5 things to expect from the Belgian Grand Prix

The vivid beauty of Spa Francorchamps: F1's electrifying and much loved circuitStavelot at Belgium houses what the entire F1 fraternity hails as perhaps the most idyllic track, set amidst the glowing beauty of Western Europe. Spa is part racing paradise, part entourage de excitement and a pure adrenaline rush all through.Breathtaking maneuvers and mental toughness are what Spa demands from its commanding racers, who come to lock horns in a highly anticipated 44-lap racing contest.It has to be noted that the race circuit, one that is hardly allowed any breathing space all throughout the year, is also the home event for the Formula One Belgian Spa 24 Hours and 1000 km Spa endurance races, a massive test for measuring a driver's stamina and endurance in trickyracing conditions.Spa-Francorchamps almost always unfailingly provides vivid spectacles of high speed car chases during the two hour long battle for claiming ultimate glory throughits glorious expanse.It is a historic race track and one that cannot be replicated or matched, neither for its visual delight nor for the breathtaking maneuvers it demandsof drivers contesting a battle of epic proportions. Spa-Francorchamps featured alongside Monza, Monaco and Silverstone, also present in the present day F1 calendar year during F1's highly anticipated inaugural year.The challenge at Spa is one that presents a competitive race driver the ever-seductive charms of falling prey to the lavishness of "The Ardennes",a region of extensive forests, rough terrains and lofty valleys in South-Eastern Belgium.It is amidst thisbounty of nature that on-track racing presents a dynamic slice of competition where spoils are to be enjoyed only by the driver who can keep his cool in the ever-changing and mysterious track and weather conditions.What challenges does Spa-Francorchamps pose to its drivers?A circuit that is as beautiful as it is replete with challenges, both in overtaking and maneuvering the car, Spa offersminimal scope to makeracing errors and emerge victorious. From the outside it may look like a normal race, butit is far from it.Spa may seem like it just requires drivers to drive around those 44 laps in total but with its own set of challenges such as high speed breaking zones, fast corners, demanding chicanes and acceleration points such as the Kemmel straight where drivers are tested to the hilt in using the DRS advantage, this is no easy race day for even the best car driver.Legend has it that the first ever national race of Belgium was held at this spectacular circuit way back in 1925. Legends have come and gone and the mantle of the greatest racing driver has been passed and accorded with full respect from a Fangio to Senna, Schumacher to Alonso, all of whom have competed at the breathtakingly beautiful racing track, located at the heart of Western Europe in Belgium. With high speed corners, uneasy chicances, steep crests and tricky dips, Spa is the definitive guide to understanding the might of an F1 driver and his car's resilience. Now that we know what magic Spa can extract on race day,what can we expect from this thrilling two hour long contest

#1 Resumption of Rosberg-Hamilton rivalry

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton(L) and Nico Rosberg are contesting the championship

One of the most contentious rivalries in modern day Formula One since the sizzling bouts that took place during the Senna and Prost days, Lewis Hamilton will return to the very circuit where he suffered a great hurt back in 2014.

It was here, on lap 2, that his fellow Mercedes driver Rosberg collided with him as the duo entered Les Combe in what Nico thought to be an opportunity for overtaking the race leader, Hamilton. The result was catastrophic for the Briton, who retired on account of the track collision, leaving archrival Rosberg 2^nd on the podium. While Hamilton has not really had tremendous success at Belgium, his racing speed is nothing to be unafraid of, and one must take the double world champion quite seriously. Is Rosberg listening?

Hamilton will be eager to settle scores with his teammate and rival, who was even made to apologize to the world champion following last year’s collision, in what seemed like a clever move by Mercedes’ PR to prove a point to their millions of fans.

It was a spectacle that was widely surfed over the net and read time and again. While on one hand, rivalries do a lot to stoke fair racing competition between adversaries, taking on the side of one racer and leaving the other out in cold is a stark reminder that F1 too is a contest of harsh ego clashes, just like any other sport.

#2 Can Valtteri Bottas extend his lead over his fellow Finn?

Set to take the ice crown? Valtteri Bottas(L) of Williams with fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen

Slated to be the next flying Finn, ever threatening to break the valve of ice around Kimi Raikkonen's cool persona, Valtteri Bottas is surely amongst the great finds of the modern day sport.

Firmly sitting at 4 in this year's standings the Finn, who has already secured a podium finish this season at Canada (P3) and some consistent 4^th place finishes, is rumored to have claimed the prized Ferrari seat for next season over Raikkonen.

Bottas had a forgettable race at Hungary before heading in for the mid-season break, and will now look to make the most of an intense race weekend here at Spa. If he manages to secure a podium, it will give his chances of driving at Ferrari a major plus and in turn would provide much agony for his compatriot Raikkonen, who seems to be struggling to secure his F1 seat.

#3 Will Daniel Ricciardo repeat last year\'s glory?

Will he repeat the feat? Last year’s champion at Spa, Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull

The mainstay at team Red Bull since the exit of 4-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Ricciardo seems eager to rectify his less-than-stellar season up to this point. He is nowhere near to matching his own potential or equaling his own race speed, something with which he drove home useful points for Red Bull's otherwise dull 2014 season.

But he won here last year, following the bitter fallout of the Nico-Hamilton saga at Spa-Francorchamps, securing great points in a totally unprecedented fashion. Ricciardo is a smart driver who can be easily bogged down by car problems, some of which have already hurt his race year so far.

But with a podium finish, although gathered unexpectedly despite driving fairly well in Hungary, Ricciardo's race mood will definitely be on a new high. His partner, Daniil Kvyat, also seems to be in fine nick, having finished 2^nd ahead of his Australian teammate. With Ricciardo likely to keep up his form, we may well be set for a Mercedes Vs Williams Vs Red Bull show at Spa.

#4 Can Alonso score more points at Spa?

Double world champion, but down in the doldrums: Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is largely acknowledged as the Spanish Knight of Formula One. The double World Champion bravely guarded Ferrari's slipping fortunes in front of a strong show last season by the Silver Arrows.

In a game dominated heavily by Mercedes, Alonso's lion-hearted efforts to prop up some success for a largely struggling Ferrari that was perhaps no match to Mercedes' race pace were the only face saving efforts that fetched the Maranello-based outfit some salvo.

This earned him more respect than ever, even if swords were being drawn against the man from Oviedo for his tantrums and egotistical clashes; the first of these with Luca de Montezemolo, then the boss of Ferrari, and the reticent Finn – his teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Now back with a Honda-powered McLaren outfit and partnering an equally lackluster Jenson Button, Alonso’s current performance seems like a blotch on an otherwise glorious career. The car may be anything but spectacular and even unreliable, but Alonso, who has only 6 points so far this season remains the eternal optimist.

Whether the McLaren power unit can power Honda to some reckoning at Spa is still doubtful, but Alonso will look to secure points in a circuit where he has drawn some promising finishes. Let's see what the Spanish ace can do on Sunday.

#5 Can Kimi return to his best at Spa?

Of the present list of drivers, only Kimi Raikkonen has won at Spa on more occasions than any other driver, beating heavyweights and co world-champions Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton. In a torrid 2014 season the only one since his return where he failed to finish the year in Top 10, Raikkonen's greatest and most special efforts came at his favorite hunting ground: Spa Francorchamps.

He secured his highest 4th place finish that season here in Belgium, and in the process of securing a podium to finish on 3rd, got undone by Bottas' easily more responsive and powerful Williams-Mercedes.

While Raikkonen has a better car compared to the one he was battling with last year, he will do himself a world of good if he can manage an impressive showing in the thrilling 44-lap contest. It isn't that it is an uphill climb for a driver of the caliber and composure of Kimi Raikkonen. But whether he proves right naysayers who are calling time on his career given his lackluster season so far, or he lifts himself to some glory by claiming a podium at Spa, only time will tell.

One thing, however, can be said for certain. This circuit will be most remembered for Raikkonen's flashy exploits in the past, where he came out of nowhere to claim glorious victories on 4 different occasions.

Can Kimi be hailed once again as the King of Spa?

Watch out the Spa Francorchamps Formula One race this Sunday to find out.

Edited by Staff Editor