F1 schedule: How and what to watch the Belgian Grand Prix (Spa)

Three weeks later, Formula 1 is back from summer. If you haven’t been following F1 news since the Hungarian Grand Prix, let’s catch up with you quickly. First, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from Aston Martin at the end of the season. Before we start speculating on who will fill the vacant seat, two-time champion Fernando Alonso made the shocking announcement that he would be leaving Alpine (currently No. 4) for Aston Martin (currently No. 4). 9).

His vacant seat in the French team looks set to make way for Formula 2 champion and current Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri into the first team. Alpine made the announcement…and then Piasteri posted on social media that he had no agreement with Alpine and would not drive with them. Elsewhere on the grid, Williams awarded Alex Albon a new two-year deal thanks to a stellar season in a weaker car (nine times before entering 14).

Why would Piastri turn down a Formula 1 seat? The answer appeared to have been clarified on Wednesday when McLaren announced they would part ways with Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the season. Reports suggest that Piastri will join McLaren’s Lando Norris. Driver line-up drama, new regulations (more on that later) coming into effect from the Belgian Grand Prix, and nine races to go. Welcome back to F1.

The stand of things

Charles Leclerc (178) and Sergio Perret Both (173) finished on the podium in Hungary and Max Verstappen (258) extended his lead in the Drivers Championship to 80 points. With just nine races to go, while still mathematically possible, Leclerc would need an incredible game to get past Verstappen. George Russell (158) finished third in Hungary for the fifth time this season, putting him ahead of Carlos Sainz (156) and still ahead of his teammate Lewis ·Hamilton (146) 12 points.

Red Bull (431) leads the Constructors’ Championship with 97 points thanks to back-to-back wins by Verstappen and strategic and mechanical issues at Ferrari (334). Meanwhile, Mercedes (304), who have at least one driver on the podium in seven of their last eight races, are now just 30 points behind Italy. The race for 4th place (Alpine at 99 and McLaren at 95) will be of great interest not only because they are four points apart, but also because Alonso, Ricciardo and Piastri are going dramatic game.

Circuit

This circuit was first run in 1950, Spa-Francorchamps Road became synonymous with the Belgian Grand Prix. However, the venue’s debut was in 1925 when the track was twice as long, a nine-mile track. The modern spa is a perfect blend of fast straights, fast corners and the tight corners of Turn 1 as the track climbs the hills. Add in the constant threat of rain and you have one of the most challenging circuits on the F1 calendar. There are two DRS areas, one after Turn 1 and the other at the end of the track, back to the start/finish line. HOW TO WATCH (ALL TIME ET)
• Exercise 1
• – Fri 8/26 – 7:55am – ESPNU/ESPN Destroyer/WatchESPN

Exercise 2 – Friday 8/26 – 10:55 am – ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Belgium Grand Prix Preview

• : Friday – 1:05pm – ESPN3/WatchESPN

Exercise 3

• – Saturday, August 27 – 6:55am – ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN
• Qualifying
• – Sat 8/27 – 9:55am – ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN
• Sunday Grand Prix (Pre-Race Show)
• – 8 Sunday, March 28 – 7:30am – ESPN2/ESPN Destroyer/WatchESPN

Grand Prix

• – Sunday 28 August – 8:55am Score – ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

DraftKings Sportsbook offers odds matches. Max Verstappen is the clear favorite at -115 as he looks to move toward his second straight title. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed with +350 and Lewis Hamilton with +400. Ferrari’s recent problems and signs of continuous improvement at Mercedes. Hamilton has yet to win in 2022 and has never had a winless season in Formula 1. The unpredictability of Spa means that most drivers in the field have a reasonable chance of getting points. Only Nicholas Latifi has more than +330 odds to finish in the top 10.

Precautions

Silly season
• . Three F1 seats for 2023 have been changed, one F2 champion awaits the official announcement, and six more seats are to be decided next season. How will drivers planning to leave the team perform after the break? Can one of these unproven drivers secure their place next season with strong performances at the Belgian and next weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix?
• Car Settings

. Will Red Bull’s straight-line dominance prevail, or will Ferrari’s dominance in the corners prevail? If the weather conditions are uncertain, will the team choose a mostly wet or dry setting? In modern F1, it is very difficult to change the complete settings of the car on race day.

• rain. Weather is always a risk factor in Spa, with conditions creating some dramatic races over the years. However, everyone is worried about a repeat of the 2021 Grand Prix. After a three-hour delay, the car pulled into the track behind the safety car, and on the third safety lap the race was called off and Verstappen declared victory on pole. Currently, the forecast calls for rain on Friday and Saturday morning, but Sunday’s game is sunny.
• Technical Instructions
• . Formula 1 is introducing new rules related to car floors and vertical lifts from this weekend due to excessive bounce across the grid. The dolphin effect that has emerged this season and concerns about the long-term health of drivers have led to the change. Presumably this could put the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari back in Mercedes’ pace, but the next few weeks will prove whether this preliminary ruling will have any impact.
• can Mercedes

for that elusive victory? Clearly, the Silver Arrows are regaining lost ground. Hamilton’s injury at Imola put him in 13th place, while Russell’s crash at Silverstone was the team’s only finish outside the top 10. However, over the past few rounds, they have turned the points end into a regular podium. Hamilton himself has been on the podium for the past five races. Mercedes still believes in progress and gains on the track this season. Without a win this season, with Hamilton facing the prospect of a winless first year in F1, could the Belgian Grand Prix be their day?