Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, the F1 area has assembled at the fabled Spa-Franchorchamps monitor for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó delivers the trivia, stats and important details forward of the 44-lap Spa F1 race.
Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the true basic tracks, the place drivers can nonetheless actually make a distinction. Weather is at all times a sizzling speaking level at Spa with changeable circumstances usually spicing up the motion over the weekend. This yr has been no exception to that with Friday’s and Saturday’s classes having taken place in troublesome circumstances, testing not solely the drivers’ abilities, but additionally the groups’ adaptability to the consistently altering circumstances.
The longest monitor – The unique Spa circuit was some 15km lengthy which has been shortened to simply 7.004km, however it’s nonetheless simply the longest monitor on the present Grand Prix calendar. Drivers will want to full 44 laps in in the present day’s race to cowl the whole race distance of 308.052km.
Tight part – The pit lane is a fairly tight part at Spa. Drivers have to adhere to a most of 80km/h when driving in the pit lane.
The dominant Mercedes – Valtteri Bottas holds the document for the quickest race lap with the Finn driver having set a lap time of 1’46.286 throughout the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.
DRS zones – Overtaking could be very a lot doable round the Spa circuit with the Kemmel straight providing nice alternatives. However, there might be two DRS zones at Spa-Francorchamps to additional assist drivers full their overtaking manoeuvres. The detection level of the first is positioned 240m earlier than Turn 2, with the activation level 230m after Turn 4. The second zone has a detection level 160m earlier than Turn 18 and an activation level 30m after Turn 19.
Track modifications – The monitor has gone by means of few modifications for this yr with the run-off behind and after the kerb in Turn 2 on the left-hand facet having been resurfaced and the kerb on the left-hand facet having been having been rebuilt. Furthermore, grass verges have been renewed at Turns 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 14.
Middle of the vary – The forces put by means of the tyres at the Belgian Grand Prix are excessive, particularly at the well-known Eau Rouge-Raidillon advanced, the place the tyres are subjected to a fierce compression and heavy g forces over considered one of the quickest components of the monitor. Despite the difficult structure and high-speed corners, Pirelli introduced the compounds in the center of its vary.
In Belgium, the C2 is the P Zero White onerous, the C3 is the P Zero Yellow medium, and the C4 is the P Zero Red delicate. This is the identical nomination as final yr.
The emblematic nook – It is uncommon {that a} nook is extra well-known than the circuit it’s positioned at. Over the years, the notorious Eau Rouge nook turned synonymous with the 7.004km Spa-Francorchamps monitor. Eau Rouge is a 15-kilometre river in the Belgian province of Liege. Earning its title thanks to crimson oxide deposits present in the river, it was additionally outstanding outdoors of motorsport historical past too, performing as a state border between Prussia and the Netherlands in the 1800s.
Moreover, most of the corners are named after native landmarks. Stavelot or Malmedy are for instance small cities that type a triangle with the city of Spa. The bus cease chicane additionally has its personal historical past because it used to be an actual bus cease, though it is undergone a number of modifications.
No success for residence heroes – Incredibly, no Belgian driver has ever received the Belgian Grand Prix. The nation’s most profitable Formula 1 driver, Jacky Ickx, received eight Formula 1 races however by no means in his residence nation, though he did end second at Spa for Ferrari in 1968. More lately, Stoffel Vandoorne raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, however for now the Belgian flag is absent from the Formula 1 grid.
Belgian parentage – Although there aren’t any drivers from Belgium on the present grid, three drivers are with Belgian parentage. Max Verstappen races below Dutch flag, however he was born in Belgium to a Belgian mom whereas Britain’s Lando Norris and Canadian Lance Stroll even have moms who come from the nation.
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— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 27, 2023
Long historical past – Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the unique seven circuits that shaped the inaugural World Championship of Drivers in 1950 . Today’s race might be the 67th Belgian Grand Prix with the occasion solely lacking the schedule on six events: 1957, 1959, 1969, 1971, 2003 and 2006.
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Three tracks – Of the 66 races held in Belgium, 54 happened at the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. The different races have been staged at Zolder and Nivelles.
The most profitable – Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is the most profitable driver at the Belgian Grand Prix with six victories. The nice German clinched his maiden F1 victory at Spa, only a yr after debuting at the identical monitor in the sport. Ayrton Senna is the second most profitable driver with 5 victories, adopted by Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton and Jim Clark with 4 wins apiece. In the present area, Sebastian Vettel is the solely different repeat winner at Spa-Francorchamps with three triumphs.
Debut victory – For Michael Schumacher, Spa-Francorchamps is a milestone in his illustrious profession. The German made his F1 debut at Spa in 1991 with Jordan and took his first victory on the identical location only a yr later. After securing his first two championship titles with Benetton, the seven-time world champion made the swap to Ferrari for 1996. He received his first race in crimson in Spain, and took his second triumph for Ferrari just some weeks later at Spa.
For Charles Leclerc, Spa has additionally turned an vital monitor in his F1 profession. The 25-year-old Monegasque secured his maiden F1 victory at Spa in 2019 when he defeated Lewis Hamilton in a fierce struggle.
Ferrari is the most profitable at Spa – The fabled Italian crew is the main constructor in Belgium with 18 victories, 4 forward of McLaren. Lotus occupies the third spot on this checklist with eight wins. Alfa Romeo can also be a profitable constructor round Spa with securing the victories at the first and second Belgian Grands Prix.
Important beginning place – While overtaking is a more easy affair at Spa, beginning positions have proved important in recent times. The race has solely produced two winners from behind the entrance row since the circuit was reconfigured for the 2007 grand prix – Kimi Räikkönen received from P6 in 2009 and Daniel Ricciardo from P5 in 2014. In whole, Spa has produced 21 victories from pole place.
The least satisfying – The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix led to a washout and have become the shortest race in F1 historical past. Just three laps have been accomplished behind the Safety Car, with half factors awarded. The order at the entrance was Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing, George Russell for Williams and Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes.
