The weekend just gone saw the triumph of Super Max Verstappen. Seventh victory in a row for the Dutchman, who is heading to the next grand prix, scheduled for Belgium, on the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. This will be a similar home race for the Red Bull #1, as his mother was born here.
The centenary history of the route
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the oldest and most renowned on the entire calendar. It is in fact among the races scheduled during the F1 season since 1950. Long 7004 meters, Presents 19 curves e two DRS zones, one on the main straight and one on the Kemmel Straight. In the year of the inauguration (1924), the track extended for approx 14 km. Version later abandoned because not sure enough. However, it was used in the early years of the newborn F1, until the 1973, when to improve the circuit the event in Belgium was moved to the circuit of Zolder. It was then decided to do not use the old circuit anymore to build a new one that connect the past with the present.
This was how the section named Blanchimont was joined to the new straight via the Bus Stop, a chicane that is tackled at 60 km/h and where you get to 320 km/h. Today the circuit is at risk of dropping out of the calendar, but we are working to try to keep one of the appointments among the most loved by drivers and fans.
The track record was set by Lewis Hamilton in the 2020 qualifying in 1'41 "252. The race record was set by Valtteri Bottas in the 2018 race in 1'46 "286.
The perfect set-up at Spa? A combination of speed and downforce
We know the Spa circuit well, especially the first sector. The series of curves Eau Rouge Raidillon, Kemmel Straight e Les Combes at the end of the straight I'm the distinctive feature of these 7 km of track. This is precisely the area where the tires are most stressed. The vertical force exerted on the tires aggravates wear, as happens to Pouhon. The degradation factor will in fact be the key point of this race, and you will most likely see very early pit stops (obviously in case of dry conditions).
Another fundamental aspect will be the choice of structure. This step is probably more important than tire management. Between one team and another there will be different choices based on the characteristics of each car. We could then see a Red Bull more charged, as the maximum speed It's not a problem for the car from Milton Keynes, while one Medium load Ferrari, to seek a balance that missing from this SF-23.
Verstappen for eighth
As in any analysis, it's time to predictions. At this point in the season, however, it seems almost impossible to make predictions useless. Verstappen goes for the eighth in a row in his second homeland, although in F1 surprises can always emerge at any moment. McLaren and Mercedes remain at attention.
Article by Francesco Orlando
