Formula 1’s summer break is almost over with the paddock reconvening at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. But who’s hot 🔥 and who’s not 👎🻠at the event? Motorsport Week delves into the record books.
Wins ðŸ†
Four of the current drivers on the grid have savoured victory at the iconic seven-kilometre circuit.
Of those Kimi Raikkonen is the unofficial King of Spa, having taken three wins on the bounce across 2004, 2005 and 2007 (the event was not held in 2006), before adding another victory in 2009.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have three wins apiece at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton climbed atop the podium in 2010, for McLaren, and during his title-winning seasons with Mercedes in 2015 and 2017, passing Vettel for the lead two years ago.
Last season the tables were turned as Vettel swept past Hamilton for his third victory at the venue, following on from wins with Red Bull in 2011 and 2013.
Daniel Ricciardo, now with Renault, delivered victory for Red Bull in 2014, controlling proceedings for much of the race in the wake of the famous collision between the Mercedes drivers.
The record-holder, though, remains Michael Schumacher, having taken six wins – including his first – at the circuit where he made his debut back in 1991.
Poles 💨
Hamilton is the record-holder of pole positions at the Belgian Grand Prix, having led qualifying on five occasions through his career.
Hamilton was on pole in 2008 (with McLaren), 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018, besting his rivals in the wet last season.
The only other Spa polesitters on the current grid are Raikkonen (2007) and Vettel (2011).
Podiums 🎉
Eight of the grid have faced the swathe of fans from the podium positions at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton (seven), Vettel (six) and Raikkonen (five) unsurprisingly lead the way, while Ricciardo has a trio of top-three finishes to his name.
Valtteri Bottas has yet to finish on the podium with Mercedes in Belgium but he did so with Williams in 2014, while one year later Romain Grosjean and Lotus made light work of the bailiffs waiting to hit the cash-strapped team by taking a stunning third place.
Robert Kubica (in 2010) and Max Verstappen (in 2018) have also taken home a trophy from the event.
Other facts ðŸ”
The exit of Stoffel Vandoorne means Belgian has no home representatives on the grid but it can stake a claim to three of the current drivers. Verstappen was born in Belgium, while Lando Norris and Lance Stroll both have Belgian mothers.
Belgium has typically been a happy-hunting ground for Racing Point – at least in its various guises. As Jordan it took its first pole in 1994 and its memorable maiden win, achieved in a 1-2, in 1998. In 2009 Giancarlo Fisichella delivered pole position and a podium while last year the rejuvenated team, which came close to collapse in the summer, locked out the second row of the grid.
Spa-Francorchamps has been hosting racing since 1922 and was on the calendar for the inaugural Formula 1 season in 1950 – but the race has also been held at Zolder and the unloved and now abandoned Nivelles Circuit.
