GP Belgium: Timetable, standings, track info

Timetable GP Belgium

The Belgian Grand Prix takes place at the time you are used to from most European GPs. That means the race will start at 3 p.m. on Sunday. It’s also a traditional race weekend again, so there’s no sprint race, just three free practice sessions and a qualifying session before the race.

Championship standings

Max Verstappen has further extended his championship lead with his stunning victory from P10 in Hungary. It was another disappointing race for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz not even finishing on the podium. Leclerc is now 80 points behind Verstappen, with eight races to go. He also has to fear for his second place in the championship, because Sergio Pérez is only five points behind Leclerc.

With the constructors it looks extremely comfortable for Red Bull Racing. That has a lead of almost 100 points over rival Ferrari. Mercedes, meanwhile, seems to be getting back into good shape and is now a serious threat to Ferrari in the championship. After all, the difference between the two is only 30 points. The battle for P4 in the championship is also one to keep an eye on, as Alpine and McLaren are very close together.

Circuit

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most legendary circuits in the world. Not only for Formula 1, but also for many other racing classes. Now that it is exciting what the future of Formula 1 in Spa looks like, the drivers will undoubtedly enjoy the circuit in the Ardennes even more. It is the favorite destination for many. Max Verstappen also sees it as his most beloved F1 circuit. Spa features a wide variety of turns, high speeds and awe-inspiring climbs. Especially the combination Eau Rouge-Raidillon is famous and infamous. In the main photo you can see Verstappen driving towards it. In the past, serious accidents regularly happened here, unfortunately several times with fatal consequences. The tragic fatal accident of F2 driver Anthoine Hubert in 2019 is still fresh in the minds of drivers and fans.

The layout of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has changed considerably in its 101-year existence. The biggest change came in 1979, when a huge street circuit section was removed. Then Spa-Francorchamps was cut in half in length in one fell swoop. On the old circuit, which continued straight after Kemmel Straight where the drivers now turn right, an average speed of 240 km/h could be achieved. Today the circuit is just over 7 km long and besides Eau Rouge-Raidillon, especially Blanchimont and Pouhon are still famous corners. The drivers will drive 44 laps on Sunday to reach a total distance of 308.052 km. The fastest lap of the race is in the name of Valtteri Bottas, who crossed the track in 1:46.286 in the 2018 Belgian GP. Max Verstappen is the most recent winner, although it was a strange win last year. After a few laps behind the safety car, the race was flagged due to continued heavy rain. It is hoped that a full race will be held again this year.