Presentation – Belgian GP: The season dives back into the deep end at Spa

« Spa is incredible. For many of us, it’s one of our favorite tracks. Its reputation is legendary and deserved. The feeling when going through Eau Rouge is different from any other corner on the calendar. From our position so low on the track, you can just see the sky, it’s totally surreal! »

You can’t change who you are! A Formula 1 driver can’t stay inactive for too long. Like most of his peers, Fernando Alonso is eager to make his return. And not just on any track: with his words, the double world champion describes a very special feeling on the circuit.

At ground level, the single-seater driver has a field of vision primarily focused on the track. However, that’s the unique charm of the “Ardennes rollercoaster”: at the bottom of the Raidillon, the gradient is such that the trees disappear behind the asphalt. Only the sky is revealed to the drivers, providing a thrilling experience, as McLaren-Honda’s leading driver admits.

Secure, the famous climb remains one of the hotspots of the circuit. Several terrible accidents occurred there in the past. In 1999, it was even two major crashes that struck Ricardo Zonta and Jacques Villeneuve, the two BAR drivers, back to back. Twelve months ago, Kevin Magnussen lost control of his Renault and crashed violently against the opposite wall.

But let’s not forget the other highlights of the longest track on the entire calendar! Around the approximately seven kilometers of circuit, various bold sections unfold, such as the double left of Pouhon or the magnificent Blanchimont curve, bringing the drivers back to the final chicane.

So many challenges altogether that will perfectly suit the cars, filled with aerodynamic downforce!

Let’s get back to good habits. After more than 25 days off, here is the second major chapter of the Vettel-Hamilton duel, the first of its kind in the history of Formula 1.

Building on his Hungarian victory, the German had a lead of 14 points over his English rival this summer. But more than ever in the modern era of the V6 Turbo Hybrid, the balance of power swings from one race to another. Indeed, neither man has ever managed to significantly widen the gap at the top of the world championship.

The proof is with the Hungaroring, which slowed down a resurgent Lewis Hamilton since the Canadian Grand Prix. The three-time world champion had to settle for a meager fourth place. But in the face of adversity, number 44 definitely found his ally: Valtteri Bottas, his own teammate, who didn’t fail to acknowledge his gesture at the finish line.

Among the constructors, the double victory of Scuderia Ferrari did not prevent the team with the Star from keeping the lead, with a gap reduced to 39 points. Despite the characteristics of the Spa-Francorchamps track, the Italian team is gaining momentum and stability, following the contract renewal of Kimi Räikkönen (incidentally the current master of Spa with four wins) for the next season.

In this regard, Helmut Marko, well-positioned as the head of the Red Bull program, has gone to great lengths, admitting that Vettel would be “world champion at the end of the year.”

But anyway, will his team be able to join the party? The nine retirements in the first half of the season haven’t helped, far from it! Stuck in third place 134 points behind Ferrari, Red Bull Racing is eagerly awaiting the engine developments (both software and hardware!) brought by Renault at this track just like at Monza. These will need to work right away because two pink rockets might be looming in the background.

Still in the game, Force India approaches the Belgian event with confidence, Mercedes engine at their back. With only one retirement, reliability is on the side of Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon, who will resume their internal battle. To do this, they must be careful at the start, which is often chaotic. Ask Verstappen and the two Ferrari drivers’ opinion, three abreast into La Source last year!

All of this should not give Daniil Kvyat any ideas! Already involved in a few collisions this season, the Russian can no longer afford to make mistakes with ten points deducted from the twelve initially on his license in Melbourne.

Speaking of crashes, let’s not awaken the bad memories of Haas drivers either. Aside from Magnussen, Romain Grosjean has had a tumultuous history. A sort of chiaroscuro, with a podium in 2015 aboard his Lotus-Mercedes (the last by a French driver in Formula 1) but also that memorable accident in 2012 involving multiple cars, including Alonso and Hamilton, who were both in the running for the world championship title.

Five years later, the first mentioned may hope for a wild race to replicate the last outing in Hungary, a sixth place with the fastest lap. Belgium would be the opportune moment for Stoffel Vandoorne to shine, as the first Belgian to participate in his national race since Jérôme d’Ambrosio in 2011. The native of Courtrai, freshly extended for 2018, will be one of the two stars of this weekend, along with Max Verstappen.

Dutch fans have thus booked en masse for this event: in part thanks to them, the 250,000 tickets put on sale have found buyers! Orange will definitely be the color of the weekend, rest assured!

The Dutch invasion is on! 👊 Your #BelgianGP guide with a difference… 🇧🇪 👉 https://t.co/1loc9Ocyi9 #F1 pic.twitter.com/XoxiZuOPUn

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) 23 août /f1/actualite/22198-vettel-vs-hamilton-le-duel-tant-attendu.html

To (really) know everything…

Just like on the fast track in Canada, the ultra-soft tire has been chosen for the Belgian Grand Prix. Along with it, the other softest compounds, the super-soft and the soft, have been selected.

For those of you who just realized #F1 is back in action. #Fit4F1 #BelgianGP
More FYI knowledge: https://t.co/0GzNN1r7fj pic.twitter.com/mV7jehMQPn

— Pirelli Motorsport (@Pirellisport) 22 août /f1/actualite/22198-vettel-vs-hamilton-le-duel-tant-attendu.html

Regarding the use of DRS, drivers will be able to do so on the start-finish line provided they were within one second of the car ahead at the braking of the chicane (T18-19), as well as on the climb up the Kemmel (between Raidillon and Les Combes T4 and T5) with a detection point placed in the middle of the old start-finish line between La Source and Eau Rouge.

Don’t forget the TV schedule!