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Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2025 Race Start, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Belgian GP Preview, Belgian Grand Prix Preview, 2025 Belgian GP Sprint, Formula 1 Spa GP Preview.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – After Lando Norris scored victory at his home British GP at Silverstone leading his championship-leading team-mate Oscar Piastri to another McLaren one-two with the latter being hit with a 10-second timed-penalty for a safety car infringement, round 13 of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship returns to the historic and classic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend before the sport’s traditional summer break for the Formula 1 Moet & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix 2025. This will be the 81st Belgian Grand Prix and the 68th time that the race will be held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. This weekend also features the third Sprint Format of the season and is a double header with the Hungarian Grand Prix before the sport’s traditional summer break.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – A look at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Built in 1921 and located in the Ardennes countryside in Stavelot Belgium, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a favourite amongst the drivers, teams and fans. The longest lap on the calendar will test the 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrains to their limits through the high-speed sectors one and three but also aerodynamics through the twisty sector two.
Spa is one of the season’s fastest tracks and it features every kind of challenge with average speeds of 230kph. The throttle is wide open for approximately 23 seconds from the stretch of the exit of La Source to Les Combes. From the run down through Eau Rouge, up the steep incline towards the blind Radillon corner, to the flat-out Kemmel Straight, through Les Combes and the technically difficult stretch down through Rivage, Pouhon and Fagnes and on to the ultimately fast Blanchimont left-hander and despite many alterations over the years due to safety reasons, Spa remains an ultimate test for both man and machine.
Getting the car setup is crucial, with success being the right balance between low downforce for the high-speed first and third sectors and good grip for the twisty second sector.
The weather can also play a defining role. Ardennes defines the phrase ‘four seasons in one day’ and while one end of the circuit can be full of sunshine, the other can be drenched with rain. The unpredictable conditions can be a real headache for teams especially regarding tyre choice.
The current Grand Prix circuit layout is 7.004km (4.352 miles) in length and runs in a clockwise direction.
Race distance is 305.052km (191.415 miles) in length with 44 laps in total and 19 corners.
Valtteri Bottas holds the fastest lap record with a 1:46.286 set at the 2018 event in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport F1 W09 EQ Power+ racer.
Michael Schumacher holds the record for most Belgian Grand Prix victories with six.
Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor at the Belgian Grand Prix with 18 victories.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – Onboard Lap of the Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps
Here is an onboard lap of the Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps from last year’s event, set by Max Verstappen in his Oracle Red Bull Racing Honda-RBPT RB20 racer. The Dutchman posted a 1:53.159. Originally this was the pole position lap from qualifying, but the Red Bull driver was hit with a 10-grid-placed-penalty for taking on a fifth Internal Combustion Engine, meaning Charles Leclerc inherited pole position again as in 2023. You can watch the footage of Verstappen’s lap right here at the link: Max Verstappen’s Qualifying Lap | 2024 Belgian Grand Prix | Pirelli – YouTube
2025 Belgian GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2024: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2020: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps a radical approach for the first time since the 2018 Russian GP skipping a compound type (the C2) and it will be, the white-branded C1 Hard compounds, the yellow-marked C3 Mediums and the red side-walled C4 Soft rubber along with the green-marked Intermediates and blue-banded Full Wet compounds in-case of rain.
All drivers will have six sets of the C4 red side-walled Softs, four sets of the yellow C3 Mediums and two sets of the white C1Hard rubber.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – DRS Zones
The detection point for the first zone is 240 metres before turn two with the activation point 310 metres after turn four. The second detection point is 160 metres before turn 18 with the activation point 30 metres after turn 19.
2025 Belgian GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Norris inherits home British GP victory as Piastri suffers penalty
Lando Norris claimed a home British GP victory at Silverstone after team-mate Oscar Piastri was hit with a ten-second-timed-penalty for a safety car infringement to lead home a McLaren one-two as Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg clinched his maiden Formula 1-career podium in his 239th Grand Prix start.
Norris closes in on the World Driver’s Championship fight with team-mate Piastri as the gap falls from 15 points to eight points (234-226) as they head to the Belgian Grand Prix in three weeks.
In the World Constructor’s Championship standings, McLaren hold a massive 238 points lead over nearest rivals Ferrari (460-222).
When the 52-lap British GP began, the formation lap was under the safety car.
A few drivers came in for slicks including, Leclerc, Russell, Hadjar, Bortoleto and Bearman for mediums.
Pole-sitter Verstappen got an equally good getaway with Piastri, but the former managed to keep ahead of the McLaren as Norris remained behind his team-mate in third.
On the Wellington Straight, RB’s Liam Lawson suffered a hit from Haas’s Esteban Ocon and was sent into the gravel at Aintree.
Replays showed a typical opening lap incident between Ocon and Lawson with the former squeezed from the left as Lawson cut in from the right.
Colapinto also was classified as retired from the race after stalling in the pit-lane and being stuck in second gear.
It was the final sector that was the wettest, as Hamilton had a look around the inside of Stowe attempting to overtake Norris in the fight for third, but the latter kept the Ferrari driver behind.
The virtual safety car was deployed after the incident.
Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli pitted for slicks on the beginning of lap three for hards.
The order under the VSC was Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Alonso, Sainz, Albon, Tsunoda and Hulkenberg completing the top ten.
Immediately after the race returned to green, Sauber’s Bortoleto suffered a spin down at Farm and into the gravel trap at turn one and hit the wall with his rear wing, but the Brazilian managed to continue, scattering the track with debris and was forced to retire.
The virtual safety car was deployed for the second time after Bortoleto stopped at the exit of Copse.
Meanwhile, just before the VSC came out, Mercedes issued team orders and allowed Russell to jump ahead Antonelli. The Briton was sitting in P13.
Race leader Verstappen was leading one queue of cars, and about a third of a lap back was the second pack – those who have already swapped to the slick tyres. That was headed by Russell, with Antonelli, Leclerc, Hadjar and Bearman in the queue.
And Stroll pitted for softs emerging in 12th place behind Ocon.
When the race returned back to green once more, Piastri was closely behind Verstappen as he had a look at Copse but could not make his way by and the Australian made a move on the inside down the Hangar Straight on the rundown into Stowe and overtook the Red Bull for the lead.
Behind them, Leclerc made a move on the inside of Antonelli at the final two corners, but the latter out of the last corner with better traction pulled back ahead to re-pass the Ferrari for 13th.
Later on, however on the ninth tour, Leclerc with DRS overtook Antonelli at the end of the Hangar Straight as Antonelli boxed for a fresh set of intermediates.
On the tenth lap, Piastri was leading Verstappen at over three seconds with Norris third, Hamilton fourth Gasly fifth as Alonso rounded out the top six.
On the 11th tour, the rain hit as Russell, Leclerc and Stroll stopped for a fresh set of inters.
Piastri was told to box, as his team-mate Norris was told to go for it – and Verstappen wriggled off track, and Norris is through into second. The crowd went wild, as it was a McLaren 1-2.
McLaren double stacked – everyone needed new intermediates. Verstappen came in too, Norris had a sticky front left, which was a slow stop and that meant Verstappen was back ahead into second!
Behind them, Hamilton, Gasly, Alonso and Sainz were also in.
Albon took a gamble and remained on track as the leaders managed to navigate their way ahead of the Williams driver who was then told to come in.
On the 12th tour, Piastri had a huge lead thanks to all those shenanigans with the Williams. Verstappen was ahead of Norris, and the predications was for at least 10 minutes of rain.
Gasly and Ocon made their way ahead of Hamilton for sixth and seventh respectively on the old main-straight as Leclerc skated across the grass through the Maggots and Becketts sequence.
“There is water that came into my visor, I couldn’t see anything,” Leclerc explained.
The safety car was deployed on the 14th tour due to the heavier rain.
Under the safety car at the 15th lap, Piastri lead from Verstappen, Norris and Stroll – who started P17. Hulkenberg started 19th and was now at fifth during this stage of proceedings.
Gasly was holding sixth ahead of Ocon, Hamilton, Russell and Alonso.
That early stop for slicks did not work for Leclerc, Antonelli, Hadjar or Bearman who were all down at the rear.
It is just one of those typical British days – rain, sun, rain, sun. The track was still pretty wet, with big plumes of spray kicking up behind the cars. So, the visibility was not the best, but the intensity of the rain had lessened.
Alonso was frustrated over the radio having started seventh and was running P10 after one pit stop. And only Ocon ahead had jumped him courtesy of not stopping.
When the race resumed on lap 18, Russell jumped Hamilton for eighth on the main-straight as the latter managed to re-overtake the Mercedes who got tucked behind Ocon into turn one and the Haas managed to lose two places after an error.
RB’s Hadjar was the fourth retiree of the Grand Prix after ramming in the back of Antonelli as the safety car was brought out again.
Replays showed the Frenchman could not see the Mercedes in-front of him heading towards Copse corner and contacted the rear of the F1 W16 as the VCARB02 went into the wall.
I didn’t see him, he appeared out of nowhere,” the Frenchman said. Antonelli did very well to stay pointing the right way after the collision.
On the 20th lap – The field were all still on inters in wet conditions – the track being wet, but it had stopped raining.
Colapinto was out – he stalled in the pit lane at the start of the race. Lawson crashed out on the opening lap after contact with Ocon. Bortoleto spun off in the wet conditions. And now Hadjar was also out after hitting Antonelli.
Antonelli and Ocon were still racing, despite carrying damage to their cars – the former came into the pits for a fresh set of intermediates and replays showed the Italian’s diffuser of the F1 W16 was destroyed after the contact with Hadjar.
The safety car was ending on the 21st tour as Verstappen suffered a massive spin from second out of Stowe and dropped back to tenth behind Sainz.
Piastri was under investigation by the stewards for a safety car infringement of heavy braking and accelerating.
On lap 23, Piastri lead team-mate Norris by over two seconds, but the lead McLaren driver could be in trouble here – replays showed he did suddenly slow before the Safety car came in.
Replays showed Bearman spun at the restart as a result of contact with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and went onto the grass as the Briton fell to 15th, with only Antonelli behind who was told to pit to retire the car.
On the next tour, Hamilton ran wide out of the exit of Copse as Russell sneaked ahead of the Ferrari to jump into sixth place.
The stewards hit race leader Piastri with a ten second time penalty for his safety car infringement.
The turn six incident involving Tsunoda and Bearman was under investigation by the race stewards.
On the 27th lap in the battle for sixth, Hamilton made his way back ahead of Russell before reaching Stowe as the former had Gasly in his sights.
Tsunoda was hit with a ten-second-timed penalty causing a collision with Bearman.
Hamilton had a look at Gasly down the Hangar Straight but could not get passed the Alpine.
Piastri lead was nearly four seconds from Norris, who did not need to risk anything thanks to his team-mate’s penalty.
Piastri had just been told about his penalty – and he was told to get his head down and pull a gap to remain in second place as Stroll was effectively miles back in third, the Canadian’s fight was with fourth-placed Hulkenberg.
Hamilton managed to get ahead of Gasly on the inside at turn 16 to make his way into fifth place.
Lap 30, saw Piastri’s lead at 3.233 seconds over Norris with Stroll third, Hulkenberg fourth Hamilton fifth, Gasly sixth, Russell seventh, Alonso eighth, Sainz ninth as Verstappen rounded out the top ten.
With 20 laps remaining, Norris took another chunk out of Piastri’s lead. Those two were flying out-front at this stage of proceeding – lapping nearly two seconds quicker than the rest of the top 10 runners. Stroll was 22 seconds off the lead in third as he was told by the team that the temperatures were rising, and the crossover for slicks was coming.
On the 33rd tour in the fight for the final podium place, Hulkenberg was all over the back of Stroll in the battle for third, with four tenths between the two. Hamilton was not too far behind, closing the gap as rapid as expected, he remained 2.6 seconds off.
Lap 35 saw Hulkenberg with DRS assistance down the Hangar Straight made a lunge up the inside of Stroll into Stowe to move up into third as later on Hamilton overtook Stroll also at Village to go into fourth as the Aston Martin driver dropped two places.
Further back on lap 36, Verstappen finally got Sainz for ninth. Alonso was next at 3.4 seconds ahead of the Dutchman. Hamilton was 1.9 second behind Hulkenberg now in the battle for the final podium place.
Further back on the next lap, between stopping for mediums before the start, and then disappearing over the grass at one stage, this had been a tough afternoon for Leclerc. But he was starting to push on finally, up to 11th after picking off Albon, and with the second Williams of Sainz in-front.
On the 38th lap, Alonso took an early gamble, pitting from eighth with a set of the C3 mediums and emerged in 14th behind Ocon.
Sixth-placed Russell also followed suit to for a set of the hards and came out in 13th place.
Leclerc made his way up the inside of former team-mate Sainz into turn four in the battle for eighth, which the latter reported as reckless.
Replays showed on the 40th tour – Russell suffer a massive spin into the gravel and managed to keep some momentum and get back to the track and stayed clear of the barriers so won’t have any damage back a scuffed floor.
On the 41st lap, Norris was still closing, Piastri unable to do much about his team-mate. The gap was down to 1.3 seconds now, as those two continue to lap nearly a second ahead of the rest of the pack.
Behind, Hamilton was still not closing in on Hulkenberg very quickly, the gap still hanging at 2.4 seconds.
Hamilton pitted for a set of softs along with Verstappen for a set of the mediums with both emerging in fourth and ninth.
Hamilton ran wide and then Hulkenberg stopped. But it was a slow stop for the Sauber driver. It was a 4.6 second stop – disaster for the German. The Sauber driver remained ahead of the Ferrari.
On lap 44, the crossover arrived. Piastri stopped and sat stationary. Serving his ten-second stop-and-go come and go. Then got his medium tyres.
Further back, the yellows were out for Bearman who had spun off onto the grass. Replays showed Bearman was trying to overtake down the inside, Ocon shut the door, they both made contact and spun.
On the 45th lap Piastri was chasing hard, he knows Norris’ tyres won’t be warm as of yet – but he pushed too hard and ran wide – Piastri radios to say if the team agreed that the penalty was not fair, then they should swap the drivers back and let them race to the end.
Thanks to the pit-stops, Hulkenberg was 7.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton and on course for his maiden podium as Leclerc went off into the gravel and managed to continue as Ocon and Bearman’s incident is currently under investigation by the stewards.
On lap 47, there was an intra-team fight between the McLarens for the win. Norris is starting to pick up the pace. Hamilton’s tyres were up to temperature and had just taken over a second out of Hulkenberg’s lead in third.
A tour later, Norris has the confidence in his tyres, he is flying – a new fastest lap for him, and he extends his lead to over five seconds. But behind Hamilton had run wide pushing hard, which gave Hulkenberg a bit of breathing space. Stroll was still holding fifth and ahead of Verstappen, Gasly, Alonso, Albon and Russell. Whilst out-front, no team orders at McLaren – they were free to race until the end.
On lap 49, Norris was heading for a home Grand Prix. With his lead over six seconds, and Piastri might have given up the chase at this stage. Further back, Bearman had DRS on Russell in the fight for tenth.
On lap 50, Gasly had DRS on Verstappen in the battle for sixth. Up-front, Norris was heading for a third straight home podium – and a first home victory.
Norris crossed the line to take a home victory at Silverstone by 6.812 seconds over team-mate Piastri in another McLaren one-two as Hulkenberg completed the top three and scored his maiden Formula 1-career podium.
Hamilton reached the chequered flag in fourth and in-front of Verstappen who recovered to fifth following his spin and Gasly who came home sixth.
Stroll followed in seventh and ahead of Albon took eighth whilst Alonso and Russell completed the top ten.
2025 Belgian GP – The Situation
The 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season continues this weekend with the with a Sprint weekend at the Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps and the title fight heats up between McLaren pairing Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Consecutive victories for Norris at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone put him just eight points behind Piastri in the driver’s standings as the Briton looks to make it a hat-trick of victories on Sunday.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen is 69 points behind Piastri in third but will have plenty of support from the Belgian and Dutch fans who have decided to make a short trip to Spa.
Verstappen’s future remains the major talking point of the paddock especially after the sacking of CEO & Team Principal Christian Horner as Red Bull embark on their initial Grand Prix weekend without Horner at the helm.
Attention will be on new Team Boss Laurent Mekies, who will speak to the media for the first time ahead of Friday’s Sprint Qualifying in Belgium.
The three-week gap provided the opportunity for the teams to develop their final upgrades for their current spec cars before the main focus turns towards the new 2026-spec cars.
Ferrari and Mercedes will also hope to close the gap to constructor’s leaders McLaren at Spa, a circuit where both teams were strong at last campaign, and the jeopardy of the Sprint format, with the threat of rain on the forecast, means the Woking based outfit may not have everything their way this weekend.
Piastri returns to Belgium sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 234 points and an eight-point advantage over McLaren team-mate Norris who is second on 226 points whilst Red Bull’s Verstappen is a further 69 points behind the Dutchman in third on 165 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team comes to the Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps on top of the World Constructors Championship with 460 points and a 238-point lead over nearest rivals Scuderia Ferrari who are second on 222 points whilst Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team are a further 250 points behind the Woking based-outfit in third place on 210 points.
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings.
The Formula 1 Moet & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix 2025 weekend begins Friday July 25 with Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, followed by the 100km Sprint Race (15 Laps) and Qualifying Saturday July 26 and the 44 lap Race Sunday July 27.
