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Robert Kubica feels that Spa is a great place

Robert Kubica feels that "Spa is a great place"

28-08-2019 16:39 Last update: 16:54

Tom Mason

Racing returns this weekend as the Belgian Grand Prix takes centre stage following the summer break, with Spa, the longest track on the calendar at 7.004km. Let's take a look at how Williams is shaping up for the first race after the summer break and round 13 of the world championship.

The Belgian Grand Prix is always a popular one among fans and will be even more so this weekend as the season can now continue following the summer break.

The weather is likely to play a key role for a number of the teams, although at the moment the forecast is settled. The constant change of weather in the Ardennes Forest results in there being unpredictable races and usually a lot of drama.

Reserve driver Nicholas Latifi will drive in FP1 as the FW42 and senior race engineer Dave Robson has offered some thoughts going into the second half of the season.

The second half of the 2019 campaign starts at one of the most iconic of Formula One venues, Spa-Francorchamps, Robson said in the Williams race preview.

"The circuit is a long and demanding mix of high-speed corners and long straights, and this is likely to encourage teams to a lower downforce and drag set-up than that deployed in Hungary.

"Nicholas joins us on Friday for his third FP1 session of the season and it will be interesting to get his impression of how the car has changed since his last outing in France. Having seen some improvements in our performance in Budapest."

Robert Kubica has made it clear just how much he enjoys racing at Spa as the countdown continues to race weekend.

"Spa is a great place and a favourite for a lot of drivers. The track characteristics are completely different to any other; it has a lot of high-speed corners and long turns. It is a unique place with very changeable weather that can play an important role. It is an amazing track and I am looking forward to it," Kubica said. 

Williams finished 12th and 13th on the grid at Spa last season when Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll were at the team, Williams will be looking to improve on their first half of the season when they picked up just one point as a team with Kubica and George Russell struggling.