It’s been a long few weeks without any Grand Prix action, and we here at Karting Nation have certainly missed it. But fear not, with the Formula 1 summer break now over and done with, it’s time for the season to resume as the drivers head to Belgium!
In last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was able to claim a second successive victory after he stormed to a win in Germany the previous week. In the process, he was able to claim a 24 point advantage over his fierce rival Sebastian Vettel who now trails in second place with a total of 189 points.
Ahead of this Sunday’s main event at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, we look into the history of the event and exactly what you can expect when you tune into the action. So, read on as Karting Nation gives our preview of the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.
What Time Does The Belgian Grand Prix Start?
With a time difference of +1 hour when compared to UK time, you can expect the racing action to commence at the reasonable hour of 14:10 this Sunday, 26th August. Prior to this, the first practice round kicks off at 10:00 on Friday 24th August, followed by qualifying at 14:00 on Saturday 25th August*
History of the Belgian Grand Prix
The 70,000 capacity Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the hosting venue for the Belgian Grand Prix. It has been the home of the event every year since 2007, having previously being removed from the racing calendar in 2003 and 2006 for various reasons. In the past, the event has been held at Zolder in addition to Nivelles.
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit measures up to 7.004 km (4.352 mi) in total, equating to a total race length of 308.052 km (191.415 mi) over the course of 44 laps. This particular racetrack has become renowned for its unpredictable weather – with clear and bright sections often turning into a rainy and slippery surface during certain stretches. For that reason, drivers and their respective teams must prepare to change their approach and/or equipment to adapt to the racing conditions.
In terms of repeat winners in the Belgian Grand Prix, legendary German driver Michael Schumacher boasts a total of six career wins in this particular event. The late Ayrton Senna comes in a close second with five wins, four of which came consecutively between the years of 1988 and 1991 – quite the achievement we say!
In terms of current racers, it’s Finnish Ferrari racer Kimi Räikkönen who comes out on top with four career wins, followed closely by Lewis Hamilton who has claimed top spot on the podium three times in his career so far.
Who Won The 2017 Belgian Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton was able to emerge victorious in the last edition of the Belgian Grand Prix – retaining his pole position to finish with a total time of 1:24:42.820. Meanwhile, his close rival Sebastian Vettel finished in second place with a time of +2.358, with Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo claiming the final podium spot with a time of +10.791.
The fastest lap was claimed by Sebastian Vettel with a time of 1:46.577. However, the German was unable build upon this to earn victory. Ultimately, it was Lewis Hamilton who claimed the bragging rights in the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix.
Prior to this, Hamilton hadn’t won the event since 2015, with his then teammate Nico Rosberg earning victory in the 2016 F1 season. Since 2004, it has been Kimi Räikkönen who has earned the most wins with a total of 4 victories. However, the Finnish racer has failed to reach first place on the podium ever since his 2009 triumph.
Who Is Likely To Win The 2018 Belgian Grand Prix?
It really has been a back and forth between Hamilton and Vettel in the Driver’s Championship this year. So, it looks like it might just go down to the wire unless one of them can earn a significant points advantage over their rival.
Lewis Hamilton will most definitely look to capitalise on his points advantage over Sebastian Vettel in this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. With 3 wins under his belt in this event since 2010, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him earn top spot on the podium once more.
However, with Sebastian Vettel able to earn victory in this particular event in his title winning years of 2011 and 2013, he certainly remains in contention to close the gap at the top of the Driver’s Championship and storm to a win this weekend.
But, with Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo also amongst the previous race winners, it would be foolish to rule him out. This is in spite of the fact he has struggled to keep up with the likes of Hamilton and Vettel in the race for the title. The Australian currently lies in fifth position in the Driver’s Championship, but he has proven his worth this season with victories in China and Monaco respectively.
Final Thoughts
As always, Karting Nation can’t wait for this weekend’s action on the circuit to commence. After all, it’s almost been a month since Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the 2018 Hungarian Grand Prix! Thankfully, we don’t have to wait much longer before the awesome racing action graces our screens once more!
You’ll need to tune in for yourself to find out who is able to claim victory this weekend. Sunday 26th August at 14:10 BST is when the main event commences. Although, you could also watch the qualifying at 10:00 on Saturday 25th August too – discovering who can earn themselves the all-important pole position! It’s sure to be an action-packed event. So, make sure you don’t miss out!
*All times are in UK time.