Summer break is over, and F1 is back on track at Spa Francorchamps with bad weather looming.
The 2022 Formula 1 championships may be comfortably in-hand for Max Verstappen and Red Bull, but fans will still be excitedly tuning in this weekend as F1 aims to make amends for a disappointing 2021 race at Spa. 2022 could also be the last race we see at Spa for a while.
Last season's Belgian race fell in the midst of a heated battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but no racing was actually done at Spa. Heavy rainfall caused the race to be red flagged after 3 of the scheduled 44 laps. Each lap was run behind a safety car. This event was further controversy for Spa after several major safety incidents, and may have contributed to its rumored imminent removal from the F1 calendar.
For 2022, both the drivers and constructors championships seem to be secured. Red Bull's consistency near the top of the field throughout the season has allowed him to build a comfortable lead over an inconsistent Ferrari team and a Mercedes team that has yet to find a competitive pace.
Sebastian Vettel's farewell tour has just nine race dates left. The four-time drivers champion remains a fan favorite, even in the midst of a difficult season with Aston Martin.
Current McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo and future F1 driver Oscar Piastri were among the most discussed names over the summer break. The former is rumored to be losing his seat in the near future, and the latter will likely be promoted from his reserve driver role soon. Piastri famously quashed the announcement of his agreement with Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso next season.
Rain is in the forecast for Spa this weekend, though it is unlikely to be as disruptive to racing as it was last season.
What are your expectations for the race this weekend? Who do you think will be standing on the podium Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo credit: Renault BeLux
The 2022 Formula 1 championships may be comfortably in-hand for Max Verstappen and Red Bull, but fans will still be excitedly tuning in this weekend as F1 aims to make amends for a disappointing 2021 race at Spa. 2022 could also be the last race we see at Spa for a while.
Last season's Belgian race fell in the midst of a heated battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but no racing was actually done at Spa. Heavy rainfall caused the race to be red flagged after 3 of the scheduled 44 laps. Each lap was run behind a safety car. This event was further controversy for Spa after several major safety incidents, and may have contributed to its rumored imminent removal from the F1 calendar.
For 2022, both the drivers and constructors championships seem to be secured. Red Bull's consistency near the top of the field throughout the season has allowed him to build a comfortable lead over an inconsistent Ferrari team and a Mercedes team that has yet to find a competitive pace.
Sebastian Vettel's farewell tour has just nine race dates left. The four-time drivers champion remains a fan favorite, even in the midst of a difficult season with Aston Martin.
Current McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo and future F1 driver Oscar Piastri were among the most discussed names over the summer break. The former is rumored to be losing his seat in the near future, and the latter will likely be promoted from his reserve driver role soon. Piastri famously quashed the announcement of his agreement with Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso next season.
Rain is in the forecast for Spa this weekend, though it is unlikely to be as disruptive to racing as it was last season.
What are your expectations for the race this weekend? Who do you think will be standing on the podium Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo credit: Renault BeLux
