Must know for the Belgian Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix, GP Belgium, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, the F1 discipline has assembled on the fabled Spa-Franchorchamps observe for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó delivers the trivia, stats and important information forward of the 44-lap Spa F1 race.

Spa-Francorchamps is without doubt one of the true basic tracks, the place drivers can nonetheless actually make a distinction. Climate is all the time 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’ expertise, but additionally the groups’ adaptability to the continually altering circumstances.

The longest observe – The unique Spa circuit was some 15km lengthy which has been shortened to simply 7.004km, however it’s nonetheless simply the longest observe on the present Grand Prix calendar. Drivers might want to full 44 laps in right this moment’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 stick to a most of 80km/h when driving within the pit lane.

The dominant Mercedes – Valtteri Bottas holds the report for the quickest race lap with the Finn driver having set a lap time of 1’46.286 through the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.

DRS zones – Overtaking may be very a lot doable across the Spa circuit with the Kemmel straight providing nice alternatives. Nonetheless, there might be two DRS zones at Spa-Francorchamps to additional assist drivers full their overtaking manoeuvres. The detection level of the primary is positioned 240m earlier than Flip 2, with the activation level 230m after Flip 4. The second zone has a detection level 160m earlier than Flip 18 and an activation level 30m after Flip 19.

Monitor adjustments – The observe has gone by few modifications for this yr with the run-off behind and after the kerb in Flip 2 on the left-hand aspect having been resurfaced and the kerb on the left-hand aspect having been having been rebuilt. Moreover, grass verges have been renewed at Turns 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 14.

Center of the vary – The forces put by the tyres on the Belgian Grand Prix are excessive, particularly on the well-known Eau Rouge-Raidillon advanced, the place the tyres are subjected to a fierce compression and heavy g forces over one of many quickest elements of the observe. Regardless of the difficult structure and high-speed corners, Pirelli introduced the compounds in the course 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 Pink smooth. This is identical nomination as final yr.

The emblematic nook – It’s uncommon {that a} nook is extra well-known than the circuit it’s positioned at. Over time, the notorious Eau Rouge nook turned synonymous with the 7.004km Spa-Francorchamps observe. Eau Rouge is a 15-kilometre river within the Belgian province of Liege. Incomes its title because of pink oxide deposits discovered within the river, it was additionally distinguished outdoors of motorsport historical past too, performing as a state border between Prussia and the Netherlands within the 1800s.

Furthermore, many 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 was once an actual bus cease, though it is undergone a number of adjustments.

No success for residence heroes – Extremely, no Belgian driver has ever received the Belgian Grand Prix. The nation’s most profitable Formulation 1 driver, Jacky Ickx, received eight Formulation 1 races however by no means in his residence nation, though he did end second at Spa for Ferrari in 1968. Extra not too long ago, Stoffel Vandoorne raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, however for now the Belgian flag is absent from the Formulation 1 grid.

Belgian parentage – Though there are not 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.

Lengthy historical past – Spa-Francorchamps is without doubt one of the authentic seven circuits that shaped the inaugural World Championship of Drivers in 1950 . At this time’s race would be the 67th Belgian Grand Prix with the occasion solely lacking the schedule on six events: 1957, 1959, 1969, 1971, 2003 and 2006.
.
Three tracks – Of the 66 races held in Belgium, 54 occurred on the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. The opposite races had been staged at Zolder and Nivelles.

Essentially the most profitable – Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is probably the most profitable driver on the Belgian Grand Prix with six victories. The nice German clinched his maiden F1 victory at Spa, only a yr after debuting on the similar observe within 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. Within the present discipline, Sebastian Vettel is the one 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 change to Ferrari for 1996. He received his first race in pink in Spain, and took his second triumph for Ferrari only a few weeks later at Spa.

For Charles Leclerc, Spa has additionally turned an vital observe 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 probably the most profitable at Spa – The fabled Italian staff is the main constructor in Belgium with 18 victories, 4 forward of McLaren. Lotus occupies the third spot on this listing with eight wins. Alfa Romeo can be a successful constructor round Spa with securing the victories on the first and second Belgian Grands Prix.

Vital beginning place – Whereas overtaking is a more easy affair at Spa, beginning positions have proved important lately. The race has solely produced two winners from behind the entrance row for the reason that circuit was reconfigured for the 2007 grand prix – Kimi Räikkönen received from P6 in 2009 and Daniel Ricciardo from P5 in 2014. In complete, Spa has produced 21 victories from pole place.

The least gratifying – The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix resulted in a washout and have become the shortest race in F1 historical past. Simply three laps had been accomplished behind the Security Automobile, with half factors awarded. The order on the entrance was Max Verstappen for Pink Bull Racing, George Russell for Williams and Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes.