2021 Belgian Grand Prix News

The scenic region of Stavelot will play host to the 66th running of the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. Only three other events have held more races in the sport’s history - British GP (72), Italian GP (71) and Monaco GP (67). The Belgian Grand Prix has also been held at Zolder and Nivelles, but Spa has hosted the most races (53). The longest circuit on the calendar at 7.004km, Spa also boasts the biggest elevation change in the sport - 102.2m between the highest and lowest point. The elevation is almost twice as high as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Looking at history, Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at this track with 6 wins. Amongst constructors, Ferrari have racked up most wins here (18). In qualifying, Lewis Hamilton leads the way with 6 poles. Ferrari and Mercedes-powered cars have been the most dominant around here with 14 pole positions apiece.

Michael Schumacher overtakes Jean Alesi into La Source during the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix. Image: Motorsport Images - Photographer: Rainer Schlegelmilch

Qualifying well is key as 64% of the races here have been won from the front row. That said, the track does provide numerous opportunities to overtake due to its extra-long straights. Driving for the Benetton team, Schumacher spectacularly took victory after starting 16th at the 1995 race, the furthest back from which the Belgian Grand Prix has been won. No driver has won back-to-back races at Spa since Kimi Räikkönen in 2005 and 2007 (Belgium didn’t feature on the calendar in 2006). The safety car has also made a regular appearance here since 2016.

Kimi Raikkonen leads for Ferrari in the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix. Image: Motorsport Images - Photographer: Gareth Bumstead

Esteban Ocon’s shock victory at the last race means the 2021 grid now has 11 different race winners, the most since the 2012 season. Hamilton currently holds a slender lead of 8 points over his title rival Max Verstappen. This is the smallest championship margin going into the Belgian Grand Prix since the 2010 season. The Belgian Grand Prix is also considered a home race of sorts for Verstappen, Lando Norris and Lance Stroll, owing to their Belgian roots.

This year’s Belgian Grand Prix is set to have milestones galore. Young Brits Lando Norris and George Russell will both mark their 50th race in Formula One. The Red Bull-Honda partnership that began in 2019 will also clock their 50th race together. Daniel Ricciardo is poised to become the 20th driver in history to enter the 200-Grands Prix club. He hasn’t missed a single race since his debut in mid-2011 and looks set to become only the third driver - after Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg - to start 200 consecutive races. Veteran Fernando Alonso, currently on 323 races, could surpass Rubens Barrichello to become the driver to start the second-most number of Formula One races.

Mercedes are front-runners when it comes to form at Spa. The Brackley-based team are on a streak of podiums since 2013 and have missed out on pole only once since then (2019). Hamilton has suffered more retirements at Spa (4) than at any other circuit in his career. That said, he has accumulated 9 podium finishes here and is currently tied with Michael Schumacher. Valtteri Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 but has never been on pole or won a race here. He’s led just a solitary lap around Spa, which was back in 2014 during his Williams days.

Championship rivals Red Bull haven’t tasted victory at this venue since 2014, while Honda’s last win in Belgium was in 1991. Both parties will look to reset the counter on Sunday. Carlos Sainz Jr. has scored just one point in his six races at Spa, while fellow Spaniard Alonso’s last points finish here was back in 2016. Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi has never seen the chequered flag here after crashing out of the previous two Belgian Grands Prix. 

Sundaram Ramaswami: Twitter/Instagram - @f1statsguru

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