Belgian Grand Prix May Not Happen

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🌎 Around Formula 1

🎰 No Free Lunch in Vegas - The Grand Prix may charge businesses along the circuit, including parts of the Las Vegas Strip, $1,500 per person to host viewing parties during the race. Formula 1 sees it as standard practice to protect its intellectual property, while some stakeholders argue that all involved should benefit. Read more

🚫 Belgian GP in Jeopardy - Drivers are urging the FIA to consider canceling the Belgian GP if conditions become too dangerous. Safety concerns have arisen following a fatal accident earlier this month at Spa-Francorchamps in heavy rain. The forecast for the upcoming Grand Prix is also wet, raising further safety concerns. Read more

🛞 Drivers

🦘 Ricciardo’s Return - A successful comeback at the Hungarian GP after replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. Despite finishing 13th and scoring no points, Ricciardo showed promise and adaptability on the track. Danny was able to outqualify and finish higher than his teammate as well. He managed to overcome challenges, learn about the AlphaTauri car, and expressed joy at being back in Formula 1. Read more

🤬 Ferrari Drivers Not Happy - After finishing P7 and P8 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz called on Ferrari to make improvements and close the gap to rivals Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes. Leclerc was disappointed with a slow pit stop and a five-second time penalty, while Sainz struggled with pace and tire degradation. They both emphasized the need for Ferrari to take a step forward in performance. Read more

🚩 Max Penalized - Red Bull's top driver faces a five-place grid penalty for the Belgian GP after using his fifth gearbox of the season, exceeding the allowed limit. Despite the penalty, Verstappen, leading the championship, remains confident, having previously won at Spa from 14th place. The grid penalty doesn't apply to the Saturday sprint. Read more

🏎 Teams

🇬🇧 McLaren is Back - The 2023 F1 season has seen a significant role reversal for McLaren. Despite a challenging start, the team made strategic changes and introduced key upgrades, leading to a resurgence in performance. With consecutive podium finishes and a competitive car for various conditions, McLaren is now a formidable contender on the grid, suggesting they might become a real threat for 2nd in the constructors’ championship race. The team's long-term ambitions, including the use of a new wind tunnel, have garnered optimism for their future success. Read more

❄️ Mercedes Surprise Upgrades - This weekend they are reverting to an older radiator inlet shape after underestimating cooling needs in Hungary. The changes include a shorter top on the radiator inlet duct, affecting the sidepod leading edge undercut and the underfloor's performance. Additionally, a more pronounced 'bump' was added below the 'T' and 'R' of Petronas, possibly housing a different-style radiator or acting as an airflow trip. Mercedes also altered the geometry of the turning vanes on the outer floor edge, reducing them from three to two. Read more

📉 Aston Martin Admits Fault - "Wrong choices" in the development and set-up of their Formula 1 car is the reason behind their recent drop in form. The team's performance declined after scoring six podiums in eight rounds, with a loss of strength in low-speed corners and reduced competitiveness at slower circuits. The team is now working on updates to address the unintended consequences of their development path and remains optimistic about improvements in upcoming races. The change in tire construction from the British GP was not considered a critical factor in their performance change. Read more

🇧🇪 Belgian GP Preview

We head to Belgium for the final round before the summer break.

Statistics:

- First Grand Prix: 1950

- Track Length: 7.004km

- Lap record: 1m 46.286s, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2018

- Most pole positions: Lewis Hamilton (6)

- Most wins: Michael Schumacher (6)

- Trivia: Spa is the longest circuit on the current F1 calendar

Strategy and set-up keys:

- Spa offers overtaking opportunities and challenges for teams due to its fast, flowing layout.

- Inclement weather conditions forecast, leading to potential switches between slicks, intermediates, and wet tires.

Current form:

- Red Bull and Verstappen continue their impressive streak, aiming for a record-breaking 13th consecutive win.

- McLaren showcases strong performance, while Mercedes acknowledges the challenge of closing the gap.

Iconic moment:

- Reminisce the 2000 season as Mika Hakkinen's iconic move at Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex secured him a memorable victory. Watch

Read full breakdown

📊 Standings

Verstappen gets Red Bull’s 12th consecutive win to break McLaren’s record of 11 in a row and also gets his own 7th consecutive victory.

While McLaren is gaining momentum, Ferrari on the other hand looks to not be a threat anymore.

Aston Martin looks like a shell of its first-half self, while Mercedes continues to stretch their 2nd place lead.

With the summer break coming after this weekend, it will be interesting to see who does what upgrades coming back to the second half of the season.