Preview: Belgian GP

Kimi Raikkonen during practice at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The last race in the 2013 Formula One season was in Hungary, and it threw up many questions, many of which unanswered.

Questions regarding tyres, potential champions and which drivers are going where for next season. It has been near a month since that race and fans have missed F1, but now it’s back – and it has travelled to the best track in the world.

The Belgian Grand Prix has been around since before the second world war. First, it was a 9-mile gargantuan at Spa Francorchamps, wickedly fast and very dangerous. It has changed between Spa, Zolder and Nivelles over the 20th century, and settled on Spa from 1985 onwards (with breaks in ’03 and ’06).

Spa has been edited a few times, most recently to modify the bus stop chicane at the end of the lap. In it’s present configuration, it is the longest lap on the F1 calendar (with a lap taking between 1:50 and 2:00 in a race situation) and incorporates some of the fastest and most exciting sections of track in motorsport.

This weekend was predicted to be mostly dry and perhaps even sunny, but as the dawn broke over Spa and the first practice session of the weekend got going, the track was damp and rain was in the air. Many of the drivers struggled with the damp conditions around an already tricky track, and as a result there were a few spinners. The second session was a little dryer, with the sun finally making an appearance – but the clouds and unpredictable weather they bring were never too far in the distance.

Now, let’s have a look at the lineup and see which teams and drivers are likely to do well here this weekend. Well, the obvious two teams that are likely to do well, no matter the weather, are Red Bull and Mercedes. Both have had a great run of form recently, and hope to retain it going into the latter half of the season.

Vettel will hope to continue his hauling of points to maximise the gap from Raikkonen and Alonso, who are trailing by 38 and 39 points respectively; not a small gap to close by anyone’s measure, but if anyone can do it, then the likes of Raikkonen and Alonso can.

Talking of Raikkonen, he is the most successful current driver at Spa. He has been nicknamed the ‘King of Spa’ on many an occasion, as whenever he races there, he usually has a good race and drives exceptionally well. As for Alonso, Spa is one of few tracks that he has never won at, which he will hope to rectify by the chequered flag on Sunday afternoon.

Hamilton, however, has won once, as have Vettel, Button and Massa. No current driver has won Spa more than once apart from Kimi Raikkonen, who has four wins to his name. If Lotus is in a good position and Kimi qualifies well, then I think he has to be tipped to win this Sunday; his special affinity with Spa, tallying that with his supreme talent and will to win is a formidable and – perhaps – unbeatable combination.

The weather will, of course, be a factor at Spa this weekend. Rain is consistent and unpredictable, which makes for raised heart-rates on the pitwall and in the stands, although for entirely different reasons.

Spa is a well worn-in track, with racing taking place on it all year round, but as Spa is situated in the Ardennes and a mini-climate, rain can be produced from nowhere very quickly, and wash away all the tread and grooves which provides extra grip for F1 cars.

If I had to pick the podium, I would go for Kimi Raikkonen for the win, Hamilton second and Vettel third. However, as Spa is such an unpredictable track, anything can happen, and I wouldn’t be completely surprised if all three of those drivers don’t finish because of some incident or another (remember Grosjean taking out Hamilton and Alonso last year?).

I am very much looking forward to the race. Not only is F1 back after the summer break, but this weekend is Spa, and therefore the best racetrack in the world is playing host to the best racing cars in the world. I can hardly wait.