The F1 drivers and team are getting restless with the summer break not far away. or maybe that is the championship getting close or in some driver’s cases the axe is looming. Talking of restless, our 2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview will give you a bit of everything without exceeding track limits or ignoring team orders ahead of the upcoming big weekend of F1.
The Gurgler’s 2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a more than a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time for your convenience.
READ MORE: The F1 Donkey’s Belgian GP Bold Predictions
READ MORE: 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Race Review
2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Potential 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 – Not top speed fast like the straights of Monza, but just all round fast. It’s the best high speed adventure of the season. The Eau Rouge dip and climb is worth 10 by itself.
ACTION? 8/10 – Rain or shine there is usually action. More so with rain, but not necessarily. However even if there’s no action, there’s action enough just watching these cars on this magnificent circuit.
BIG HISTORY? – 10/10 – The Belgian GP was first run in 1950 and is still going today on the parts of that original circuit. There have been big first time winners like Michael Schumacher, the biggest lap one crash in F1 history in 1998, a race which also feature a pit lane fight involving Schumacher and Coulthard. Usually only the best of the best win at Spa. Since the Belgian GP returned to the current layout of Spa in 1983, all but four races have been won a World Champion or eventual World Champion. The four have finished no worse than third in a Championship.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 9/10 The Weather Channel says a 45% chance of rain on the Saturday, and that’s just what we need, a slightly damp qualifying to keep the drivers honest. That reduces to just 8% chance on Sunday, but it is Spa. Any weather is possible. Even at the same time.
RACE RATING 93% – Not expecting much from the track itself, but the season is shaping nicely. And those hot temperatures are the wildcard.
2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Stats Summary
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.
These visuals go back to 2000 to cover the current drivers, thanks to Fernando Alonso. The all time history goes back to 1950.
- As mentioned earlier, since 1983 when F1 returned to Spa, all but four races have been won by a World Champion or a future World Champion.
- Valtteri Bottas has qualified 13th three years in a row.
- Since 2000, there has been a winner of this race from 10th and 14th on the grid.
2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Driver Stats
2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Team Stats
ALL TIME HISTORY (Min 2 Wins)
RECORD @ SPA SINCE 2000
OVERALL GRID POSITION INTO RACE RESULT
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane. Results from 2000.
2024 Belgian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Historic Stats
ALL RACE RESULTS – BELGIAN F1 GRAND PRIX @ SPA
