The 12th round of the 2014 Formula 1 season takes place at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
The F1 circus will reconvene in the paddock at the historic track after a four-week summer break and two-week factory shutdown period.
The mid-season pause was painful for fans, but it was crucial for those working in the sport following a busy and almost non-stop first half of the year on the road.
Following a dramatic and action-packed Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring at the end of July, Lewis Hamilton has closed to within 11 points of his team-mate Nico Rosberg in the fight for the drivers’ title.
The second part of the season will see eight races take place within the space of 14 weeks. It kicks off at Spa-Francorchamps for the 59th Belgian Grand Prix to appear on the F1 calendar.
The track, situated in the Ardennes Forest, is a formidable challenge and is world-renowned for its history and drama. The current layout may be a shadow of its former self - the terrifying 8.761 mile circuit that was raced on until 1978 - but it is still a tricky circuit to master and produces some stunning and memorable racing.
A lap of the 4.352 mile circuit starts on the relatively short pit straight, which leads on to the famous La Source hairpin. This is where the first of two DRS zones will be and the tight right-hander provides a strong overtaking opportunity.
It usually creates plenty of incidents – particularly on lap one. Most recently, Romain Grosjean took out multiple cars back in 2012 after making a poor misjudgement under braking just after the race start, causing him to be given a race ban. Fortunately the Frenchman has managed to turn his reputation around.
A good exit is crucial for the long run downhill to the turns two, three and four. The pit exit feeds cars back out on track to the right-hand side along this straight (which is where the old start line was), before the drivers then tackle the iconic Eau Rouge and Raidillon corners.
The high-speed left-right-left uphill section used to be taken flat-out, but with the decreased downforce levels in 2014 that won’t be the case this season. The tricky complex is very easy to get wrong.
If a mistake is made, big crashes can occur. Jacques Villeneuve, Gerhard Berger and Giancarlo Fisichella – to name just a few – know this all too well.
The Kemmel Straight is next up and is where the second DRS zone will be, which makes the medium-speed right-left chicane of Les Combes a strong overtaking place. The corner is also the first in the second sector. It can get quite bunched up here on the first lap and that can often cause contact – we saw that back in 2009, when championship leader Jenson Button was taken out after qualifying in the midfield.
It is important to get the first part right to gain time through the second section. Malmedy, turn seven, is a fast right that is particularly tricky to get right in wet conditions. The drivers then head downhill before tacking Rivage – turn eight. It is a long hairpin that is followed by the right-hander of turn nine and a short straight.
Pouhon is next up and is a very difficult, never-ending left-hand corner that is one of the toughest to perfect at Spa-Francorchamps. This turn will be even more difficult with the loss of downforce and increased torque levels in 2014. Des Fagnes, a third gear right-left chicane, follows before the first of the two right-handers that make up the Stavelot complex and the end of the second sector. Part one requires a dab on the brakes, while drivers may need to lift slightly for the second section.
Carrying a good amount of speed through here is very important for the long, flat-out run through turn 16, turn 17 – Blanchimont – to the heavy braking zone for the final chicane. This section of the circuit was re-profiled in 2007.
The tight right-left section is a strong overtaking place and requires strong traction on the exit. The narrow pit entry is to the right as drivers enter the second part of the chicane.
The current layout shares just three corners with the original 8.761 mile circuit – the high-speed Blanchimont corner, the La Source hairpin and the Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex.
Previously, the drivers would head straight on where Les Combes is now located to tackle the roads around the towns of Spa and Francorchamps, passing through iconic corners like Burnenville and the Masta Kink.
The track has hosted 45 of the 58 Belgian Grands Prix, with Nivelles and Zolder staging the race several times in the 1970s and early 1980s. The charming and characterful venue is a favourite amongst the drivers and teams, thanks to its history, challenging corners and unpredictable weather.
Rain often falls at some point over a Belgian Grand Prix weekend and can help to spice things up. The race also holds fond memories for many of the current crop of drivers. Kimi Raikkonen has won there four times, with Felipe Massa, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton all taking victory once. Sebastian Vettel is a two-time winner at the track, most recently triumphing last year after dominating the race.
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the race, having won it six times. Ayrton Senna is next up with five victories, while Ferrari leads McLaren in the constructors’ table with 16 wins to 14.
The track features two distinct sections. Sectors one and three are very fast with long straights that require a car with high aero efficiency, while sector two has lots of fast corners that require high grip and downforce levels.
This means drivers often try out different car set-ups in practice to try and get the right balance. F1’s tyre supplier Pirelli will take the white-marked medium and yellow-banded soft compounds to this weekend’s race.
Mercedes will undoubtedly be the team to beat yet again, while the high-speed nature of the track should suit the likes of Williams, Force India and McLaren with the Mercedes power-unit.
Red Bull Racing should be competitive – particularly in sector two – and Ferrari will definitely be in the mix as well. It should be a fantastic weekend of racing as F1 returns to the track for the penultimate European round of the season.
Belgian Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Francorchamps, Belgium
Track Length: 4.352 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 19
Laps: 44
First race: 1950
Lap record: 1m45.108 - Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2004
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2013 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2m.01.012
2013 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1m50.756
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The mid-season pause was painful for fans, but it was crucial for those working in the sport following a busy and almost non-stop first half of the year on the road.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Following a dramatic and action-packed Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring at the end of July, Lewis Hamilton has closed to within 11 points of his team-mate Nico Rosberg in the fight for the drivers’ title.
The second part of the season will see eight races take place within the space of 14 weeks. It kicks off at Spa-Francorchamps for the 59th Belgian Grand Prix to appear on the F1 calendar.
The track, situated in the Ardennes Forest, is a formidable challenge and is world-renowned for its history and drama. The current layout may be a shadow of its former self - the terrifying 8.761 mile circuit that was raced on until 1978 - but it is still a tricky circuit to master and produces some stunning and memorable racing.
A lap of the 4.352 mile circuit starts on the relatively short pit straight, which leads on to the famous La Source hairpin. This is where the first of two DRS zones will be and the tight right-hander provides a strong overtaking opportunity.
It usually creates plenty of incidents – particularly on lap one. Most recently, Romain Grosjean took out multiple cars back in 2012 after making a poor misjudgement under braking just after the race start, causing him to be given a race ban. Fortunately the Frenchman has managed to turn his reputation around.
A good exit is crucial for the long run downhill to the turns two, three and four. The pit exit feeds cars back out on track to the right-hand side along this straight (which is where the old start line was), before the drivers then tackle the iconic Eau Rouge and Raidillon corners.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The high-speed left-right-left uphill section used to be taken flat-out, but with the decreased downforce levels in 2014 that won’t be the case this season. The tricky complex is very easy to get wrong.
If a mistake is made, big crashes can occur. Jacques Villeneuve, Gerhard Berger and Giancarlo Fisichella – to name just a few – know this all too well.
The Kemmel Straight is next up and is where the second DRS zone will be, which makes the medium-speed right-left chicane of Les Combes a strong overtaking place. The corner is also the first in the second sector. It can get quite bunched up here on the first lap and that can often cause contact – we saw that back in 2009, when championship leader Jenson Button was taken out after qualifying in the midfield.
It is important to get the first part right to gain time through the second section. Malmedy, turn seven, is a fast right that is particularly tricky to get right in wet conditions. The drivers then head downhill before tacking Rivage – turn eight. It is a long hairpin that is followed by the right-hander of turn nine and a short straight.
Pouhon is next up and is a very difficult, never-ending left-hand corner that is one of the toughest to perfect at Spa-Francorchamps. This turn will be even more difficult with the loss of downforce and increased torque levels in 2014. Des Fagnes, a third gear right-left chicane, follows before the first of the two right-handers that make up the Stavelot complex and the end of the second sector. Part one requires a dab on the brakes, while drivers may need to lift slightly for the second section.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Carrying a good amount of speed through here is very important for the long, flat-out run through turn 16, turn 17 – Blanchimont – to the heavy braking zone for the final chicane. This section of the circuit was re-profiled in 2007.
The tight right-left section is a strong overtaking place and requires strong traction on the exit. The narrow pit entry is to the right as drivers enter the second part of the chicane.
The current layout shares just three corners with the original 8.761 mile circuit – the high-speed Blanchimont corner, the La Source hairpin and the Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex.
Previously, the drivers would head straight on where Les Combes is now located to tackle the roads around the towns of Spa and Francorchamps, passing through iconic corners like Burnenville and the Masta Kink.
The track has hosted 45 of the 58 Belgian Grands Prix, with Nivelles and Zolder staging the race several times in the 1970s and early 1980s. The charming and characterful venue is a favourite amongst the drivers and teams, thanks to its history, challenging corners and unpredictable weather.
Rain often falls at some point over a Belgian Grand Prix weekend and can help to spice things up. The race also holds fond memories for many of the current crop of drivers. Kimi Raikkonen has won there four times, with Felipe Massa, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton all taking victory once. Sebastian Vettel is a two-time winner at the track, most recently triumphing last year after dominating the race.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the race, having won it six times. Ayrton Senna is next up with five victories, while Ferrari leads McLaren in the constructors’ table with 16 wins to 14.
The track features two distinct sections. Sectors one and three are very fast with long straights that require a car with high aero efficiency, while sector two has lots of fast corners that require high grip and downforce levels.
This means drivers often try out different car set-ups in practice to try and get the right balance. F1’s tyre supplier Pirelli will take the white-marked medium and yellow-banded soft compounds to this weekend’s race.
Mercedes will undoubtedly be the team to beat yet again, while the high-speed nature of the track should suit the likes of Williams, Force India and McLaren with the Mercedes power-unit.
Red Bull Racing should be competitive – particularly in sector two – and Ferrari will definitely be in the mix as well. It should be a fantastic weekend of racing as F1 returns to the track for the penultimate European round of the season.
Belgian Grand Prix Fact File:
 |
| © Formula1.com |
Location: Francorchamps, Belgium
Track Length: 4.352 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 19
Laps: 44
First race: 1950
Lap record: 1m45.108 - Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2004
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2013 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2m.01.012
2013 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1m50.756
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC
1 comment:
Excellent article thanks
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