Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, the F1 area 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 very important details forward of the 44-lap Spa F1 race.
Spa-Francorchamps is among the true basic tracks, the place drivers can nonetheless actually make a distinction. Climate is all the time a scorching speaking level at Spa with changeable circumstances usually spicing up the motion over the weekend.
This 12 months has been no exception to that with Saturday’s periods having taken place in tough circumstances, testing not solely the drivers’ abilities, but in addition the groups’ adaptability to the always altering circumstances.
The longest observe – The unique Spa circuit was some 15km lengthy which has been shortened to only 7.004km, however it’s nonetheless simply the longest observe on the present Grand Prix calendar. Drivers might want to full 44 laps in in the present day’s race to cowl the full 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 file for the quickest race lap with the Finn driver having set a lap time of 1’46.286 in the course of 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 shall 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 305m after Flip 4. The second zone has a detection level 160m earlier than Flip 18 and an activation level 30m after Flip 19.
Center of the vary – The forces put by means of 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 components of the observe. Regardless of the difficult format and high-speed corners, Pirelli introduced the compounds in the midst 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 Purple mushy. This is similar nomination as final 12 months.
The emblematic nook – It’s uncommon {that a} nook is extra well-known than the circuit it’s positioned at. Through the years, the notorious Eau Rouge nook grew to become 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 outstanding exterior of motorsport historical past too, appearing 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 an actual bus cease, though it is undergone a number of adjustments.
No success for house heroes – Extremely, no Belgian driver has ever gained the Belgian Grand Prix. The nation’s most profitable Components 1 driver, Jacky Ickx, gained eight Components 1 races however by no means in his house nation, though he did end second at Spa for Ferrari in 1968.
Extra lately, Stoffel Vandoorne raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, however for now the Belgian flag is absent from the Components 1 grid.
Belgian parentage – Though there aren’t any drivers from Belgium on the present grid, three drivers are with Belgian parentage. Max Verstappen races beneath 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 among the authentic seven circuits that shaped the inaugural World Championship of Drivers in 1950 .At present’s race would be the 69th Belgian Grand Prix with the occasion solely lacking the schedule on six events: 1957, 1959, 1969, 1971, 2003 and 2006..Three tracks – Of the 68 races held in Belgium, 56 occurred on the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. The opposite races had been staged at Zolder and Nivelles.
Probably 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 12 months after debuting on the identical 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 area, 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 12 months later.
After securing his first two championship titles with Benetton, the seven-time world champion made the change to Ferrari for 1996. He gained his first race in pink in Spain, and took his second triumph for Ferrari just some weeks later at Spa.
For Charles Leclerc, Spa has additionally grew to become an essential observe in his F1 profession. The 26-year-old Monegasque secured his maiden F1 victory at Spa in 2019 when he defeated Lewis Hamilton in a fierce combat.
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.
The least pleasurable – The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix led to a washout and have become the shortest race in F1 historical past. Simply three laps had been accomplished behind the Security Automotive, with half factors awarded. The order on the entrance was Max Verstappen for Purple Bull Racing, George Russell for Williams and Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes.
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