The 2008 Belgian GP Preview

Spa-Francorchamps is one of, sadly, the few 'great' circuits left on the Formula One calendar these days and, even though the track was chopped in half for its re-introduction to grand prix racing in 1983, it still represents the biggest challenge to a driver on the current schedule.

It may be a hop over the Channel and quick blast across northern France for McLaren, but Spa has become Ferrari territory, no doubt about it. Last year's performance was one of the most dominant of the season and, despite closing the gap, McLaren still don't seem to be a match for Ferrari's high-speed aero package.

Kimi Raikkonen was the only non-Ferrari driver to win in the Ardennes forest this century and he looked stronger than ever with the Scuderia here last year. He needs a repeat of that form more than ever this weekend and little less than a fourth straight Belgian GP win will do.

Can Lewis Hamilton pull something special out of the bag on F1's best drivers' circuit, or can Felipe Massa continue his season of changing people's minds about his ability. Nothing says 'I'm the real deal' quite like a dominant victory at Spa.

Five talking points

1. Kimi Raikkonen

The Finn's problems in Valencia mean he now lies 13 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton and, more importantly, seven behind teammate Felipe Massa. Should he fail to score his fourth consecutive victory at Spa, it looks increasingly likely that he will have to support Massa for the rest of the year. You can imagine how well that would go down with Kimi, better start winning then.

2. Contracts

It's that time of the year when 2009 drives start getting rubber-stamped, so don't be surprised to see a confirmation or two over the weekend. The Alonso saga is expected to roll on a little longer year, but Toyota confirming Timo Glock's drive for next year seems the most likely announcement, but Honda could also shake hands with Jenson Button some time soon.

Bruno Senna © LAT

3. Toro Rosso - Bourdais/Sato/Senna/Buemi

Bruno Senna is being widely tipped to replace Red Bull-bound Sebastian Vettel at Scuderia Toro Rosso next season. Gerhard Berger has stated his desire for one experienced and one young driver, so this week's announcement that both Takuma Sato and Sebastien Buemi will test for the team isn't great news for Senna, or for current driver Sebastien Bourdais.

4. Phil Hill

Following the death of the 1961 world champion last week, Ferrari - who ran him to the title - are expected to carry something on their cars as a mark of respect for the American. He did, after all, win at Spa-Francorchamps in his championship year.

5. Slicks

Bridgestone say that the re-introduction of slick tyres next year will provide the drivers with a bigger challenge than the current grooved rubber, after submitting their specs to the FIA this week. Expect to see a number of drivers licking their lips at the prospect over the weekend.

Success factors

1. Bravery

It's tempting to say that the one thing you need above all else to win at Spa is a Ferrari. But that aside, Spa rewards the brave. The undulations and blind corners separate the men from the boys. Yes, the classic Eau Rouge may be easily flat in a modern F1 car, and Pouhon may not be quite the challenge it once was thanks to the huge asphalt run-off, but it's still a circuit that demands commitment and a bit of good old-fashioned bravery can still make a difference.

2. Adaptability

A fast qualifying set-up at Spa is not necessarily a fast race set-up. The ultra-fast turns at Eau Rouge, Pouhon, and especially Blanchimont put a premium on aerodynamic efficiency, but the long straights leading up to Les Combes and the Bus Stop mean that if you can trim off the wing angle, you can pass.

Those with the most powerful engines can run deep wing angles without sacrificing too much straight-line speed, so expect to see them fly.

Rain © LAT

3. Weather skills

The old cliche says the only predictable thing about the weather in the Ardennes is its unpredictability. Oddly though, there has only been one wet race this century, so we must be about due another one. If the conditions are changeable, those that make the best tactical calls and prosper on a slippery circuit will prevail. And for those that make the wrong call, it's a long way back round to the pits on F1's longest track.

Strategy

Two stops, just like everywhere else. But Spa gives that little bit more of an opportunity for the leading teams to run their optimum strategies and take their first stops a little bit later than they otherwise would.

The usual compromise is to run as heavy as you can in qualifying without risking getting stuck behind a slower car on a shorter first stint. But the relative ease of overtaking at Spa, and the long lap creating a bigger space between the front of the grid and the rest, allows for those extra two or three laps of fuel.

Rain is predicted for race day, some teams may choose to alter their strategies to keep their pit windows as wide as possible to increase the chances of a forced tyre change fitting in with a fuel stop, while changeable weather could push some cars onto a one or three-stop strategy.

The inside line

Renault F1 driver, Nelson Piquet

"I've always been quick at Spa. I love the track, the high-speed corners, the challenge, everything. It's such a flowing track and nice to drive. It's beautiful, the design is perfect, and there are a lot of overtaking places. For me it's a good track.

"My favourite corner is the double left hander at Pouhon. It's just so quick, it's unbelievable how much grip a Formula One car has through there.

"You just have to have balls and really push. It is a bloody quick track, but with the level of drivers today, the quickest car will always be quicker there, to be honest it's not a very difficult track technically."

History

Last year's race was not a classic. Kimi Raikkonen beat Felipe Massa in a one-two for Ferrari with McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton not even in sight.

Michael Schumacher (Benetton B195 Renault) battles Damon Hill (Williams FW17 Renault) for the lead of the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix © LAT

There have been some great races, though, and no offence to Nivelles and Zolder - who held the race between them from 1972-1982 and again in 1984 - they've all come at Spa.

For many fans, the greatest race around the Ardennes circuit was in 1995, when Michael Schumacher put in what some considered an even better drive than his Spanish GP win a year later.

Starting from 16th on the grid (after the worst qualifying performance of his career to that point), he hauled his Benetton-Renault up to fifth by the first pit-stops, and then came out on top in a tremendous lead battle with bitter rival Damon Hill. The German was on slick tyres against the Briton's wets on a slippery surface and still triumphed.

One race that Schumacher did not win, though, was the 2000 race. There was another titanic lead battle, but this time with just four laps to go his Ferrari was spectacularly passed by Mika Hakkinen's McLaren at Les Combes as the pair lapped Ricardo Zonta.

Hakkinen's move came just a lap after Schumacher had dramatically chopped across the Finn at the same place (putting him on the grass at 190mph) and the sense of satisfaction from the McLaren team was palpable.