Belgium – Overview: An all-out attack return for Hamilton and Vettel
Belgian spectators prefer attack to defense, so Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel will have to attack this Sunday. The Scuderia driver has announced his return to business, as well as his team's, this weekend to continue believing in the titles.
The race at Spa is always special. I was born an hour away, which makes it a home race for me. You can tell by the orange crowd and campsites full of Dutch caravans that the fans come out in force, which only adds to the home race feeling. The track is set in the forest, which makes it different from driving on other circuits. Eau Rouge is of course special but my favorite part is Pouhon, the fast left-handers are really great.
A few hours before the engines roar on the track, it is hard to find a driver who isn’t in love with Spa-Francorchamps! Of course, the race will be even more special for two of them, Stoffel Vandoorne, who is racing at home, and also Max Verstappen, who describes here the unique atmosphere of the Dutch fans who come as neighbors to support their young prodigy.
Generally, the single-seaters lacking downforce should have a good time this weekend. However, engine power will be a significant asset to tackle the many straights. Mercedes and Ferrari thus have an advantage on this track, but a surprise from a team less accustomed to the front positions could well occur, perhaps with Force India, which has always performed well on this circuit where it scored its only pole position in 2009.
The owner’s tour
After a very long coffee break we’re back and the #BelgianGP is our first stop on the next half of the #F1 season! https://t.co/O3QNxce7Gn pic.twitter.com/nDdBaiNewz
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 20 août 2018
Giancarlo Fisichella’s career was marked by more downs than ups. But when the Italian was on a high, he didn’t do things by halves, as evidenced by this qualifying lap in 2009 that earned him the pole position, and the only one to date for the Force India team, traditionally always strong on this type of circuit where speed rules. This is what the sensation of speed looks like at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
For posterity
How to introduce Spa-Francorchamps without mentioning Michael Schumacher? The track where he secured his first victory in 1992 was his playground, and he achieved numerous feats there, ultimately setting the record with 6 wins on Belgian soil. Currently, the circuit specialist also drives a Ferrari, as it’s Kimi Räikkönen who, with 4 wins, has always found the keys to victory here. Certainly a favorite for this new event.
Tarmac and mistral
While some are dreaming of summer, we’re hard at work getting the #Fit4F1 #BelgianGP shoes ready. https://t.co/X8JMYY8zQe pic.twitter.com/BEA8bJ7CJt
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 6 août 2018
The least we can say is that the weekend is shaping up to be autumnal at Spa-Francorchamps. For the first session on Friday, the sun will be absent from the radar and the thermometer will display a modest 14°C. The second afternoon session will be the warmest of the weekend with 16°C, facilitated by a brief appearance of the sun between the clouds.
Starting Saturday, expect showers. They will disrupt the final practice session as well as the qualifiers. At the peak of the day, it will be 14°C, the wind will be omnipresent and will reach around 20km/h, with gusts peaking at nearly 40km/h.
For the race, the risks of rain are high. Fortunately, the wind will be weaker and will remain around 10 km/h with gusts only slightly stronger. It will be like during the second practice session, roughly 16°C.
The TV program!
