F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Preview
25th August 2022Formula 1 returns this week after its lengthy, and interesting, summer break as the sport embarks on its 14th round for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Belgium’s iconic Spa-Francorchamps is the stage and the Ardennes are the back drop. F1 finally returns this week as the sport goes into its 14th round of the 2022 season.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen heads the drivers standings with 258 points, 80 points ahead of his closest championship rival; Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, on 178 points.
Mercedes may look to be out of the championship fight, but they look to be a strong contender for race wins in the second half of the season.
Let’s just hope we can get some meaningful racing in this year, as rain is – once again – predicted to strike this weekend.
Verstappen vs Leclerc
The defending world champion’s 80-point advantage, over his closest championship rival, means Verstappen can ease off on the accelerator and cruise his way to his next world championship title.
Whereas Leclerc, and Ferrari, have to iron out their own issues if they hope to secure the world drivers title since Kimi Raikkonen’s win in 2007 (Drivers/Constructors) and 2008 (Constructors-only).
The Monegasque, and his Italian team, have stumbled over their own toes in recent events as Leclerc crashed out of the French Grand Prix, of his own accord, while Ferrari have committed some questionable tyre strategies.
On the other hand, Spa is a happy hunting ground for Leclerc as he secured his first-ever career win, and his first win for the team, in Belgium.
Mercedes’ resurgence
While the title might be out of reach, despite remaining in mathematical contention, Mercedes are quickly becoming a team to threaten the top teams – again.
The iconic, and once-dominant, Silver Arrows have suffered one of their worst starts to a season in recent times. They are currently undergoing their longest streak, without a win.
A winless Mercedes is unprecedented in the hybrid era.
However, a stunning qualifying display from George Russell, in Hungary, will give the German team some hope that they can stand on the top step of the podium at some point this season. The young Briton pulled out a stunning lap and placed his car where – on paper – it shouldn’t have been: on pole position.
In a press release, Mercedes team principle, Toto Wolff said:
“We headed into the break off the back of a strong run of races and our biggest race weekend points score so far this year, in Hungary.
“While we’re still not quite in the fight for victories, we’re getting closer, so we need to keep the momentum going and the pressure on.”
This would’ve given the German manufacturer a much-needed morale boost going into the summer break. Especially after their seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, secured his fifth – consecutive – podium finish, and their second double podium of the season.
After a dismal start to their season, a stand-out performance may be on the cards this weekend. One which will grab the attention of those at Red Bull and Ferrari.
Changes at Spa
Spa maybe one of the longest tracks on the F1 calendar, but it is also one of the most deadly. F2 driver Anthoine Hubert was the most recent death at the track after he suffered a serious crash at the top of Radillion, the iconic hill which lines up the opening sector of Spa-Francorchamps.
Dangerous incidents at the location have still occurred. McLaren’s Lando Norris had a horrific crash, last year, where his car collided with the barrier, in wet conditions, before it skimmed across the track and stopped on the run off area.
The circuit has seen a variety of changes which have costed an eye-watering €80 million. These changes include: extending the run off area at the exit of Eau Rogue, on top of Radillion and additional gravel traps have been added.
As part of the renovations, the iconic cliffside – at Radillion – has been taken away and has been replaced by a large grandstand to allow spectators to watch, and enjoy, F1 cars tackling the steep incline at over 100mph.
That’s it for the article: F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Preview? Who are your early contenders for; the race win and/or pole position? Let us know in the comments!
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
