2021 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix

Spa Francorchamps 2021 Grand Prix Formula 1.jpg
F1 returns after the summer break to take on Spa Francorchamps for the 2021 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, with both the drivers and constructors championships still tightly contested.

Formula One is back on track this weekend after their summer break. This week the challenge is the fan favourite and sim racing mainstay Spa Francorchamps circuit.

The F1 cars will be full throttle for 80% of their laps at the Belgian circuit. The course also offers more passing opportunities than many of the sites on the F1 calendar, so the racing action should be solid.

On the weather front, cool and wet conditions are expected over the weekend. It’s too early to predict the severity of the wet conditions at race time, but there’s a high probability of a wet track through each of the Grand Prix sessions.

Looking at the standings, Lewis Hamilton finds himself at the top of the drivers’ standings, but just eight points clear of Max Verstappen. The rivalry between the two drivers has heated up in recent races, and it looks like the battle will be fierce for the remainder of the season. The degree of Mercedes’ recent upgrades is yet to be determined, but even a small increase in performance relative to Red Bull could have huge implications on the season outcome.

Between the constructors, Mercedes and Red Bull have nearly doubled the next closest team in points, and the two powerhouses will look to not only win races with favourites Verstappen and Hamilton, but also fight hard to get Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez on the podium to collect increasingly more valuable points in the remaining races this season. Currently the teams are separated by just 12 points in the constructor standings.

Behind the lead teams and drivers, there are some fierce battles happening as well. McLaren and Ferrari are tied at 163 points in the constructor standings. This rivalry has been close all season, and the teams will now start on equal ground for the back half of the season.

Lando Norris for McLaren enters the race at Spa in third place in the driver standings. This is an impressive feat, showcasing both his speed and consistency, and placing him ahead of both a Red Bull and a Mercedes driver overall.

The dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix was the last F1 event and saw Esteban Ocon earning an impressive victory. He was able to avoid a chaotic turn 1 and maintain his lead until the end. Sebastian Vettel crossed the finish line in 2nd place, but later had the finish taken away due to a rule violation. Lewis Hamilton found himself in an awkward position with the conditions changing in Hungary, and was the last to pit for dry tires. He was able to fight through the field (including a defensive driving clinic from Fernando Alonso) and ended up getting a podium finish, which had a significant impact on points in the championship fight.

Whether the high level of excitement of the Hungarian Grand Prix will continue through a wet Belgian Grand Prix is still to be determined, but it’s hard to imagine this weekend being anything less than thrilling.

Let us know your expectations for this weekend’s race in the comments below.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Glad Lando is ok. It was good to see Seb stop and check if he was ok. Drivers rarely bother these days. Seb called it when he was warming them it would happen. They just go flying through. I feel like the crash in the W Series had a bit of that going on. The black and white car and another just before it raced into a crash that had ended and obliterated one of the others that had already been pummeled. Granted it was wet and the track clearly had oil or something on it but damn at that point I think they knew a huge crash was happening infront of them.

Spa is just one of those old school tracks they shouldn't mess with. When it's dangerous just stop for 10 minutes or an hour. I love Spa how it is and I wouldn't change Eau Rouge or Raidillion. I think at this point I would do some major work to move that wall back away from the track and have a big runoff there. I would change the whole look of that section sadly but the track itself would be intact and drivers would be a hell of a lot safer. We've had far too many really big crashes up there this year alone in various series.

Ok rant over. Damn that was a good lap from George. Sadly doubt it will mean much in the race though.
After the Norris crash Max also immediately went to the race directors to express his concerns (again) about drivers safety.
 
Premium
Pains me to say it, but I really think that Eau Rouge has no future in motorsport. We have had the awful crashes in the Spa 24, Lando's crash and that truly awful crash in the W series race. I can't see how the FIA can continue to allow these sorts of accident to happen - sooner or later, someone will run out of luck.
 
You're delightfully hopeful aren't you? Scary sad...
No your just being an idiot, your saying any top 6 team driver could've done that and yet they all were on the same grid, same conditions, some with better positioning and some with worse, but all in much better cars. The fact you can't take joy and give applause to a young guy who put a williams p2 is scarily sad, and frankly very miserable
 
Premium
Russell is simply amazing. Hope he will finish in the points today.
 
Premium
Russell is simply amazing. Hope he will finish in the points today.

He's the real deal. Saw him at Oulton Park and thought the kid was good. In fact, I saw Max at Silverstone supporting the WEC event, and he pissed off into the distance. Phenomenal drivers. the pair of them.
 
Pains me to say it, but I really think that Eau Rouge has no future in motorsport. We have had the awful crashes in the Spa 24, Lando's crash and that truly awful crash in the W series race. I can't see how the FIA can continue to allow these sorts of accident to happen - sooner or later, someone will run out of luck.
Eau rouge has a future in motorsport, if the gravel is put back in place, and drivers start respecting the corner again, instead of trying to cut it and run wide all the time, look at onboards and see how much they are running over the kerbs. At this point its not a corner anymore, and they should do something about that.

Also motorsport is dangerous, specially when you take stupid risks. Already in indycar i see some tracks disappearing because people take too many risks, despite the obvious danger.

And if cars are too fast, its time to change their downforce, and enforce harder tires that last longer to slow them down then, not start butchering tracks.
 
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Premium
I do think that F1 is rather too risk averse with the wet these days. It is very wet, but the drivers need to drive with the conditions in mind

Roll up roll up - place your bets now for how many corners Mazaspin will last....
 
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The guy who wore an "ARREST COPS" t-shirt to the grid is sponsored by "POLICE EYEWEAR"?
 

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