McLaren previews this weekend's F1 race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium

2015 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW

Round 11/19 21-23 August 2015 #BelgianGP #McLarenLIVE

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.

Facts & figures

It's all about: the race Start time 1400 (local)/1200 (GMT) Race distance 44 laps (full world championship points awarded after 75% distance/33 laps) 2014 winner Daniel Ricciardo 2014 pole position Nico Rosberg 2m05.591s 200.766km/h (wet) 2014 fastest lap Nico Rosberg 1m50.511s 228.162km/h Safety Car likelihood Chances of a Safety Car High. There's an 80 per cent chance that the Safety Car will appear in Sunday's race - that's largely due to accidents at Spa occurring at high-speed Don't put the kettle on The start, when new FIA rules mean there will be more input from the drivers; and laps 13 and 28. Last year's race was won with a two-stop strategy and, changeable weather aside, the same looks likely in 2015 Weather forecast Changeable. Spa-Francorchamps is located in the Ardennes Mountains, which have a notoriously fickle microclimate It's all about: the track First race 1950 Circuit length 7.004km/4.352 miles Run to Turn One 265 metres Longest straight 2.015km, from La Source to Turn 5, Les Combes Top speed 322km/h on the approach to Turn 5 DRS zones Two - on the approach to Turn 1 and, again, on the approach to Turn 5 Key corner Turn 10, a 180-degree double-apex left-hander. The entry is fast (294km/h) and blind, and the drivers need to be totally committed in order to be fast Pitlane length 390 metres, which is quite long. The time loss isn't that great because the cars staying on-track have to negotiate the La Source Hairpin Major changes for 2015 None It's all about: the car Fuel consumption 3.35kg per lap, which is high Full throttle 70% Brake wear Low. There are only nine braking events around the lap Gear changes 48 per lap/2112 per race

Did you know? Heavy rain prior to the start of the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix resulted in F1's first ever Safety Car start. Technical words of wisdom Matt Morris, director of engineering "Spa-Francorchamps is one of the classic old-school circuits. It's long; it's undulating and it's high-speed - all of which combines to make it one of the great challenges on the calendar. There are two high-speed sectors, in which there are long periods of full throttle, and one twistier sector. Car set-up is therefore a compromise between straight-line speed and cornering grip, and getting that balance right is a challenge. "This is also a race at which you need to think on your feet because the weather is notoriously unpredictable. The conditions can change very quickly, which usually spices things up!" Our most memorable Belgian Grand Prix: 1968 The 1968 season started well for McLaren. Denny Hulme scored the team's first podium at the Spanish Grand Prix and everyone arrived at Spa-Francorchamps hoping to be competitive. Adding to the feeling of optimism was Hulme's performance in the Indianapolis 500 the preceding weekend. ‘The Bear' finished fourth in the 500 and he arrived in Belgium feeling bullish about the team's chances. He qualified fifth and Bruce McLaren sixth. The race highlighted the demanding nature of the original 14km Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Brian Redman had a horrifying accident on lap seven and a spate of reliability issues shaped the remainder of the 28-lap race. Hulme enjoyed a dice for the lead with Jackie Stewart, until he was slowed by a driveshaft problem. Stewart than ran out of fuel on the penultimate lap, handing a victory to Bruce McLaren - the last of his illustrious career, but the first for his team.

McLaren at the Belgian Grand Prix

Wins 14 (1968, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012) Poles 11 (1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012) Fastest laps 8 (1974, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2010)

Team talk #14 Fernando Alonso Age 34 (July 29 1981) GPs 243 Wins 32 Poles 22 Fastest laps 21 Best result in Belgium 2nd (2005)

"It feels great to be back. I enjoyed a relaxing break over the summer shutdown, but I also trained hard and I feel in the best shape to start the second half of the year. After Hungary, we were all really encouraged by the outcome; although we were fortunate to have had some good luck, we still battled hard and finished the race with a positive result. "Spa will be tricky for us, due to the configuration of a track that requires power, downforce and a big chunk of the lap spent at full throttle. But, from a driver's perspective it's a spectacular circuit and the fans there also make it a truly special place. It's a place at which I won when I was in Formula 3000, but never in Formula 1. I've enjoyed some really exciting battles there, and I'm looking forward to this weekend for some more. "The next few races will be important for us: we need to continue our forward momentum, and, with the addition of some tweaks to the car and power unit, we will be looking for more progress and good correlation between the simulator and our on-track performance. That might not necessarily appear above the surface in either Spa or Monza, but we'll keep pushing development forward at each race."

#22 Jenson Button Age 35 (January 19 1980) GPs 275 Wins 15 Poles 8 Fastest laps 8 Best result in Belgium 1st (2012)

"What a place to resume the second half of the season! It's such a great place to come to after the break - Spa is a circuit I've always loved right from the start of my racing career, and every lap around this incredibly special circuit is still hugely exciting and puts a massive grin on my face. It's genuinely a circuit like no other. "I'm really looking forward to getting back into the car and seeing where we stand among our nearest competitors. We can't pretend that we're expecting a huge jump forward in performance - especially at this circuit, as it doesn't suit our car's characteristics - but, after the break, I'm feeling refreshed, positive, and ready to continue the solid progress we've made so far. "I love Spa, I won there back in 2012, and, even when I'm not battling for the lead, I really enjoy the racing there as it usually produces fantastic grands prix. It's a privilege as a Formula 1 driver to be able to go to the circuit in the morning, get in the car, and race through some of the most legendary corners in motorsport."

Eric Boullier Racing director, McLaren-Honda "After a well-deserved summer break for the whole team, we're all ready and raring to go at the start of the second half of the season. We had an encouraging race in Hungary leading into the summer break, and we now feel refreshed and determined to continue improving our form as the rest of the season progresses. "We've persevered through some tough moments, but the positivity and steadfast commitment to McLaren-Honda's future success are evident in every single member of this team. Our drivers, too, have been unwavering in their support and are working hard to keep pushing us forward, extracting the maximum from the package at every opportunity. We're also incredibly grateful for the support of our partners, who are incredibly loyal, and who are united behind our development programme. In the second half of the season, our fight towards the front will continue, and we'll work hard to build on our steady, solid progress in pursuit of performance. "Spa is a truly spectacular circuit - arguably the best on the calendar for many - but, given the unique power and downforce package required, the track won't play to our strengths. Therefore, of course, we must be measured in our optimism, and we will need to wait for Singapore and beyond before we can see the fruits of our labours reflected on track." Yasuhisa Arai Honda R&D senior managing officer - chief officer of motorsport "After a well-deserved and positive result in Hungary, the summer break was good rest for the trackside team, while Sakura continued on with the power unit development. "As we planned, Honda has updated our combustion characteristics to further improve our power units for Spa and the second half of the season. This weekend's free practices will be important to test the pairing of the power units to the cars. The Belgian race, however, will surely be a difficult one for the team and drivers, with expected grid penalties and a long and unforgiving power circuit. "Nevertheless, McLaren-Honda's focus is to improve race by race. We know we can learn a lot from the circuit for immediate future, and hope that we can come out of the weekend with some positives."

Red Bull drivers review this weekends Grand Prix in Belgium.

Daniel Ricciardo

"Above all, Spa is a racing circuit - one that really encourages exciting wheel-to-wheel action. That said, F1 has changed over the years, and whereas Eau Rouge and Blanchimont were once the stand out sections, now it's probably the Pouhon downhill left-hander at Turns 10 and 11. That's seriously, seriously fast – and probably a good place to watch the race from for anyone prepared for a bit of a hike through the Ardennes. 

Of course, given the Belgium Grand Prix draws in all the petrolheads, everyone's perfectly happy to slog through the woods to find the best view. You bump into people who've been going to the race for five decades. And if you ever go into a pub or restaurant in one of the villages around the circuit, chances are you'll see pictures on the wall of great drivers from back in the day, standing where you are and doing what you're doing. It's great stuff."

Sebastian Vettel

"The race in Spa started our series of nine victories last year, which I always like to remember. The Belgian circuit offers all possible turns and maneuvers: ultra-fast, medium-speed, heavy braking and fast straights. The height difference is so great that you always have the feeling of riding a roller coaster, especially in Eau Rouge. 

The weather can also be very unpredictable and a challenge for drivers and teams. It should never be underestimated; within minutes it can change from heavy rain to sunshine. As well as that, the safety car often comes out at Spa. The track is one of my favorites of the year because it feels like it has grown out of the nature that is all around it. It blends with the natural setting perfectly."

McLaren previews the Belgium Grand Prix.

Grand Prix Preview

Belgium 2014

Formula 1 returns to action this weekend at one of the world’s most challenging circuits. Spa-Francorchamps, situated deep in Belgium’s Ardennes forest, is the ultimate high-speed test of man and machine; it’s one of the highlights of the season.

Facts & Stats: Spa-Francorchamps

The Circuit

Spa-Francorchamps has been synonymous with Formula 1 for more than 60 years. The track featured in the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship in 1950, but its current design bears little resemblance to the original 14km layout. The modern track is much shorter (7.004km) and safer, but it’s still breathtakingly quick: the average speed is 230km/h. The track is the longest on the calendar – more than twice the length of F1’s shortest circuit in Monte-Carlo – and it’s littered with challenging corners and undulations. The pre-requisites to success are threefold: commitment by the driver, an aerodynamically efficient car, and a powerful engine – more than 70 per cent of the lap is spent at full throttle

The Race

Races at Spa are rarely straightforward owing to the fickle climate in the Ardennes. Heavy rain prior to the start of the 1997 race resulted in F1’s first ever Safety Car start and it can often be raining on one part of the track and dry on another. Should this year’s race be dry, the teams will use Pirelli’s Soft and Medium slick tyre compounds, as they did in Hungary last time out. The Medium (Prime) rubber is likely to be the most effective over a race stint because its composition and construction are made for the high cornering loads experienced at Spa, while the Soft (Option) compound will be better-suited to one-lap performance during qualifying.

The Team

McLaren has an enviable record at the Belgian Grand Prix. In 1968, the team won its first world championship grand prix at Spa-Francorchamps, and it now has a total of 14 wins and 11 poles on Belgian soil. Jenson Button is a previous winner at Spa and his rookie team-mate Kevin Magnussen is hoping for a repeat of his previous successes at the track in Formula 3 and Renault World Series 3.5.

Vital Statistics

Belgian Grand Prix 22nd - 24th September Spa-Francorchamps

Race distance 44 laps (308.052km/191.415 miles) Start time 14:00 (local)/12:00 (GMT) Circuit length 7.004km/4.352 miles 2013 winner Sebastian Vettel 2013 pole Lewis Hamilton Lap record Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren MP4-19) 1m45.108s (238.931km/h) First race 1950 What makes it special: The fast and flowing nature of the track, plus the numerous overtaking opportunities around the lap Wins from pole 15 Track abrasiveness Low/medium Pirelli tyre choice Soft (Option)/Medium (Prime) 2013 winning strategy Two stops Fuel consumption High – 72% of the lap is spent at full throttle Brakewear Low. There are eight braking events around the lap, of which only two are heavy braking areas Weather Unpredictable. It can be raining on one section of the circuit and sunny on another DRS zones Two – one on the start-finish straight, the other on the approach to Turn Five, at the end of the Kemmel Straight Turbo effect Low, due to few hard accelerations from low-speed Safety Car likelihood Historically high. There’s an 80 per cent chance of a Safety Car Grid advantage If you start on the racing line, you have an advantage, but it’s a very short run to the first corner Pitlane time It takes 21s to complete a stop, which is close to average for the season

McLaren at the Belgian Grand Prix

Wins 14 (1968, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012) Poles 11 (1968, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012) Fastest laps 8 (1974, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2010)

Team Talk Jenson Button: Car 22 Age 34 (January 19 1980) GPs 258 Wins 15 Poles 8 FLs 8

“I go into the second half of the season feeling incredibly refreshed and positive. “There’s no better place to resume the season than at Spa-Francorchamps. It’s one of the best circuits in the world, and it’s a place where driving a Formula 1 car always feels incredible. As ever, I’m really looking forward to driving out of the pits for the first time on Friday morning, and just throwing the car into some of the greatest corners in motorsport. “I had one of my best weekends of the year at Spa last year, qualifying and finishing sixth after running closely with a bunch of cars through the whole race. It wasn’t my best finish of the year, but it was positive because I got the maximum out of the package we had, and was able to fight closely with a number of other drivers, which felt satisfying. “Hopefully, there will be positives to take out of this weekend as well.”

Kevin Magnussen: Car 20 Age 21 (October 05 1992) GPs 11 Wins 0 Poles 0 FLs 0

“It’s felt like an incredibly long four weeks, and I really can’t wait to get back into the cockpit, particularly as we’re headed to Spa, one of the best drivers’ tracks in the world. “I love Spa: I won there in British Formula 3 in 2011, and in Formula Renault 3.5 in both 2012 and ’13, and I just love the fast, flowing nature of the circuit. Hooking up a quick lap there during qualifying is just fantastic, because the track just flows from one corner to the next, and the car is so fast and assured that it almost feels effortless. It’s fantastic. “I think the second half of this season will be incredibly important for us. We need to use these next eight races to assert ourselves, pushing our development strategy to the fore in order to first consolidate and then improve our positions in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. “As a team, I know we are up for the challenge.”

Eric Boullier Racing director, McLaren Mercedes “We had a disappointing race in Hungary to send us into the summer break, but we’ve analysed the issues we encountered, and we believe we now understand what went wrong. More important, we all head to Belgium feeling positive and refreshed, and incredibly keen to get back to work. “The first half of the season has shown signs of both promise and disappointment, but, through it all, Jenson and Kevin have each driven some particularly inspired races, made very few mistakes and always extracted the maximum from the package. Equally, the team has worked hard at both the factory and the racetrack to improve performance – and we’re now starting to see those returns. “Spa and Monza are tracks where every team runs a unique downforce package, so it won’t be until Singapore – where we resume with a more conventional set-up – that we’ll get a clearer read on our progress, but I think we have reasons to be optimistic. The operational changes we’ve implemented over the course of the season have taken time to bed-in, but I think we’ll certainly see a more pronounced upswing in performance over these final eight races of the year.”