Formula 1 heads to its traditional post-summer break venue at Spa-Francorchamps, which will welcome an exciting return to the action as the world championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen intensifies before the break after two dramatic races at Silverstone and the Hungaroring.
After the top-class clash of the world championship protagonists at the British GP, the Hungarian GP got off to a chaotic start, which later led to a breathtaking first F1 victory for Alpine Esteban Ocon, defending champion Hamilton leading the drivers’s world championship with eight points from Verstappen.
While the full second half of the F1 2021 calendar remains unconfirmed, the title battle for the upcoming triple header, which begins in Belgium, is expected to kick-start ahead of a long-awaited return of the Dutch GP and then the second sprint format weekend at the GP of Italy.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W11, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 W11, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16, Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT01 and Sergio Perez, Racing Point RP20
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Times for the Formula 1 GP of Belgium 2021
F1 will use its regular weekend schedule this weekend, with two training sessions on Friday of 60 minutes each (instead of the previous 90-minute sessions) before an additional training session of one hour on Saturday.
The knockout-style qualifying format Q1, Q2 and Q3 will also be maintained on Saturday afternoon to determine the starting grid for the Belgian GP on Sunday.
F1 has also suspended starting races 10 minutes past the hour for the 2021 season, with all races starting on the hour.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Free practice 1: 10: 30-11: 30 a.m. BST (11: 30-12: 30 a.m. local time)
Free practice 2: 14: 00-15: 00 BST (15: 00-16: 00 local time)
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Free practice 3: 11: 00-12: 00 BST (12: 00-13: 00 local time)
Qualification: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time)
Sunday 29th August 2021
Race: 2:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. local time)
Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT01, Sergio Perez, Racing Point RP20, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team RS20 and Alex Albon, Red Bull Racing RB16
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
How can I see the Belgian GP?
Channel: Sky Sports F1 HD
Channel numbers – Sky: 406
Channel Numbers – Virgin Media: 506 (Sky Sports F1 HD)
Sky Sports has live and exclusive broadcast rights in the UK, with the set-up of the F1 race starting at 12:30 p.m. before the lights go out at 2:00 p.m.
When can I see the highlights of the Belgian GP?
Channel: Channel 4
· Start time: Saturday qualifying 6:00 p.m., Sunday race 6:30 p.m.
Channel 4 has the rights to show the highlights of the Belgian GP from qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Will the Belgian GP be on the radio?
Live radio broadcasts of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2021 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.
Coverage of the Belgian GP starts at 2:00 p.m. BST on the BBC Sport website.
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF1000, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF1000
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Weather forecast for the Belgian GP
Spa-Francorchamps is prepared for mixed weather conditions throughout the race weekend, with sunny phases interrupted by rain and clouds on the three days of full track action. On Sunday, maximum values of 15 degrees Celsius are predicted – around 20 degrees cooler than the warmest conditions at the Hungarian GP.
Most wins at the Belgian Formula 1 GP
Michael Schumacher: 6 wins (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002)
Ayrton Senna: 5 wins (1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
Jim Clark: 4 wins (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
Kimi Raikkonen: 4 wins (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009)
Lewis Hamilton: 4 wins (2010, 2015, 2017, 2020)
