Normally the Belgian Grand Prix marks the end of F1’s summer break; however, in 2020 F1 finds itself here as part of a compressed season as the sport and the world recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.
Cautious optimism is probably the best way to describe Red Bull’s outlook on this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. As the team continue to gain a better understanding of their package they remain up to the challenge of competing at the top of the grid. With that said, Spa emphasizes power and they are still slightly behind on that front so we should expect a 3rd place finish unless the team can run extremely low downforce or move up on strategy. On the AlphaTauri side we should expect one car in the points with the other not far behind.
Elsewhere on the grid, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if they will take the top two spots on the podium. Next up we should expect to see both Racing Points in high points-paying positions and even have an outside shot at a podium. Following them, look for a three way duel between the lead McLaren and the lead Renault and the lead Ferrari as they round out the strong end of the midfield. The next team we should see in the finishing order, and likely out of points contention, is Haas. Alfa Romeo will be in a tight battle with the aforementioned Haas. Williams will round out the field as their car’s high drag will hamper them at a long circuit like Spa.
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice 1 – Friday, August 28 – 5.00AM –
ESPN
Practice 2 – Friday, August 28, 9.00AM – ESPN2
Practice 3 – Saturday, August 29 – 6.00AM – ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, August 29 – 9.00AM –
ESPN
Race – Sunday, August 30 – 9.10AM –
ESPN
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*: 1’46.286 by Valtteri Bottas, 2018
Fastest lap: 1’42.519 by Charles Leclerc, 2019
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
2020 tyres: Hard (C2), Medium (C3), Soft(C4) (2019: Hard (C1), Medium (C2), Soft(C3))
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2019 RESULTS:
Race stats.
Laps: 44
Pole: Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:42.519
Fast race lap: Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:46.409
Podium
1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
CURRENT STANDINGS:
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 132
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 95
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 89
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 45
5. Lance Stroll, Racing Point, 40
6. Alex Albon, Red Bull, 40
7. Lando Norris, McLaren, 39
8. Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 32
9. Carlos Sainz, McLaren, 23
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, 20
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 221
2. Red Bull, 135
3. Racing Point, 63
4. McLaren, 62
5. Ferrari, 61
6. Renault, 36
7. AlphaTauri, 16
8. Alfa Romeo, 2
9. Haas, 1
10. Williams, 0
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