Last but not least: before the holidays, F1 goes to Spa
Before the summer break, Formula 1 visits its University. At Spa-Francorchamps only the best win, and it is no coincidence that in the new millennium, except for Charles Leclerc, Felipe Massa, and Daniel Ricciardo, the world champions have reached the top in the Ardennes forests.
Together with Silverstone and Suzuka, Spa-Francorchamps is the circuit that subjects the tires to the most remarkable forces. The most challenging point for the tires is the historic Eau Rouge and Raidillon complex, where at high speed, the driver must first turn left while the car is pressed to the asphalt by downforce and then quickly climb with a bend to the right and then to the left to enter the Kemmel straight. With its 7004 meters, it is the longest circuit in the World Championship and should unfortunately highlight even more the superiority of Red Bull, as seen last year with Max Verstappen’s comeback, dominating even starting from the 14th position.
This is how Pirelli, through the words of Mario Isola, presented the next round of the 2023 Formula 1 season, the Belgian Grand Prix.
Mario Isola’s preview:
“Just a few days of a break, and Formula 1 faces a new appointment, the last before the summer break. This weekend, the Belgian Grand Prix will be held, one of the most prestigious in the history of this sport, as it takes place on a particularly challenging track, for the drivers, the cars, and also for the tires. We have chosen the same trio of compounds used last year for this race – C2, C3, and C4 – which offer a wide range of strategic options in case of a dry race. The weather conditions are traditionally a very important factor during the race weekend, and the date change of this edition – from the first race after the break to the last race before the break – should not have any effect: any forecast risks being contradicted. Furthermore, the length of the track – the longest on the calendar – and the ups and downs – Spa has the highest altitude variation – mean that a driver may find himself facing a wet track at one point and completely dry in another.”
“The novelty of the 2023 edition will be the format of the weekend, as Spa will host the Sprint for the third time this season – the previous ones were in Baku and Spielberg – with the Shootout in the morning and a 100 km race in the afternoon. With only one hour of free practice available on Friday before qualifying – the day that is currently most at risk of rain – there will be even less time to set up the cars for the rest of the weekend on a track that usually sees the widest differences in terms of aerodynamic configuration between those who prioritize aerodynamic load to go fast in the second sector and those who want a “lighter” car, able to make the most of top speed on the straights and thus be able to attack and, if necessary, defend adequately. The double race will further increase the spectacle of a Grand Prix that remains one of the most beautiful of the entire season.” – the Pirelli boss concluded, as reported by the tyre supplier’s official website, which also provides the following key data regarding the tyres for the next race weekend:
Leave a Reply