Belgian GP: what time is the race? And why is quali on Friday?

At last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen started in P14 but after just 12 laps he was in the lead. This year his Red Bull is even more dominant than it was before, so excuse us if we can only see one realistic outcome this weekend.

So, um, why should you bother tuning into the Belgian GP on Sunday? Well there’s always a chance that a mechanical DNF might blow things wide open, and behind Red Bull the battle between the chasing pack is actually really close.

Then consider that this is a Sprint weekend, which means the usual format goes out the window: the teams only get one practice session to dial in their cars and if they get their setup wrong, the pecking order could change dramatically.

Plus, the weather forecast… is not dry. Which usually means chaos. More on that below.

And of course, this is Spa. One of the greatest race circuits on the planet and home to possibly the most famous sequence of corners in motorsport. Let’s hope track safety improvements help keep Eau Rouge and Radillon on the calendar forevermore…

Here’s everything you need to know about the Belgian GP…

What time is the Belgian GP? And what time is qualifying?

The Belgian Grand Prix starts at 2pm BST on Sunday 30 July, although qualifying for the main race moves from its usual slot to 4pm on Friday 28 July.

That frees up Saturday for the mini-quali that is the Sprint Shootout and Sprint race, which kick off at 11am and 3.30pm respectively.

Oh, and if you want to watch the only practice session of the weekend then it begins at 12.30pm on Friday, a few hours before qualifying.

What’s the weather going to be like?

As mentioned above, the weather forecast is wet. Very wet. And that’s something of a concern because the last time it rained a lot in Belgium we didn’t get a single racing lap and the top 10 went home with half points for their brief appearance behind the safety car. That was a bad weekend for F1.

Anyway, persistent rain looks likely on Friday while thunder and lightning is possible on Saturday. Sunday should be drier as things stand, but rain still looks a threat when the lights are set to go out.

Where is the Belgian GP taking place?

It’s being held at Spa-Francorchamps, usually known simply as Spa. The track is located in the hilly Ardennes Forest region in the East of Belgium, not far from the border with Germany. The topography is a big reason the rain is so often affected by rain, even though it’s always held in the summer.

How many laps is the Belgian GP?

The Belgian GP is 44 laps, the smallest number on the F1 calendar because it’s by far the longest circuit, measuring 7.004km (4.352mi). As well as the steep, blind hill that is the Eau Rouge-Radillon sequence, Spa is full of fast, sweeping corners with precious little run off area for those who get it wrong. Track limits are rarely a problem for the stewards here because anyone straying over them will immediately find themselves plunging through gravel.

Who’s going to win the Belgian GP?

Barring a mechanical failure or crash, Max Verstappen. Next question please.

Is it really that much of a foregone conclusion?

We wish it weren’t so. But look, if Verstappen is forced to retire for whatever reason then the battle really will be wide open: McLaren’s transformation has been staggering over the last couple of races and Lando Norris is in red hot form and rookie Oscar Piastri has shown pace beyond his experience… either winning would be a sight to behold, that’s for sure.

Then you’ve got Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Mercedes: the team has taken a new direction with its car recently and the drivers have regularly featured on the podium. Ferrari could spring a surprise, Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso are due a good result… who knows?

Having said that, Verstappen believes Red Bull could win every race this season and so his teammate Sergio Perez can’t be counted out either. Well, not entirely.

How can I watch the Belgian GP?

UK viewers can either tune into Sky Sports, or if you have NowTV you can stream Sky’s dedicated F1 channel through that. Alternatively you can stick to the highlights instead: these are broadcast free-to-air by Channel 4, with quali and race shows coming at 7.45pm and 6.30pm on Saturday and Sunday respectively. There is no programme on Friday even though it’s a Sprint weekend, sorry.

If the radio is sufficient, tune into BBC 5 live for commentary as the Sprint and Grand Prix unfold.

What’s the Top Gear view on the Belgian GP?

The Belgian Grand Prix is a favourite of ours for several reasons: the challenging layout and its ultra-fast corners, the beautiful location, the unforgiving nature of the track… it’s a world away from racing in a Miami car park.

However, there’s no denying that the track has a reputation for danger and only a few weeks ago 18-year-old racer Dilano van ‘t Hoff lost his life at Spa during a Formula Regional European race. We really hope that the track changes introduced recently help to reduce the risks and keep everyone as safe as possible. That’s the most important thing.