2024 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix Preview

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Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images

WHO ARE YOU SUPPORTING THIS WEEKEND?


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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?


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.


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


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!
About author
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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Premium
Man after the last race and being a hardcore Oscar fan I had no words. I was so happy but so angry. I get it at the same time (even Oscar came and said he would have done the same), but I've also never liked Lando, like ever. I've been a fan of Oscar since I first saw him in F2. I only started to cheer for McLaren when Oscar came (to think I'd be cheering for Alpine... *shutter* if it had gone the other way) So I'm hoping for an Oscar domination. I want to see Oscar 1st, Lewis/Max 2nd/3rd (switch around or this way, either way) and Lando in like 4th or out of the points just for my own haha's and hehe's
 
Premium
That was a bad idea to sign Ocon, Haas, he is going to destroy your team

100% agreed. HAAS has been making great strides as of late and the Bearman signing, this though.. *sigh* ughh Why? So many other drivers out there. My only thought to that answer is they got him on the real cheap because no one else wants him. If he was worth anything he'd be driving for Merc since Toto is his manager and runs Merc and they are looking for someone but even his own manager is snubbing him.
 
100% agreed. HAAS has been making great strides as of late and the Bearman signing, this though.. *sigh* ughh Why? So many other drivers out there. My only thought to that answer is they got him on the real cheap because no one else wants him. If he was worth anything he'd be driving for Merc since Toto is his manager and runs Merc and they are looking for someone but even his own manager is snubbing him.
Indeed, and Ocon has proven himself to be a bad driver, he's crashed into all his teammates, and, like you say, there are so many other drivers out there, it's like they're trying to go bankrupt, the aim of the sport is to go as fast as you can, and you can't do that with a driver who can't
 
Premium
Indeed, and Ocon has proven himself to be a bad driver, he's crashed into all his teammates, and, like you say, there are so many other drivers out there, it's like they're trying to go bankrupt, the aim of the sport is to go as fast as you can, and you can't do that with a driver who can't

Preach that brotha 100%

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I ask permission, if it doesn't bother anyone, and I leave here some photos of Ferrari and McLaren from the Belgian GP in 2000 (qf and race)(you already know what happened there, and let's hope something like this happens again)

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"Even your grandchildren will remember that maneuver"

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"yes, yes whatever... enjoy them, because they will be the last..."
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I believe McLaren ultimately will be okay as far as the driver relationship goes.
Had Oscar been the kind of guy to be extremely vocal and demand the switch back, attitudes going forward might suffer. He isn't that.
Lando may have felt a bit undone by the team's decision and that will linger for a bit but in the end he will get over it.
He doesn't strike me as the kind to hold onto grudges for too long.
If he did, the contact at Austria would still be front and center.
I can see it from both driver's perspective.
These wins take a bit of everything combined...speed, skill, luck, timing, etc... Just ask Nico Hulkenberg or Nick Heidfeld.
The team pitted Lando to stave off a Lewis undercut...which was the smart decision but in so doing, had to service Oscar out of order...putting him at a disadvantage.
Once they were swapped and Lando had pulled more that 5+ seconds, I would have let him take the win.
It would have reduced the WDC margin by the additional seven points...which is significant.
Had it been 2 seconds or under, I would have swapped the cars in favor of Oscar.
That kid is a massive talent.
I hate that his first win was mired in controversy but he will win again.
 
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That was a bad idea to sign Ocon, Haas, he is going to destroy your team, just as he destroyed mine
Ocon's once promising career is pretty much down the drain. He'll finish his career at Haas or some other team at the back of the grid and will probably end up with only one win.
 
Wasn't that McLaren simply a stunningly beautiful car?? :geek:
It is true that some cars from some other season are beautiful...but I think that ALL the cars from the 2000 season are at least: beautiful (or at least I don't consider that there are any "bad" ones visually)
(literally, after that year many things changed in designs, colors and other things towards the "new millennium") that is why I consider 2000 as a "balance" in designs, liveries, pilots, etc...it seems to be the last of the 90s...perhaps no one notices...but even in details like drawings on the tires, and other small things typical of the 90s,...in 2001 all that disappeared. (and that's without talking about the 2000 vs 2001 championship)

Perhaps someone will say: "but in 2001 there was Alonso, Montoya and Raikonen"... true, but we remember them more in 2002 onwards (Alonso in Renault, and Kimi in McLaren)(plus there were many driver changes). 2000 was the last one with the entire old "generation" (alesi, herbert) and without changes in drivers.
(I just wish Damon Hill had retired in 2000 and not 99') (but that gave room for Trulli and Frentsen in Jordan)


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oh yes... the mclaren was VERY beautiful
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Italy 2000 Gaston Mazzacane Minardi 2.jpg

By the way, if you look closely at the minardi, you will know where it is running.
 
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So i think mclaren favorite here, especially considering the grid penalty for max!.. ferrari shouldn't be on top, not sure about mercedes to be honest.
 
It is true that some cars from some other season are beautiful...but I think that ALL the cars from the 2000 season are at least: beautiful (or at least I don't consider that there are any "bad" ones visually)
I agree, these cars were really good looking. My only criticism has to be the grooved tires, I always hated these.

My favorite eras as far as looks are concerned are 1988-1997 and the amazing cars of the mid-sixties. Ron Dennis once said that the Eagle-Westlake was the most beautiful race car ever made and he may have been right:

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