Official F1 Journal Track Guide - Spa-Francorchamps

This weekend the paddock heads to the historic Belgian Grand Prix as Formula one enters round 14 of the 24 race season, and the last before the teams go on summer break. 

Last weekend Oscar Piastri became the seventh different race winner of the season with his maiden win. And although the results show McLaren had a weekend of success overtaking Ferrari to be 2nd in the Constructors Championship, the team radios have cast a dark shadow over the Woking team. 

History shows that starting in pole doesn't grant the race win as Michael Schumacher only recorded one pole here but has six wins. Last Year Charles Leclerc started on Pole just to be over taken by the RedBull's.

The forecast shows that rain is predicted across Friday and Saturday but sky's should be clear for the main event on Sunday. ​

©RedBull media

©Scuderia Ferrari media

STATISTICS 

Laps-                44
Circuit Length-  7.004km
Race Distance- 308.052km
Corners- 19    (9 Right     10 Left)
DRS Zones-     2 
Activation 1- 70m before Turn 2
       Deployment 1- Start of Kemmel Straight
Activation 2- Entry  Turn 18
       Deployment 2- Exit Turn 19 
Downforce level- Low/Medium
Tyre Degradation- High
Time @ full throttle- 70%
Time Lost in the pitlane- 22secs (fast)
Gear Changes- 42 per lap
Pole Side- Right hand side 
Tyre Compounds-  
       Hard           Medium       Soft
        C2                C3              C4
Minimum Starting Tyre Pressures-
,              Front          Rear
              25.0psi       23.0psi
Maximum Tyre Camber-
               Front          Rear 
              -2.75°         -1.50°

​TRACK STATS

Times Held-                           78
First Held-                             1925
Pole Record-                         1.41.252    (HAM 2020)
Lap Record-                          1.46.286    (BOT 2018)
Pole Sitters-                           34
Winners-                                51
Podium Sitters-                      75
Current grid pole sitters -       HAM, VER, LEC, SAI
Most Driver Poles-                 HAM (8)
Most Team Poles-                  Ferrari/Mclaren (11)
Most Driver Wins-                  SCH (6)
Most Team Wins-                   Ferrari (18)
Most Driver Podiums-            HAM (10)
Most Team Podiums-             Ferrari (40)
Times Won From Pole-          21
Wins From the Front Row-     35
Lowest Start Position to Win- 16th SCH '95
Largest Win Margin-               474secs Clark '63

RANDOM FACTS

• ​Spa boasts the longest full throttle section on the current calendar with the cars going 22seconds flat out from the hairpin of La Source to the chicane of Le Combes
  
• Pole has finished on the podium every year since 2007
  
• Pole has not retired since 2005
  
• The safety car has been deployed in the last 7 races here (technically winning the 2021 race)
  
• The elevation change between the bottom and top of Eau Rouge is 35 meters
  
• Fernando Alonso has never won at Spa-Francorchamps 
  
• Jim Clark ( the man that the very best call the best) "Detested" Spa 
  
• The total for the 2022 track renovations totalled €25 million
  
• Micheal Schumacher made his debut at Spa in 1991 and won his 7th World Championship title here in  15 years later in 2004

Never forget 
When coming to Spa it's important to remember the danger the track holds with fatal incidents being as recent as last year when 18 year old (F4) racer Dilano Van 't Hoff passed, just a few years after Anthoine Hubert suffered an horrific crash in front on thousands including his closest in the Paddock of Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc.

Bronwen Jones