Formula 1 springs back into action this weekend as the championship heads to one of its most iconic venues on the calendar. Heading to Spa-Francorchamps for Round 13 at the Belgian Grand Prix. Famed for its elevation changes and unpredictable weather, the Belgian GP is set to deliver another dramatic race.
Here’s your guide to the Belgian GP weekend!
All eyes on Red Bull Racing
For the first time since their F1 debut in 2005, Red Bull Racing will enter a race weekend without Christian Horner. This comes following the long-time Team Principal and CEO’s departure from the team. A mere three days after the British Grand Prix. This marked the end of an era for Red Bull. An era that saw the team win eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ titles.
Now under the guidance of Laurent Mekues, Red Bull find themselves fourth in the standings, a long way off McLaren. All eyes will be on Red Bull this weekend as they enter this new era without Horner, hoping to stabilise their performance and return to winning ways at a circuit where Max Verstappen has triumphed three times before.
McLaren vs. Ferrari
Oscar Piastri arrives at Spa as the championship leader; however, his margin has shrunk to just eight points. Following back-to-back wins, Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris is slowly placing pressure on the Australian. Norris could clinch a third consecutive win this weekend and reclaim the championship lead he lost back in Jeddah.
Despite McLaren remaining the team to beat this weekend, their rivals, Ferrari, have made progress throughout the season. Ferrari is showing signs of a potential late-season title charge. Since the Imola Grand Prix, Leclerc and Hamilton have consistently finished within the top 5. Additionally, the team have continued development work on their rear suspension, which has caused many headaches for the team throughout the season.
Coming into the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, it is clear that both McLaren and Ferrari remain the teams to beat.
Track Talk: Spa-Francorchamps
Spa is a fan and driver favourite track. With a track length of 7km, it is the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar and features legendary corners such as Eau Rouge, Raidillon, and Pouhon. The high-speed nature combined with the tricky middle sector demands that drivers are on the limit at all times.
The lap record is held by Mexico’s Sergio Perez, who lapped a 1m 44.701s at last year’s Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing. Alongside Perez, Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most Pole positions at Spa. He currently has six, with a potential seventh this season.
In true Belgian GP fashion, the weather is a wildcard this weekend. Spa is notorious for bringing sun in one sector and rain in another. This year’s race could again be affected, especially with rain possible on Friday and light showers throughout Saturday and Sunday’s sessions.
Tyre Strategy for the Belgian GP
For the first time since Australia 2022, Pirelli has selected non-consecutive tyre compounds. This weekend, teams have the C1 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft) as their choices for both the Sprint and Grand Prix. This tyre choice has increased the likelihood of a two-stop strategy due to the unknowns with tyre management, with only one practice session.
Sprint Race Weekend
The Belgian GP will host its second-ever Sprint Race Weekend in 2025. Spa-Francorchamps’ long straights, high-speed corners are an ideal backdrop for the sprint format. Allowing for greater wheel-to-wheel action to occur between drivers, and heating the championship battle a bit more.
This format means just one hour of Free Practice before cars head into Sprint Qualifying on Friday afternoon. Saturday features both the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying.
Additionally, Pirelli’s tyre choices for this weekend will play a major role in the Sprint. With the medium tyre (C3) mandated for the first two phases of Sprint Qualifying and the soft (C4) for Q3, tyre management will be key across all sessions.
With Spa’s unpredictable weather conditions, a shake-up in the standings feels inevitable. Will Piastri hang onto the lead? How will Red Bull fare without Horner? Or will Hamilton deliver another Spa masterclass? Either way, the penultimate race before the summer break is set to deliver fireworks.
