After what seems like an eternity to hardened fans, Formula 1 returns from its annual summer break this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix. Set in the Ardennes forest, Spa Francorchamps is arguably one of the most loved circuits on the calendar. High-speed turns like Eau Rouge & Raidillon, the beautiful scenery, and unpredictable weather add to its mystique.
Toro Rosso Honda go into the weekend expecting an uphill battle given the demands Spa places on all elements of the car. And while there is another update from Honda in the pipeline, we shouldn’t expect to see it debut here. On the fleeting occasions when Toro Rosso nails the car setup they are fast. If they can get the setup right, expect one car to have a shot at breaking into the points.
Elsewhere on the grid, it will be a tight race between Mercedes and Ferrari with the former seeming to have found its form and the latter with what we know to be a power advantage. Red Bull could play the role of spoiler and those odds will only be helped by an error at the top of the grid, but will their Renault power unit allow them to go the distance? From there we should expect a battle between a Haas and a Renault with the American squad tipped to prevail as their car is very competitive on high-speed circuits. The battle following that group will likely be a Force India and a Sauber. McLaren will be trying to break up the action ahead of them but this circuit could exacerbate the issues with their car; like Red Bull they will be hoping for a mistake ahead of them. Williams will round out the order as they work frantically to sort fundamental issues with their 2018 car.
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice 1 – Friday, August 24 4:55 AM ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, August 24 8:55 AM
ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, August 25 5:55 AM ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, August 25 8:55 AM ESPN2
On The Grid – Sunday, August 26 8:30 AM ESPN2
Race – Sunday, August 26 9:05 AM ESPN2
Encore – Sunday, August 26 8:00 PM
ESPNEWS
CIRCUIT INFORMATION:
Lap data
Lap length: 7.004km (4.352 miles)
Race laps: 44
Race distance: 308.052km (191.415 miles)
Pole position: Right-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’46.577 by Sebastian Vettel, 2017
Fastest lap: 1’42.533 by Lewis Hamilton, 2017
Maximum speed: 324kph (201.324 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and Kemmel straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 265m
Car performance
Full throttle: 70%
Longest flat-out section: 2015m
Downforce level: Medium
Gear changes per lap: 45
Fuel use per lap: 2.2kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.088s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 22.444s by Ferrari
2018 tyres: Medium, Soft, Supersoft (2017: Soft, Supersoft, Ultrasoft)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2017 RESULTS:
Race stats.
Laps: 44
Pole: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:42.553
Fast race lap: Sebastian Vettel, 1:46.557
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
CURRENT STANDINGS:
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 213
2. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 189
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 146
4. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 132
5. Daniel Ricciardo, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 118
6. Max Verstappen, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 105
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1, 52
8. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 45
9. Fernando Alonso, McLaren Renault, 44
10. Sergio Perez, Force India, 30
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 345
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 335
3. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 223
4. Renault Sport F1, 82
5. Haas, 66
6. Force India, 59
7. McLaren Renault, 52
8. Toro Rosso, 28
9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, 18
10. Williams Martini Racing, 4
Reply