Every track test driver’s skill but nowhere can challenge the infamous Spa-Francorchamps. The plunge down to the La Source hairpin, up to the blind Eau Rouge crest without lifting is the stuff of legend, up the hill to Les Combes. Then, accelerate out of Stavelot flat through Blanchimont & end up to the Bus Stop chicane, through the Ardennes forest and in Formula 1 racing history. This is one race which you cannot afford to miss.

The original circuit was twice the length of today but since it was rebuilt in 1983 the current track still keeps all the characters and excitement of the classic old one, testing drivers to the very limits of their skills with flying fast corners, steep changes of elevation and blistering long straights which all add up to a fast and furious race.

Drivers love it because of the amazing track and great atmosphere. Spectators adore the circuit too; there’s never a dull moment. Another thing this race is famous for is rain, once it rained for 20 consecutive Grand Prix so keep an eye on the sky on Sunday.

Introduction by WasiF1

Keep an eye on…

Red Bull‘s RB6 is down on top speed in comparison to their rivals, preferring tight, slow, twisty circuits. The same can’t be said for their rivals though, especially McLaren. Could Spa’s fast corners and long straights be the undoing of the Austrian team? Ferrari‘s revised F10 is likely to be the major challenger this weekend.

Michael Schumacher won his first Grand Prix here and loves this circuit, can he create more history on Sunday? After a remarkable race here last year when Giancarlo Fisichella took pole and finished 2nd, Force India will be looking for a great race once more.

Renault will be running their F-duct for the first time this weekend. Rubens Barrichello will be looking for a good result in his 300th Grand Prix.

Virtual lap

Drivers

“Spa is quite different to all the other circuits we run at because, although we use lower downforce levels similar to Canada, this circuit has many more high-speed corners. That makes it tricky to balance the downforce level with getting good top speed, which you need because there are two very long sections at the start and end of the lap, where you spend a long time at full throttle. Often, this is a circuit that throws up some surprises, and suddenly cars that haven’t been quick all year can be good in Spa. From the team’s point of view, we will be running the f-duct for the first time this weekend, and we hope it will work straight away so that we have as much practice time as possible to extract the maximum performance from this system.” – Robert Kubica

Engines

“Engine performance makes a significantly heightened contribution to lap time at Spa. Downforce levels are typically in the low-medium range, reducing the impact of aerodynamics, although chassis responsiveness still plays a key role through the few slower-medium speed parts of the track.

“The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix was not held in 2006 when Cosworth was last involved in F1 as an engine supplier, so it has been five years since the sound of a Cosworth engine reverberated around the Spa Francorchamps track.

“More surprisingly, the last time a Cosworth V8 unit was raced at Spa was back in 1997 before the introduction of the V10 configuration engines that powered Formula One cars from 1998-2005.” – Cosworth

Tyres

(Hard and Soft)

“Spa Francorchamps is a circuit with many secrets. It is the longest circuit of the season, and there are many different characteristics to it. Tyres are put under big loads here, and the circuit is too punishing for the use of our super soft tyre. Eau Rouge and sector two are particularly punishing. Despite the high speeds we see, the requirements of a lap mean that relatively high downforce configurations are used on the cars, placing the tyres under even higher loads. The change from downhill to uphill through Eau Rouge puts the tyres under severe compression forces at high speed added to the downforce and inertia loads, so tyre pressures need to be carefully determined and monitored. The weather is often a factor, especially as you can see track temperatures ranging from 10C to 40C. Rain can come very quickly here because of the forest location, so this is another factor to consider. Spa seldom gives us a dull race, and I hope we will have an enjoyable final visit here.” – Bridgestone

Weather

In typical Belgian weather, rain is expected throughout the weekend. However, their will be sunny spells so as usual, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the weather will do when the cars are out on track, hopefully making for an exciting and unpredictable Grand Prix.

At this race last year…

Giancarlo Fisichella pulled an incredible pole position out of the bag for Force India, in what was his final race before he made the jump to Ferrari to replace an injured Felipe Massa.

Fisichella followed up his pole with 2nd place in the race in a Grand Prix won by Kimi Raikkonen from 6th on the grid. After colliding with Romain Grosjean, Jenson Button retired, meaning it was incredibly the only time he failed to score a point in his championship-winning campaign!

Race times

(All times BST)

Sat 28 Aug: Practice 3 1000-1100; Qualifying 1300

Sun 29 Aug: Race 1300