Belgium Grand Prix: Spa-Francorchamps track guide

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the longest circuits on F1 calendar with a total length of 7.004 km. The Spa-Francorchamps has always been known to throw exciting races with the notorious Belgium weather and hilly terrain.

Track Guide

Sector 1:

First Sector starts with the start finish straight which heads into a very tight La Source hairpin. The La source hairpin is a very good overtaking spot. The La Source hairpin is followed by a series of fast left and right kinks which lead to the infamous Eau Rouge. With modern-day technology and aerodynamics Eau Rouge has become a no corner with cars taking it flat out on a dry track. Nonetheless, it is one of those corners which provide great experience for a Formula 1 driver. The Eau Rouge is followed up by long Kemmel Straight. This is were DRS activation zone is going to be for the race. The end of Kemmel staright marks the end of first sector.

Getting a fast first sector: To get a good first sector the car has to be quick in the straight line with good traction out of the La Source hairpin. In qualifying, drivers will be using DRS from the exit of La Source hairpin uptill Eau Rouge, and then from exit of Eau Rouge uptill Les Combes corner.

Note – DRS is banned through Eau Rouge due to safety reasons.

Sector 2

Sector 2 starts with the Les Combes Corner which is a very tight corner with cars braking hard from more than 300km/hr (From Kemmel Staright) to 100km/hr. Les Comebes corner leads to the Malmedy corner named after the village Malmedy. The cars take Malmedy corner with usually full throttle in dry conditions. In wet conditions, the drivers have to watch their lines at the exit of Malmedy. The malmedy corner is followed by a short straight which leads to very tight rivage hairpin. Rivage hairpin is followed up by a left handed corner and a short straight which leads upto the famous Pouhon Corner. The Pouhon corner is a very fast left hander and the drivers have to be very careful with the throttle especially during wet conditions to avoid spinning into the wall. The Pouhon corner is followed by a short straight which leads to sequence of right and lefts which is known as Fagnes. The corner has been named Fagnes as its shape is like that of a snake. The end of Sector 2 is marked by Stavelot.

Getting a fast Second Sector:

To get a fast second sector, the car has to be agile and should generate large amounts of downforce especially through the fast left hander Pouhon. Good traction is also very important through some slow corners such as Les Combes, Rivage harpin and the Fagnes corner.

Sector 3:

Sector 3 is a marked by very fast Blanchimont Corner which leads to the Bus top chicane. The cars usually take most of the third sector flat out especially from Stavelot to the bus stop chicane. The Bus stop chicane is a very good overtaking spot.

The start-finish straight marks the end of Sector 3 and a lap of Spa-Francorchamps.

Getting a fast Third Sector:

Sector three is all about top speed and traction out of the Bus stop chicane. So, a car having good top speed and nice traction can produce a really quick third sector.