Following the summer break, fans and teams alike are looking forward to finally resuming the 2021 championship season as we head to Belgium for Round 13.
Lewis Hamilton sits atop the driver’s standings as proceedings get underway in a few day’s time at Spa Francorchamps with 195 points, just ahead of his closest rival in the Red Bull, Max Verstappen, with 187.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is in third with 113, while the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas is hot on his tail with 108.
The second Red Bull of Sergio Perez is just 4 points behind Bottas, closing out the top 5 ahead of this weekend’s return.
The Circuit
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit first hosted an F1 race back in 1925 and will be the next location to see the 2021 contenders battle it out on a track that features 19 corners and two DRS zones.
Sunday’s battle will see drivers race over 44 laps of the 7.004km track where Kimi Raikkonen holds the record for the fastest lap with McLaren in 2004 in 1:45.108s.
It will run across 308.052 km from lights out to chequered flag, with top speeds of 319.6 km/hr expected.
Michael Schumacher remains the most successful driver at the Belgian Grand Prix with six victories – winning the race for Benetton in 1992 and 1995, then for Ferrari in 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2002.
There are three other Belgian Grand Prix winners on the grid this weekend in Kimi Raikkonen (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009), Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2013, 2018), and Lewis Hamilton (2010, 2015, 2017, 2020).
-The Weather
Current forecasts for the weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit show a chance of rain amid highest temperatures of 15C – 16C.
On Friday morning, as cars hit the track, there is a 12% chance of rain with temperatures sitting at 15C.
On Saturday there is a 17-20% chance of rain from the morning, which is due to remain in place until the afternoon however, predictions may change closer to the day.
The current forecast indicates a 20% chance of rain on race day with temperatures of 16C.
On the whole, winds are likely to be moderate throughout the weekend.
When/ Where to Watch
Free practice 1 will take place on Friday at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps on August 27 at 10:30 Irish time, with FP2 taking place hours later at 14:00.
FP3 begins on Saturday, August 28, at 11:00 and will be followed by Qualifying at 14:00.
For the big day on Sunday, August 29, coverage will be on Sky and NOW with lights out at 14:00.
You can catch live coverage of the entire 2021 season, every weekend on Sky Sports F1, or grab a NOW sports package.
Championship Standings
