The 2023 F1 Season has one last stop before the summer break, and what a treat it is, heading to one of the best circuits on the calendar. Our course we’re talking about the Spa circuit and the Belgian Grand Prix, and as ever here is our 2023 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview to discuss more.
The Gurgler’s 2023 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time.
The circuit, which looks like a badly drawn Uzi, oozes speed and spectacle, and has something for everyone.
First up is the tight hairpin La Source, which usually ends a race or two pretty quickly after the start.
Then comes arguably F1’s most spectacular and dangerous sections as they plunge down the hill and slingshot back up it while snaking around over hill then into a nice long straight. It will end up being banned for being too dangerous if the cars get too much quicker, so enjoy it while it lasts.
At the end of the straight there’s one of three genuine overtaking spots for the circuit.
The rest sweeps its way back to the start, with the chicane being the awkward slow point, but it is another great overtaking spot or area to demonstrate a lack of ability.
Plus it is famed for having totally unpredictable weather.
So what more do you need?
2023 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 10/10 – Fast, bordering on dangerous. They simply wouldn’t build a track like this anymore.
ACTION? 10/10 – Occasionally a car will drive off into the distance and win with ease, but that wouldn’t be much of a change from the rest of 2023. But usually this track brings action, and if not overtaking, seeing the cars go around here is action enough. Intially we gave it an eight, but then remembered it has a sprint race too. What joy.
BIG HISTORY? – 9/10 The Belgian Grand Prix has been on the calendar since 1950, not every year, but most years. To do this without having more than a handful of very good drivers (Ickx, Boutsen) is a decent effort. Looking through the winner list is a who’s who of the F1 greats. The older legends doing it on the wildly dangerous track that was over twice the length.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 9/10 Spa does bring a lot of watery races, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the name of the circuit. For this weekend though, Sunday looks clear, but Friday and Saturday have a 75% and more of rain. Wet qualifying again? Yes please to everyone except Sergio Perez. Wet sprint race? Maybe not.
RACE RATING 95% – One of the races or race tracks of the season.
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
- Pole position has not retired from the race in Belgium from our records starting in 2000.
- The Belgian Grand Prix has been run on the modern version of Spa 37 times since 1983, and Champions or eventual World Champions have won the event on just four occasions. On those four occasions the lowest championship position of the driver was third in their career.
- Ayrton Senna won from pole for four seasons in a row between 1988 and 1991.
- Only 16 times in 37 races since 1983 has the pole sitter won.
- Since 2000, grid slots 10, 11 and 20 are the most likely to DNF (eight).
- 19/22 the pole sitter has finished on the podium since 2000.
- Lewis Hamilton has retired from the Belgian Grand Prix fives times, and all were classed as an accident. Aside from his first race in 2007 when he finished 4th, Lewis Hamilton has either won, finished on the podium or retired.
- Before last season’s pole position, Carlos Sainz had only made Q3 once when he qualified 10th.
- Fernando Alonso has never secured pole position at Belgian GP nor won the race.
DRIVER GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT FROM 2000 – CURRENT DRIVERS
TEAM GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT FROM 2001
HISTORIC DRIVER RESULTS
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
RACE RESULTS FROM GRID POSITION (FROM 2001)
DNFs
- Wet qualifying and Sergio Perez bins it in Q2.
- A McLaren takes pole.
- A McLaren wins Sprint Race.
- Ferrari throw away a race win with a poor strategy call.
- Max Verstappen caught up in first corner prang, recovers to score points.
- Alpha Tauris to score points.
- Two Alpines collide for a second race in a row.
- Nico Hulkenberg qualifies in top five and doesn’t score a point.
ALL RACE RESULTS – BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
