F1 LIVE | The 2022 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa!

It’s time for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The 14th round in the Formula 1 World Championship is about to start. Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing lead both World Championships after Ferrari have struggled to keep pace in recent weeks. Charles Leclerc will be aiming to cut his 80-point deficit in the standings. 

F1 LIVE | The Belgian Grand Prix

For the first time, we will get to see the new technical directives in a race. The FIA introduced the rule over the summer break and it is making its debut during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. It will be interesting to see if this makes any alternation to the standings or gaps between teams. 

There has been some suggestion, mainly from the Mercedes camp, that both Red Bull and Ferrari have bent the floor rules. The brand new rules and regulations mean the floor is an integral part of the car as this generation focuses on ground effect. 

Many penalties in Belgium

Seven drivers knew prior to qualifying that they would be penalised on Sunday's grid. Yuki Tsunoda was the eighth and final driver to receive a penalty on Sunday, meaning the Japanese driver will start from the pit lane.

Tsunoda's penalty means Max Verstappen moves up another spot to 14th position. As a result, the Dutchman finds himself on the outside of the first corner. Title rival Charles Leclerc moves up from P16 to P15.

No changes upfront

At the front of the grid nothing changes. Carlos Sainz will start the race from pole position with Sergio Perez next to him on the inside. Alonso will try to keep up with the two from P3 and will also have to defend against Mercedes. Alexander Albon will start from a surprising P6 after many drivers ahead of him were put back with grid penalties.

Last year’s Belgian Grand Prix wasn’t really a race. Heavy rain caused a series of delays, with laps only being completed behind the safety car. The drivers got rewarded with half-points for their efforts in qualifying, which included the first podium for George Russell. The then Williams driver secured a place on the front row, which automatically translated to P2 on the podium. 

Verstappen kept it on the tarmac behind the safety car to win the event. His rival for the 2021 title Lewis Hamilton finished in third place. 

The event that weekend triggered a number of changes to Formula 1’s shortened race procedure. In the winter, F1 confirmed a number of changes including the removal of half points. For any points to be awarded, drivers have to complete two racing laps without the safety car. There are various thresholds for the number of points awarded depending on the percentage of laps completed before the stoppage. 

Racing in 2022 

Red Bull Racing and Ferrari have been evenly matched over the season. Ferrari have had the upper hand when it comes to single-lap pace, but Red Bull have been stronger in the races. Verstappen has won eight of the 13 races so far, with Leclerc winning three. Their teammates Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz both have one win each. 

Over recent races, Ferrari have been known to blow many chances. This has most often been the case in the strategy department, but Leclerc has also made mistakes and crashed. Mattia Binotto will be hoping some of the processes have been streamlined during the summer break. 

This could be the final F1 race to ever take place in Belgium. The circuit is yet to sign a contract for the coming years, and question marks loom over its future as Liberty Media look to expand F1 outside of Europe.