As the dust settles on the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 (F1) circus wastes no time and heads straight to the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium for the highly anticipated Belgian Grand Prix. This race marks the end of a frenetic period of four races in just five weeks, adding extra pressure and excitement for the teams and drivers. One cannot ignore the recent dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull, which has made them an unstoppable force in the world of F1. Verstappen secured his seventh consecutive victory in Hungary, setting a remarkable new record for the most consecutive F1 wins with 12. As a result, he now leads the F1 world championship standings by a staggering 110 points ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. It will take an extraordinary effort from another driver or team to stop Verstappen and Red Bull’s reign at the Belgian Grand Prix.
While Verstappen has been stealing the headlines, McLaren has silently been making progress and will be looking to maintain their recent good form at Spa-Francorchamps. Lando Norris, one of the rising stars of F1, has secured back-to-back podium finishes for the first time in his career and will be aiming to continue this success at the challenging Belgian circuit. With McLaren’s improved performance and Norris’ driving skills, they pose a significant threat to Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance.
The Belgian Grand Prix brings an added layer of excitement with the return of the sprint race format. Following its successful debut in the Austrian GP in July, the sprint race format returns at Spa-Francorchamps, promising an action-packed weekend for F1 fans. Under this format, qualifying for the grand prix will take place on Friday afternoon, setting the grid for the sprint qualifying and sprint race on Saturday. This unique format offers more points and prizes, making every race a crucial opportunity for the drivers and teams to score valuable championship points.
Here is the schedule for the Belgian Grand Prix:
– Friday 28 July 2023:
– Free Practice 1: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm BST (1:30 pm-2:30 pm local)
– Qualifying: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm BST (5:00 pm-6:00 pm local)
– Saturday 29 July 2023:
– Sprint Qualifying: 11:00 am-11:44 am BST (12:00 pm-12:44 pm local)
– Sprint Race: 3:30 pm-4:30 pm BST (4:30 pm-5:30 pm local)
– Sunday 23 July 2023:
– Race: 2:00 pm BST (3:00 pm local)
For F1 fans in the United Kingdom, live coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix is exclusive to Sky Sports, with highlights being shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race concludes. To watch F1 races on Sky Sports, viewers can add the Sky Sports channels to their subscription for £24 per month. Alternatively, they can opt for a one-off day payment of £11.98p or a monthly membership of £34.99p to access Sky Sports through NOW. Channel 4 offers free race highlights on Saturday night (qualifying) and Sunday night (grand prix).
Here are the channel numbers for Sky Sports F1:
– Sky: 406
– Virgin Media: 506
The build-up to the Belgian Grand Prix race will start from 12:30 pm on Sky Sports F1, with the race itself commencing at 2:00 pm. For those who prefer radio coverage, BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra will provide live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race for the entire 2023 F1 season. You can also listen to the coverage via the BBC Sport website. The coverage of the Belgian GP will begin at 2:00 pm BST on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app.
As for the weather forecast, Spa-Francorchamps is expected to experience mild and mixed conditions throughout the race weekend. There is a good chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, adding an unpredictable element to the races. However, Sunday is likely to remain dry, ensuring a thrilling and competitive grand prix. The race will start with cloudy conditions and a small possibility of showers, with temperatures reaching highs of 20 degrees Celsius.
The Belgian Grand Prix promises to be another thrilling race as Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue their dominant run. However, McLaren’s recent success and the unpredictable sprint race format provide exciting prospects for the weekend. F1 fans can look forward to an action-packed experience, whether they tune in to Sky Sports for live coverage or rely on Channel 4 for race highlights. Don’t forget to set aside the 2nd of July 2023 in your calendar and immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of Formula 1 at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
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