going flat out before heading down into the first DRS zone along the back straight. Turns 5,6 and 7 mark the beginning of the second sector and prove to be a challenge for the drivers as they navigate the right-left-right combination.

The descent then begins into the second hairpin of Turn 8 which is followed by a left-hander and then the fast and sweeping corners of Turns 9 and 10.

Another swift sequence is thrown up with a right-left combination through Turns, 12 and 13, followed by the double right-handers of Turns 14 and 15. From here, the drivers will make their way along the straight in the final sector, speeding through Turns 17 and 18 before they slow down at the two final corners of the track.

Turns 18 and 19 are a pair of tight uphill corners that lead the drivers onto the second DRS zone as they race back to the start/finish line.

Points Standings

Here’s where the teams and drivers stand ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix

Driver Standings

  1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing – 281 points
  2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing – 171 points
  3. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 139 points
  4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 133 points
  5. George Russell, Mercedes – 90 points
  6. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 87 points
  7. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 80 points
  8. Lando Norris, McLaren – 60 points
  9. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – 45 points
  10. Esteban Ocon, Alpine – 31 points

Constructor Standings

  1. Red Bull Racing – 452 points
  2. Mercedes – 223 points
  3. Aston Martin – 184 points
  4. Ferrari – 167 points
  5. McLaren – 87 points
  6. Alpine – 47 points
  7. Williams – 11 points
  8. Haas – 11 points
  9. Alfa Romeo – 9 points
  10. Alpha Tauri – 2 points

Predictions

Carlos Sainz inherited pole position at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix after Verstappen and Leclerc both took engine penalties which relegated them down to P15 and P16 on the starting grid. However, I can’t see anyone other than Verstappen taking the win at Spa this year.

  1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
  2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
  3. Lando Norris, McLaren

How To Watch – F1 Belgian Grand Prix (U.S. and U.K. times)

 

 

 

 

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