Formula One preview: Belgian Grand Prix
- Rohan Brown
- Jul 24
- 5 min read
Written by Rohan Brown, edited by Sasha Macmillen
Formula One returns to the fan-favourite Circuit de Spa-Franchorchamps for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix in what has been a season to remember so far. Despite its uncertain future as a rotational track in the coming years, Spa has developed a reputation for thrilling racing with many eventful races over the years.
The circuit
Spa is a track with a long and extensive history, starting with its construction in 1921. Designers Jules de Thier and Henri Langlois van Ophem used public roads that linked the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot to create one of the most well known circuits in the world.
The track has been progressively modified over time to make it safer, such as in 1979, but has a legacy of unfortunately claiming the lives of many drivers - such as Anthoine Hubert in 2019 and Dilano van ’t Hoff in 2023. These represent a testament as to why safety is so important in motorsport.
Focusing on the track itself, it is the longest circuit on the calendar - a distance of 4.352 miles (7.004 km) means that lap times around here are usually the highest of the season. Specifically the best overtaking zones are usually Turns 1, 5, 6 and 8.
Storylines
What will Laurent Mekies’ instant impact at Red Bull be?
This weekend will be Laurent Mekies’ first Grand Prix since being promoted to the role of Team Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Red Bull Racing after replacing Christian Horner when it was announced that he was fired earlier this month.
Mekies has a technical background, having held roles at different teams and organisations such as Ferrari, the FIA and two stints at the Red Bull junior team(2006-2014 [when it was called Toro Rosso], and 2024-2025). In this role he was instrumental in rebuilding Racing Bulls (RB) as a credible outlet for Red Bull juniors to develop after he replaced Franz Tost.
The new team principal may be the cure to the instability and lack of performance that Red Bull has been plagued with since the midway point of the 2024 season, especially considering the wealth of experience he has in the F1 world.
How will the Belgian Grand Prix impact the drivers’ championship battle?
As of the conclusion of the British Grand Prix, the two main championship contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by only eight points. Whoever leads the grid from pole position for Sunday’s race will have the highest chance of winning - 21 Grands Prix have been won from pole position at Spa.
Ultimately there is likely to be another close battle between the two drivers, continuing the entertaining battle that has dominated the season until now. The only drivers’ championship that has been decided here was Michael Schumacher's seventh and final title in 2004
Will Max Verstappen leave or stay at Red Bull after this season?
With Max Verstappen potentially able to leave Red Bull early due to performance clauses in his contract, both Mercedes drivers’ contracts expiring at the end of 2025 and Christian Horner’s sudden departure from Red Bull, the perfect storm has been created surrounding Verstappen’s future at the Milton Keynes-based team.
The Dutch driver himself has remained tight-lipped about the matter publicly, but speculation has certainly reached a fever pitch ahead of his second home race. There is a likely scenario where Verstappen could elect to join Mercedes - but the truth is that as of this raceweek this is a storyline currently shrouded in rumours.
How will Alan Permane fare in his first race as team principal of Racing Bulls?
Like Mekies, new RB team principal Alan Permane has a wealth of previous F1 experience before being promoted to his new role, working with teams like Benetton, Alpine (as Sporting Director) and now RB (as Sporting Director).
Permane will most likely continue what Mekies has done at the Red Bull sister team - focus on making sure that RB is a strong outfit for developing Red Bull junior drivers.
Could the third sprint race of the season once again shake up the race weekend?
Lewis Hamilton tackles the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps during the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix weekend. | Credit: Wolfgang Wilhelm via the Mercedes content pool Spa hosts the third of six sprint races this season, for the first time since 2023. With championship points on the line, this will yet again provide a vital opportunity for Norris and Piastri to score as many points as possible, whilst other drivers down the grid will hope to maximise their points return, which may prove the difference at the end of the season.
Past winners
Lewis Hamilton inherited the win last year after George Russell’s car was found to be underweight. | Credit: LAT Images via the Mercedes content pool The first ever Belgian Grand Prix was won by Antonio Ascari (father of later world champion Alberto Ascari) in 1925 [before the inception of the F1 championship in 1950].
In the 1960s the track was dominated by the great Jim Clark, who won here four times on the bounce from 1962 to 1965. This was also where Bruce McLaren secured his first win for McLaren, the first of many in F1 to this day.
Moving forward to the 1980s, three-time F1 drivers’ champion Ayrton Senna clinched victory five times at Spa (1985, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991).
Throughout the 2010 and 2020s, Spa has been a track home to many different race winners, in contrast to previous eras. Lewis Hamilton has won five times at Spa, whilst Max Verstappen has won three times amongst victories from many other drivers too.
Winner picks
1. Lando Norris
Norris enters the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix with a significant degree of momentum after winning the last two Grands Prix in Austria and his home race at Silverstone, forming a strong comeback that leaves the Briton a mere eight points behind drivers’ championship leader (and teammate) Oscar Piastri.
Despite this arguably being a home race for Norris(his mother is Belgian), the McLaren driver doesn’t have the best record at Spa, with his best finish being fifth in last year’s Grand Prix, but in the context of this season a maiden victory at Spa is highly likely.
2. Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri at the helm of his McLaren. | Credit: F1 The current drivers’ championship leader doesn’t bring the momentum of recent victories into this weekend’s Grand Prix, but makes up for this in the consistency he has presented across the 2025 season, meaning he remains ahead of his teammate by eight points.
Building on this, Piastri has a strong track record in his two previous visits to Belgium, which means that he could secure another victory on Sunday - especially if he continues his 100% Q3 record.
3. Charles Leclerc
Ferrari haven’t had the best season so far, but Charles Leclerc has been the stabilising force for the Scuderia on track, scoring all three of their podiums in the 2025 season so far. This, linked with Ferrari’s gradual improvements over the course of the season up to this point means that Leclerc could have an outside chance at victory on his 139th start with Ferrari(tied with Felipe Massa as the driver with the third-most start with the team).
Notes
The race start is at 14:00 BST on Sunday, and it will be 44 laps long.
Minor changes have been made to the apex curb at Turn 3 , which has been replaced whilst the asphalt from halfway down the other pitlane up to Turn 2 has been ground down.
Session start times (in BST)
Practice 1 = 11:30-12:30
Sprint qualifying = 15:30-16:14
Sprint = 11:00-12:00
Qualifying = 15:00-16:00
Race = 14:00
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