Belgian GP

• Track features

  It might not span nine miles like when it was originally designed in 1920, but Spa-Francorchamps is still the longest track on the F1 calendar, and it packs a lot into that. 

  It’s a circuit of two halves, with the first and final sectors very much in the fast and flowing category, and the middle sector much tighter and more technical. Teams must decide which of these sections they set up better for: lower downforce will make a car more competitive on the straights and high-speed corners, but tough to handle in the middle sector, whilst higher downforce will increase performance in the tight and technical sections, but slow the car down on the straights and through the high-speed corners.

  Although its middle sector has some similarities to the Hungaroring, teams will find Spa-Francorchamps much easier to overtake on than the Budapest-based circuit.

  The opening corner, Le Source, provides the first chance to make a move, followed by another opportunity at Les Combes after the DRS zone on the Kemmel Straight. There is then a third overtaking spot at the Bus Stop chicane, which follows the track's fastest corner, Blanchimont, taken flat-out at around 310kph.

• What's it like in Belgium?

  Located around 40km from the closest city in the stunning Ardennes region, a trip to Spa-Francorchamps makes for a great escape from reality. Whilst there you’ll be surrounded by some real natural beauty, with forests, hills and rivers to explore, as well as several small, quaint villages to wander around.

  Despite its ruralness, the area isn’t short on amazing food. As well as heartwarming stews such as Waterzooi and Carbonnade Flamande, Belgium does the simple stuff brilliantly: Belgian fries (frites), waffles and chocolate should all be high on your list for snacking.

• Stat pack

  • Bruce McLaren scored McLaren’s first Formula 1 victory at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix
  • We’ve won the Belgian Grand Prix 14 times, making us the second most successful team there
  • We won the race five times in a row between 1987 and 1991
  • Emerson Fittipaldi, John Watson, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, David Coulthard, Mika Häkkinen, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have all won for McLaren in Belgium  
  • Button scored his only pole for McLaren at the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix
  • Designed in 1920, the original Spa-Francorchamps layout was 9-miles long. It is now 4.352 miles
  • The Belgian Grand Prix is technically a home race for Lando, as his mother was born in Flanders, Belgium
  • Lando won here in European Formula 3 in 2017
  • Oscar won here in Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019