2015 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW |
Round
11/19
21-23 August
2015
#BelgianGP
#McLarenLIVE
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Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps snapshot |
Fernando Alonso "After the long summer break, I can't wait to get into the car in Spa and go racing again. Hungary was a positive race for us but we know Spa will be challenging on a number of levels, so we'll be pushing to get the most out of the weekend." Jenson Button "I've really enjoyed the holidays, but I'm keen to get back in the car. Spa is an incredible circuit - every single lap feels sensational - so I'm looking forward to enjoying myself this weekend." Circuit lowdown Few circuits are more revered than the mighty Spa-Francorchamps. The track has been synonymous with Formula 1 for more than 60 years, and, with an average speed of 230km/h (143mph), it's breathtakingly fast. At more than 7km, the undulating circuit is the longest on the 2015 calendar. However, the existing layout is only half the length of the original design, which featured in the inaugural world championship of 1950. The current track - opened in 1983 - retains much of the original high-speed challenge, as well as many of the iconic corners like La Source, Eau Rouge and Blanchimont. More than 70 per cent of the lap is spent at full throttle, which places an emphasis on the power unit and on the car's aerodynamic efficiency. There is also the unique situation of the machinery having to cope with a 1.7g compression at the bottom of Eau Rouge, which can prove a test of reliability over the 44-lap race distance. The weather forecast is notoriously unreliable in the Ardennes region of Belgium. Temperatures of around 20 degrees are expected, but it's harder to predict the chance and the location of the rain. If wet weather comes it can affect only one section of the track - often several miles from the pitlane - which creates considerable strategic challenges. In the event of dry conditions, the drivers have Pirelli's Soft (Option) and Medium (Prime) tyres at their disposal. These are the same compounds that were used at last year's race, when two pitstops were the norm for most cars. Should a Safety Car appear early in the race, a one-stop strategy is also possible. McLaren has an indelible link with Spa-Francorchamps because it was here, in 1968, that the team won its first world championship grand prix. The team now has a total of 14 wins on Belgian soil, the most recent victory coming in 2012. |
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McLaren at the Belgian Grand Prix |
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