2024 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix Preview

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Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images

WHO ARE YOU SUPPORTING THIS WEEKEND?

  • Total voters
    152
  • Poll closed .
Round fourteen of the Formula One World Championship takes us to Belgium at the sim racers favourite,
Spa-Francorchamps. After the thrilling and controversial event that was the Hungarian Grand Prix, Spa is shaping up to be another classic.

What did you think about Oscar Piastri's maiden victory? After the controversial finish, McLaren stayed very quiet and continued like nothing was wrong. Could it all boil over at McLaren in Belgium this weekend?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1815688885747265698

Esteban Ocon to Join Haas in 2025​

Haas has signed Alpine’s Esteban Ocon on a multi-year contract to partner rookie teammate, Ollie Bearman, in 2025. Ahead of the final race before the break, and at the track where Ocon made his F1 debut in 2016, Haas announced Ocon would take the vacant seat left by the departing Kevin Magnussen.

With Ocon joining the American outfit in 2025, Haas have a Grand Prix winner in one of their seats for the first time in the teams would become the first Grand Prix winner to race one of their cars since they entered the sport in 2016.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1816382961379598835

The Frenchman has driven for Manor (2016), Force India (2017–2018), Mercedes reserve driver (2019), Renault (2020), Alpine (2021–2024). Haas will be the sixth team Ocon has driven for since his debut in 2016, although Renault became Alpine in 2021.

Spa's Brand New Track Surface​

Spa's track surface has been replaced for this weekend's grand prix. In the past, new track surfaces have caused teams a lot of problems. From the slippery and greasy Istanbul circuit to the grainy and deteriorating state of the Las Vegas strip. How will teams cope at the new Spa?

Formula One places a heavy strain on the circuit's surface, especially in the braking zones and fast bends because of the power and speed at which they are putting the power down. Over a long period, the track surface will begin to deteriorate and will therefore require resurfacing.

The Pirelli tyre choices for this weekend:
C2 as P Zero White hard
C3 as P Zero Yellow medium
C4 as P Zero Red soft

https://twitter.com/x/status/1815696514120843354

Max Verstappen Takes 10-place Grid Penalty​

The Dutchman is set to receive a ten-place grid penalty at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen has been on a knife edge ever since Canada when Red Bull had to introduce a fourth Honda powertrain. However, Verstappen has won the last two races at the circuit after similar grid penalties.

Unfortunately for Verstappen, his grid penalty is not the only reason his name is in the headlines. The Red Bull ace has had an official warning for his team regarding his sim racing antics before the Hungarian Grand Prix. Red Bull has officially banned him from competing in any events before a Grand Prix.

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Red Bull's Max Verstappen at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images

When to Watch the Belgian Grand Prix (UTC)​

Friday
Free Practice One - 11:30-12:30
Free Practice Two - 15:00-16:00

Saturday
Free Practice Three - 10:30-11:30
Qualifying - 14:00-15:00

Sunday
Race Starts - 13:00

Who are you supporting at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix? Let us know in the poll above or down in the comments!
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Connor Minniss
Connor Minniss
Website Content Editor & Motorsport Photographer aiming to bring you the best of the best within the world of sim racing.

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Comments

Deicide The Light Bearer
Premium
Durge Driven said:
For me all the raised nose era are fugly :x3:
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agreed that is the one thing that kills me about this era of cars. I love all of it but that Nose. It always reminded me of that snobby nose in the air look

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I know they won't do this but.. For '26 with the reg changes they should really focus on the car sound as well. When you get the literal GOAT of F1 losing focus during an interview and getting excited as he does you know its something good. If you ever look at the comment section of the F1 "throw back" videos they do before races that are of the V10 era all the comments are "That sound!!" "That scream! We need it back!" Today's sound just doesn't get people excited like the 00's did. That V10 scream will make your pecker hard like you're a teenage boy finding his dad playboy

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K
Deicide The Light Bearer said:
agreed that is the one thing that kills me about this era of cars. I love all of it but that Nose. It always reminded me of that snobby nose in the air look

View attachment 771375

View attachment 771374



I know they won't do this but.. For '26 with the reg changes they should really focus on the car sound as well. When you get the literal GOAT of F1 losing focus during an interview and getting excited as he does you know its something good. If you ever look at the comment section of the F1 "throw back" videos they do before races that are of the V10 era all the comments are "That sound!!" "That scream! We need it back!" Today's sound just doesn't get people excited like the 00's did. That V10 scream will make your pecker hard like you're a teenage boy finding his dad playboy

View attachment 771378

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Yes the sound will be better in 2026, that's already known. Hopefully they'll be back to normal engines later on.
 
P
MGU-H is getting removed from cars in 2026. That alone will play a big part in sound, as it's that system what drains energy from exhausts and dumbs down the noise.

I could post beautiful old F1 cars all day, I will refrain from that :)
 
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H
Mekonrider said:
Be funny if Norris goes on a winning spree and loses the title by 5 points.
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I think the title is still within reach for him if he goes on a spree and Piastri manages to take some P2's and Verstappen has 1-2 DNFs (out of frustration :)). Thats why i dont understand the team order last race.
 
Durge Driven
If Max finishes 3rd every race one McLaren driver would need to break his record of consecutive wins.
Simply not going to happen imo :coffee: even with the best car I don't think either is capable of that, period.

Love Max's comments arriving at track, never changes, basically ......... this is how it is, what anyone else thinks does not matter because you are not the team you do not know anything. I don't care what other drivers think.

;)

P.S. On simming basically .... I am a three times world champion, I think I have a better idea what I can do and what I can't, I been doing it for 8-9 years but all these desktop jockeys know better.
 
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Durge Driven
Yes good, you session vibe killer :p, point it out for the world.

"Ruins everything for everyone"
Yep, typical immature cry baby statement Lando :coffee:

That is not a real motorsports fan, that's a troll.

Screenshot 2024-07-27 075043.jpg
 
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Slapped
Durge Driven said:
"Ruins everything for everyone"
Yep, typical immature cry baby statement Lando :coffee:
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Oh come on, if you watch that post qualifying interview it's clear that he was making a joke, and making light of the situation. Here it is just in case.


Durge Driven said:
P.S. On simming basically .... I am a three times world champion, I think I have a better idea what I can do and what I can't, I been doing it for 8-9 years but all these desktop jockeys know better.
Click to expand...
Seriously, you're not the only one here who knows exactly what they can and can't do. For example I've been informed on numerous occasions that I have an excellent future in sim-racing driving the recovery truck. So there.
 
Pete Conway
Premium
And one of the Sky F1 (Louise) predictions is that there will be 3... yes, three, driver line up changes in the second half of this F1 season... but no names.

So,
#1: Logan Sargent is on his way out (she's married to James so probably has a breakfast time chat with the boss)
#2: Ocon might have his cards handed to him early for being a big mouth about the team not listening to... well, anyone, and for being crap, could Jack Doohan get a go?
#3:.... I don't know, Red Bull seem to want to keep Checo, and the guy just needs a shot of JD and a chill pill, that could come if he don't screw up at La Source on lap one.
 
G
Pete Conway said:
And one of the Sky F1 (Louise) predictions is that there will be 3... yes, three, driver line up changes in the second half of this F1 season... but no names.

So,
#1: Logan Sargent is on his way out (she's married to James so probably has a breakfast time chat with the boss)
#2: Ocon might have his cards handed to him early for being a big mouth about the team not listening to... well, anyone, and for being crap, could Jack Doohan get a go?
#3:.... I don't know, Red Bull seem to want to keep Checo, and the guy just needs a shot of JD and a chill pill, that could come if he don't screw up at La Source on lap one.
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I was assuming Logan out for Antonelli, Checo out for Ricciardo and Lawson in at RB. I didn't even think about Ocon, but Alpine is a streaming mess right now, so why not?
 
Damage Inc
Greatscot said:
It's not like he's behind Logan or Zhou, Lando is the second best driver on the grid right now, so there's no shame in being close behind him.
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aussies seems to think Lando is ****, I wonder what that means about those behind Lando eh?! (note I'm not 100% serious just jibing the Aussies, Oscar is a class act (just not as fast as Lando ;) )
 
Pete Conway
Premium
Greatscot said:
I was assuming Logan out for Antonelli, Checo out for Ricciardo and Lawson in at RB. I didn't even think about Ocon, but Alpine is a streaming mess right now, so why not?
Click to expand...
I can't see Danni Ricciardo claiming a spot in the Red Bull team again, he's too up and down, no better than Checo really, and Yuki is still too much of a hothead, Liam needs a place on the grid and RB visa looks like the best bet, (it's not fair to fire him up against Max straight out)... so Danni might not even survive the season!

Kimi needs to finish his F2 driving first... he skipped F3 and to go from F4 to F1 in half a season for anyone let alone a 17 year old is a bit silly, (I can't see him
I know Mercedes rate him but... time will tell and he needs a good season (maybe two) in F2 before making the jump to F1, and to be honest I feel that Paul Aron* would be a better bet in that F1 car that the new wiz kid that's 40 points down on him in the F2 stakes

* this guy is always there, he's like a safe pair of hands, no fuss just steadilly pulling in the points.
 
K
Great job max, the rainy conditions were perfect for his higher downforce setup, let's see tomorrow; didn't really expect charles and ferrari to be on top but anyway xD, while disappointing qually for mclaren, not sure why?maybe they'll be faster tomorrow in the dry.
 

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