Formula 1 2024: Belgian Grand Prix

Track Insights:

The Belgium Grand Prix has a storied history that dates back to 1925, originally held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which has become synonymous with the event. The track, located in the Ardennes region, was first a dangerous layout that challenged drivers with its high-speed nature and undulating terrain. Over the years, it has undergone several modifications to enhance safety while retaining its character. The circuit has seen numerous iconic moments in Formula 1 history, including great performances by legendary drivers and memorable races that have defined the sport. Its unique blend of fast corners and elevation changes makes it a favorite among drivers and fans alike, solidifying its status as a key venue on the F1 calendar.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 18 curves, corners and chicanes. There is 2 DRS zones and a lap length of 7.004km. Drivers are tasked with navigating this notoriously narrow and unforgiving circuit 44 times for a total of 308.052km.

Starting Grid:

Pole Position: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P2: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P3: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P4: Lando Norris: McLaren
P5: Oscar Piastri: McLaren
P6: George Russell: Mercedes
P7: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P8: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P9: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P10: Alex Albon: Williams
P11: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P12: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P13: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P14: Valterri Bottas: Sauber
P15: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P16: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P17: Kevin Maggnussen: HAAS
P18: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P19: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P20: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB

Race Highlights:

DRAMA! But when is there not. As per usual, Spa did not disappoint. Saturday started off with qualifying where we saw some impressive driving. Verstappen put in what would be the lap time to get pole but with a brand new engine, he would start P11 which was the best the team could have hoped for with him. Some additional moves to the grid happened prior to race start as well. Tsunoda and his VCRB had to move to the back of the grid due to taking on multiple power unit elements. Sauber’s Zhou took a three place penalty for impeding Verstappen during the first round of qualifying (not that it meant anything better for the Sauber driver than he’s used to).

As the race was getting ready to start, everyone with exception of three drivers opted for medium tires- expecting a two-stop strategy. Zhou and Sainz opted for hard tires with Riccardo boldly went for the softs. Once the lights went out, Leclerc got a good jump off the line but the shock came from Hamilton, starting in third who got such a great launch he passed Perez to gain a position. With that same energy in mind, he made quick work of the pole sitter and took the lead by lap 2. A short while later, Zhou was radioing to the Sauber pit wall that he was experiencing power issues with cameras finding him limping his way around the track before getting the car restarted and into the pit- unfortunately the Chinese driver would not be returning- having to retire the car due to a power failure.

Lap 8 saw the first of the pits with Hulkenberg starting the line- followed by Riccardo, Sargeant and Albon a lap later. The front runners- starting with Russell and Verstappen didn’t start coming in until lap 10- emerging from the pit lane in 12th and 14th respectively. All came out with hard compound tires on. Not long after that, the race leader Hamilton came in for a new set of hard tires. He would reenter the track in sixth place- Piastri and Perez pitted at the same time. The young Papaya drier made quick work of Russell once he was back out on the track and was on the back of Perez just as quick. Other race leaders Leclerc pitted on lap 13- came back out in fifth, which was quickly overtaken with Perez by Piastri. After the Ferrari’s pit stop, that left Norris and Sainz leading the pack however neither of them had pitted yet. Norris would eventually pit on lap 16 in an attempt to undercut his former teammate.

Going on at the desame time a little farther back in the top 10, Verstappen was itching to better his standing however he was encountering the ever present Great Wall of Russell in his Silver Arrow- ironically was holding him off due to a courtesy tow by Max’s teammate Checo. Moving on- Sainz was yet another race leader chugging along. Unfortunately for him, it was lap 21 and he had yet to pit. At this point, questions began to float around about whether or not the Stallion’s more seasoned driver was going to attempt a very risky one-stop race strategy. That was quickly dispelled has he cruised into the pits to shack up with a set of mediums and then out onto the track in P8. Going up ahead a bit, Russel seemed to have found his groove has he finally cleared Perez for fourth place. This may have been what prompted the Mexican driver to take an early second pit stop for another set of hard tires. Moving even more up the front, Hamilton had regained the lead by almost two seconds over Leclerc- Piastri was just a few more seconds behind him.

Getting further on into the race and the field- around the 26th lap, the midfield got interesting. Riccardo in his VCRB made his way past Sargeant and his Williams for P16- leaving him with the VCRB of Tsunoda breathing down his neck. Verstappen and Norris were also jockeying for position but a slip up from the young McLaren driver caused him to lose some ground to the senior Dutchman. Front of the pack, Leclerc took the opportunity for his second pit stop in an attempt to undercut the leading Mercedes. However, that plan was slightly thrown off track by his team with a slow pit stop (3.4 seconds). Hamilton ended up covering off the undercut attempt by pitting the next lap- having both drivers on new sets running sixth and seventh respectively. With Piastri now inheriting the lead, he was thriving in the clean air as he put out a fastest lap during the flurry of pit stops. Lap 29 brought in Verstappen for a set of mediums and Sainz for some hards. Lap 30 saw Norris pit his McLaren for a fresher set of hard tires and his teammate relinquished his lead on lap 31- but a crucial error by the Australian when he over shot the pit box which lead to an incredibly slow, 4.4 second pit stop that would eventually spit him out in fourth place.

Ok. So here is where it gets dramatic. We are sitting in lap 33, Russell has now taken the lead amid the flurry of pit stops but he had yet to make his second stop of the day. His teammate was around six seconds behind him in second with Leclerc hanging out in third behind his next teammate. A few spots back, the battle between Norris and Verstappen continued as the Brit was doing his best to get past Verstappen for P5. Piastri was also looking to redeem his slow start by gaining on and eventually overtaking Leclerc for the final podium position. Hamilton at this point was like a Lion hunting a Gazell. With Russell looking like he would be attempting a one-stopper, he needed to nurse his tires a bit more than his counterpart would.

Getting down to the final laps, Russell would hold a just under three second lead on his teammate with just seven laps to go. Piastri had built a comfortable gap to Leclerc who was now in the unfortunate situation of having Verstappen breathing down his neck. A car or so behind, Sainz found the opportunity to overtake the struggling Perez for 7th. Back up to the front, Hamilton had closed the gap on Russell but was being told by Bono to ‘give space’ to the front running Mercedes. With two laps to go, Hamilton attempted several overtakes but the Great Wall of Russell seemed to hold up well under the pressure and was giving Piastri the opportunity to gain on both of them. And let’s be honest, the McLaren is faster- if I had to put my money on it, I would put it on him overtaking them both.

When the checkered flag was flown, it would in fact be Russell would crossed the line first with Hamilton on his tail. A close half second behind him. Piastri would finish in third, Leclerc in fourth, Verstappen fifth, Norris sixth, Sainz, Perez, Alonso and Ocon rounded out 7th through 10th place respectively.

If you thought the end of the race was dramatic, it gets even better after everything was said and done. In a normal review of the cars post race, Russell’s car was found to be underweight and therefore saw him disqualified. Moving everyone up one place and Riccardo into the top 10. Funniest part, Hamilton seemed to be so unhappy with the how the race ended that he was out of the country before the investigation into the car weight was over- which was maybe a couple hours from the finish?

Next we head to the Netherlands a home town race for the current World Champion. Can he regain his spot on top or will we have yet another winner?

Podium:

P1: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes (25)
P2: Oscar Piastri: McLaren (18)
P3: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari (15)