Technique information for the Belgian Grand Prix

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

Regardless of having collected solely a really restricted quantity of information thus far this weekend, Pirelli expects that the two-stop technique will emerge because the quickest method to finish at present’s 44-lap Belgian Grand Prix. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó dwells on doable race methods for at present’s Spa F1 race.

Regardless of Spa being a really difficult monitor for tyres, groups have comparatively tender compounds to work with at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. Pirelli has nominated the the C2 as P Zero White onerous, C3 as P Zero Yellow medium and C4 as P Zero Pink tender for the Spa F1 weekend that options the third dash format in 2023.

In truth, the tyre choice is similar because it was final yr, that means that groups can construct on the information and expertise they gained a yr in the past. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless an thrilling alternative contemplating the character of the 7.004km Spa circuit. The longest monitor on the System One calendar Francorchamps is a circuit the place the tyres are subjected to appreciable forces.

Essentially the most difficult half for tyres is the compression at Eau Rouge adopted by the climb as much as Raidillon: consisting of a excessive pace left-hand flip, the place the downforce squashes the automotive into the bottom, adopted by one other high-speed right-left kink the place the automotive goes gentle on the high of the hill onto the Kemmel straight.

What’s the climate doing at present?

Heavy rains have wreaked havoc on the Spa-Francorchamps occasion all through the weekend, inflicting disruptions and delays. Saturday’s F1 motion wanted to be delayed with each the dash shootout qualifying and the dash itself having kicked off later than deliberate on account of heavy showers.

Due to the tragic dying of race drivers prior to now on the Spa monitor, FIA is taking additional care of the circumstances and solely permits on-track motion when it feels it’s secure for the drivers. That’s the reason the motion needed to be delayed a number of instances over the weekend.

Whereas Friday and Saturday become a washout on a number of events, Sunday ought to function higher weather conditions. At present, there is no such thing as a rain at Spa. The F3 race began on damp floor within the morning, however the F2 and the Porsche Supercup races befell in dry circumstances.

Nonetheless, rain is forecasted for the night, and there’s a 30% likelihood of rain for the grand prix itself, with the opportunity of showers growing for the closing levels of the 44-lap race.

What tyres do drivers have obtainable?

Tyre allocation won’t play a major position at present. Whereas drivers have been closely restricted eventually weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix by way of tyre allocation with solely 11 units having been obtainable on the Hungaroring, the Spa race weekend noticed the normality return. Each driver has had 13 units of slick tyres to play with throughout the three-day race weekend.

Furthermore, because the the opening follow and the dash race befell in moist circumstances and the qualifying and the dash qualifying have been additionally held in partly damp circumstances, drivers have hardly used slick tyres thus far.

These difficult damp weather conditions imply that each driver has a minimum of one recent set of onerous, three new units of mediums and two recent units of softs for at present’s race. It signifies that the allocation won’t be a limiting issue find one of the best technique for at present’s 44-lap Belgian race.

Clear image regardless of restricted operating

As for the technique, almost all of the groups opted for a two-stop technique final yr with all three compounds having been used all through the 2022 Spa F1 race. Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen lined up 14th on the grid after a penalty however received the race with an important fightback, beginning on the softs after which finishing two stints on the medium.

Like final yr, the two-stop technique is rising as a transparent favorite so far as the race technique is anxious at present. With the tender compound having confirmed comparatively good sturdiness, Pirelli expects drivers to begin the race on the tender compound to have an excellent intial grip off the road and within the first laps.

In the mean time, the quickest technique seems to be like to modify from the softs to a set of medium and finish the race on the identical yellow-banded compound. Nonetheless, one other two-stop technique to finish at present’s 44-lap race run is to swap the softs on Lap 15 to mediums earlier than finishing the final stage of the race on one other recent set of softs.

The one-stop technique is also viable at Spa as nicely, albeit it will rely upon site visitors, doable digital or actual security automotive interruptions and technique selections of rivals. If somebody opts for a single cease, it will nonetheless be doable to begin on the tender compound, however the medium could possibly be a safer possibility. Nonetheless, after the opening stint on both on the medium or the tender compound, the one-stop technique would contain a second, very lengthy stint on the white-walled onerous compound.