Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix 2015: All you need to know

Lewis Hamilton starts today's Belgian Grand Prix from pole position, the 48th of his career.

Race details

Race name 2015 Shell Belgian Grand Prix Round 11

Circuit Spa-Francorchamps First race 1950 Grands Prix held 47

Laps 44 Race distance 308.052km Circuit length 7.004km Lap record 1:47.263 by Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2009

Chance of safety car Medium-High

Most wins by driver Michael Schumacher x6 Most wins by team Ferrari x16

2014 result

1. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Red Bull 1:24:36.556

2. Nico Rosberg (GER), Mercedes AMG +3.383s

3. Valterri Bottas (FIN), Williams +28.032s

2015 schedule

August 21– Friday practice 1 12pm to 1.30pm Friday practice 2 4pm to 5.30pm

August 22– Saturday practice 3 1pm to 2pm Saturday qualifying 4pm to 5pm

August 23– Sunday race 4pm to 6pm

All times UAE

TV schedule All sessions to be broadcast on BeIN Sports HD6

Best places to watch

Click here to find out where the best bars to watch the Grand Prix live are. 

Phone ahead to check, Gulf News is not responsible for any changes

Race profile

The atmosphere

Alongside Silverstone, Monaco and Monza, Spa-Francorchamps is one of the “Big Four” historical race circuits that remain on the Grand Prix calendar. Spa – as it is called for short – is drenched in history, with most legends of the track having won there over the years.

Some of the track is actually made up of public roads, which adds a niche twist to the weekend. Belgium also sees a diverse crowd, with thousands of fans flocking from neighbouring European countries.

The natural undulations form some of the greatest corners in Formula 1, with Eau Rouge being the stand-out fan-thriller.

Weather forecast

Until the late 2000s, there had never been a single Grand Prix in Belgium where it hadn’t rained on at least one of the three days. Indeed, as Spa is the biggest track on the calendar, and in the middle of the Ardennes forest, it can rain on one part and not another.

Friday is expected to be warm, with heavy showers at times. Saturday is forecast to be hot, with temperatures expected to reach 28 Celsius during qualifying. Sunday is due to be warm, until 4pm UAE time (the time of the race start) when thunderstorms are expected…  

A bit of history

The Belgian Grand Prix is one of the highlights on the F1 calendar, and is often claimed to be the favourite circuit for many drivers.

Originally the circuit was 15km long and was predominantly made of public roads. Only the La Source hairpin is recognisable today. Just before the outbreak of the Second World War, the circuit was tweaked to be even faster, although the length was shortened to 14km.

However, as Grand Prix cars became faster and faster, Spa developed a notorious reputation for fatalities – much like its French and German cousins: Le Mans and the Nurburgring. Indeed, as Europe’s fastest road circuit, race entry numbers were usually smaller, with many drivers confessing that the circuit scared them.

The circuit was deemed so dangerous, in fact, that in 1969 the Formula 1 drivers boycotted the race entirely. By 1978, it was clear that Spa would need a radical redesign if it wanted to continue hosting motorsport. The circuit has been modified here and there several times since its redesign in 1979, but the core of the track remains, with the ultra-tight La Source making a familiar shape.

Best overtaking spots

One of the more obvious overtaking points is into La Combe after the long Kemmel Straight. Although the straight itself is popular for slipstreaming – especially if a defending driver hasn’t got the infamous Eau Rouge right.

Another common spot is on the exit of Blanchimont, a driver can get close enough to pass on either side into the chicane. It is possible for a defending driver to instantly retake the position into La Source.

Writer’s winner

Kimi Raikkonen has won the Belgian Grand Prix four times, Sebastian Vettel twice, and Lewis Hamilton once. Daniel Ricciardo won the race in 2014, but it’s hard to see Red Bull mount a serious fight. Raikkonen has just been confirmed at Ferrari for another year, but he does run hot and cold. If he is going to prove that Ferrari were right to keep him, then Spa would be a good place to do it.

The smart man’s bet would be on a Mercedes-powered car, with the German engine clearly being the most powerful. While it’s likely going to be a Hamilton and Rosberg front row, don’t discount Williams.

We’re going for a Rosberg win.

Classic moments

Mika Hakkinen vs Michael Schumacher

In 2000, Mika Hakkinen pulled off one of the decade’s finest overtaking manoeuvres. Hakkinen and Schumacher were dicing for the title at the business end of the season. The Flying Finn was running in second and utilised a great drag out of Eau Rouge. Coming up to lap BAR’s Riccardo Zonta, Schumacher maintained the line, Hakkinen dived to the right of Zonta, using him as a shield. Pure class.

1998 Grand Prix

The entire 1998 race was chaotic, from start to finish. The race started in torrential rain, and as the field exited La Source at the start, McLaren’s David Coutlhard lost control of his car. The result was a 16 car pile-up. No one was seriously hurt, and the race was restarted, with several drivers unable to restart as their team mates had taken the spare cars.

It got weirder: Michael Schumacher crashed into the back of Coulthard from the lead, causing a fight in the pit lane, and Jordan’s Damon Hill went on to take his first win since his title in 1996. It was the most surprising result of the season, and the first ever win for the Jordan team.

The arrival of Schumacher

The 1991 Belgian race was to be the debut for a young German driver. Signed up by Eddie Jordan, the new driver surprised the pack by qualifying seventh. Sadly, his clutch went at the start and he retired. However, 12 months later at the same track and now in a Bennetton-Ford, he went on to to take the first of record-holding 91 career wins. His name was Michael Schumacher.

Senna vs Mansell

Battles between Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell would become legendary in Formula 1, but their fight at Spa in 1986 was one of their best. Senna caused an accident at the start, and Nelson Piquet emerged as the leader. Mansell passed Senna and set about chasing Piquet. It became a game of chess after Piquet’s turbo expired, and had viewers on the edge of their seats.

 Statistics