Race Week in Belgium

FORMULA 1 Belgian GRAND PRIX 2024

It's race week in Belgium.

F1 stops at Spa-Francochamp in Stavelot, Belgium.

Belgian Grand Prix history: Dating back to the 1920s, The Belgian Grand Prix, held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, has a rich and storied history in Formula 1. It became part of the first official Formula 1 World Championship in 1950. The inaugural race was on a much longer version of the track, around 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) long. This period saw tragic accidents, leading to calls for increased safety. The original circuit was deemed too dangerous for modern Formula 1 cars, so it was removed from the calendar. The Belgian Grand Prix alternated between Nivelles-Baulers and Zolder circuits during this period. In 1983, Spa-Francorchamps returned to the F1 calendar with a significantly shortened and modified layout; the new track retained many of the original's challenging features while improving safety. Since its return, Spa-Francorchamps has been a regular fixture on the F1 calendar, with only a few exceptions.

About the Circuit: Located in Stavelot, Belgium, in the Ardenne mountains, SpaSpa is one of the most beautiful circuits on the F1 calendar. Spa Francochamp is the longest circuit on the current F1 calendar at 7.004 km (4.352 mi). Spa-Francorchamps remains a favorite among drivers and fans alike. Home to multiple series like WEC, GT Challenge, European Le Mans, and MotoGP, Spa-Francochamp is a favorite of every series.

The nineteen-turn circuit includes famous corners like Eau Rouge, Raidillon, and the Bus Stop Chicane. Its combination of high-speed sections and technical corners continues to provide thrilling races. A high-speed game of chasing through the hills, SpaSpa is one of the most beautiful circuits on the F1 calendar.

Weekend Highlights:

This is the final race before the summer break. A lot of riding on every single race remains. The constructors championship is still a battle. With Mclaren's dominance in Hungary, they closed a little more of the gap to Red Bull. This is the final race before summer break at one of the most iconic circuits in the world. Weather permitting, it should be a fantastic weekend of Formula 1 racing.  

McLaren dominated the weekend in Hungary. McLaren finds themselves in a unique position, a legitimate Red Bull contender. It’s been some time since there was a team on the grid that had the upper hand against Red Bull. McLaren has figured out the recipe for success; if they don’t sabotage themselves, this charge could result in a constructors championship—the team’s first since 1998. Will the Lando and Oscar situation cause problems in the future, or will the team resolve these issues and unite? McLaren has been quick all season, and no reason that stops this weekend. A win is on the table.

Red Bull needs to tighten up. There are many conversations and a bit of distraction around the team: Checo's seat and Max's frustrations with the team in Hungary. Can they bounce back at a circuit that has been very good to them and win? If Checo can get a podium, it might save his job before the three-week summer break. The last thing he wants hanging over the break is another poor performance.  

Mercedes needs to press it. On a Five-race podium streak, Mercedes needs to go all in. After two wins this season, Mercedes has had a resurgence to its prior versions of the team; they feel like legit contenders now. Third place in the constructors is still in question with Ferraris's recent blunders. Mercedes needs to attack aggressively, like a shark drawn to blood in the ocean. Will the raw speed of Spa-Francochamp be ideal for the car?

Ferrari needs to bring it. Ferrari is in no man's land right now. They're a mid-10 top team right now; the conversation has changed from contenders to not being mentioned in the fight anymore. Ferrari needs a good race for both cars to go into the break feeling better about the season. A lousy finish this weekend will leave a bad taste in their mouths.

VCARB is intense. A lot of attention is paid to the VCARB driver lineup. Yuki performed magic with a one-stop race in Hungary, resulting in a ninth-place finish, and Daniel was dealt with a strategy that left him steaming after the race. There's a legitimate shot that one of these drivers will finish the season in the second Red Bull. Every single race and every single session matters with this driver lineup. It's intense and excellent for the team because they are getting the absolute best out of this team.

Aston Martin needs to find a step. AMR is having a decent season, but it's far from the expectations after last season's run of podiums for Alonso. They're scoring consistent points and clearly fifth in the constructors; fourth is out of reach, and the gap to sixth is significant unless AM is dismantled. How can AM still make this an exciting season? They have to find a step and get back to competing for podiums.

Haas needs to reaffirm their footing.  Haas has been hot all season. Unable to get into the points in Hungary, the streak ended. How soon can Haas get back into the points? It was not necessarily an excellent finish from the team at Spa last season; this will be a battle for this team, but that is what they have all seen. It's a 50/50 on results this weekend.

Alpine needs to step forward so they don't step back. Grappling with reliability issues has halted Pierre Gasly's hot streak and hindered Ocon's performance. Despite a four-race points streak, the team's tone has changed, and they need to address these issues before the summer break to carry momentum into the second half of the season.

Williams needs to shake it off. While Silverstone felt like a step in the right direction, Hungary differed. Logan botched his start, and the team strategies took both drivers out of contention. Continued Q2 and Q3 appearances have some positives, but Williams needs to capitalize. Williams is stuck in the mud and needs to become unstuck and step forward. A few good races in a row, and they could take the eighth position in the constructors championship.

Stake-Sauber. With an upgraded car in Hungary, there were positive steps, with Bottas reaching Q2 and nearly Q3. However, the cars still needed to improve overall race pace during the Grand Prix. Still, strong weekends are required without a points finish on the season if they want not to finish last in the constructors.