Belgian Grand Prix: what time does it start? And what’s this about a Verstappen penalty?

Set the scene for me.

F1 arrives at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix in its most competitive state in years: seven different drivers and four different teams have won races in the opening 13 rounds, a far cry from the Red Bull domination we witnessed last year.

Max Verstappen leads the championship by 76 points, although McLaren’s push to the front of the grid means Lando Norris still holds out hope of reeling him in come the end of the year.

The British driver arguably could’ve backed up his maiden win in Miami with victories in Canada, Spain, Austria, Britain and Hungary, but small errors from both driver and team have cost them dearly.

And last week’s 1-2 finish in Hungary briefly threatened to destabilise the harmony in the garage, as the team begged Lando to hand back the lead (and the win) to teammate Oscar Piastri having sacrificed the Aussie’s strategy to protect the team’s result. To borrow a phrase from football: squeaky bum time, eh?

Anyway, with Verstappen dropping points and Sergio Perez still struggling, McLaren is now only 51 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, so that championship fight is very much on. Who are you backing to prevail this side of the summer shut-down?

What time does the Belgian Grand Prix start?

Screenshots at the ready: the Belgian GP starts at 2pm UK time on Sunday 28 July. Qualifying is set to start at 3pm on Saturday 27th, with the session lasting for about an hour.

If for some reason you’re the kind of F1 super-nerd who likes to watch the practice sessions (and we salute you if you are), then FP1 starts at 12.30pm on Friday 26th, closely followed by FP2 at 4pm. The final shakedown that is FP3 begins at 11.30am on Saturday, just a few hours before qualifying.

Is it going to rain?

As things stand, it’s unlikely that rain will affect the grand prix on Sunday, although current forecasts suggest that qualifying will be impacted by showers. Bear in mind though that Spa-Francorchamps is tucked away in the hilly Ardennes, so that picture could change rapidly.

Gimme some history in 100 words or fewer.

The Belgian Grand Prix dates all the way back to 1925, and was on the calendar for the first ever F1 championship in 1950. Since then it’s only missed six years, making it one of the most-visited countries on the calendar. Spa is one of F1’s most feared circuits, having witnessed several heavy accidents and fatalities over the years, although recent changes - especially the run-off zone around the famous Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex - have supposedly made it safer. Despite its reputation, the long, high-speed corners and picturesque setting make it a favourite among the drivers.

The top three will be…

Based on form, McLaren look like red hot favourites for this one. So let’s say Lando Norris puts his recent near-misses behind him and leads home a McLaren 1-2 with teammate Oscar Piastri backing up his first ever win in F1 with another podium finish. Lewis Hamilton will maintain his recent form and cross the line in P3, primarily because Verstappen looks set to take an engine penalty in Belgium and unlike the previous two races here, he’s unlikely to simply coast up the grid and take the chequered flag regardless of where he starts the race. Not that we’d rule it out entirely of course…

Shock of the weekend?

Sporting that Deadpool & Wolverine livery, the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will pick off their fellow backmarkers one by one in a rage-fuelled vendetta against their enemies, all the while reeling off a tirade of foul-mouthed-yet-pithy quips and occasionally breaking the fourth wall. Before breaking an actual wall. Of tyres.

Where can I watch the British GP?

Same as always: UK fans can either watch on Sky Sports’ F1 channel, or sign up to Now TV in order to stream Sky’s coverage over t’internet. Failing that, you’ll have to wait for Channel 4’s free-to-air highlights show at 6.30pm on Sunday evening (its quali round-up is at 7.30pm on Saturday). Doesn’t look like radio commentary is an option this weekend, with all eyes (sorry, ears) on the Olympics in Paris. Boo.