Hi folks,
Formula 1 returns’ to Belgium this weekend and there is nowhere better to conclude the European season than at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 4.352-mile track really is just one of the best circuits - and is very, very special. Virtually all of the drivers love it although, of course, the weather there can be very fickle. That should add to the race though - and a bit of rain always spices things up, as we saw at the Nurburgring back in July.
One of the great things about the track is all the undulations - it just has bags of character. It is also a very long lap and really flows, with corners like nowhere else in the world. It is extremely satisfying when you get them right.
It may not have the glamour of Monte Carlo, or the newness of Istanbul Park, but Spa very much deserves its place on the schedule.
Hopefully, all the revisions will help to keep it there in the future too, although the new pit-lane entry has already been criticised, as a lot of the drivers’ feel it is not wide enough.
Before we get to the Belgium though, there is that crucial World Motor Sport Council ‘spy row’ hearing and what effect that will have on proceedings is anyone’s guess.
I am not going to try and predict what is going to be decided - that just wouldn’t be wise – but, needless to say, I hope it doesn’t end up spoiling what has been a brilliant season to date.
The whole spy thing really is dragging on a bit too much now and, while it is very unlikely to all be fully resolved on Thursday, let’s hope, if it is not the end, it is at the least the beginning of the end. Then we can concentrate on what Formula 1 should be all about - racing.
Monza certainly gave us a few good battles, even if the outcome was somewhat predictable.
Going into the Italian Grand Prix weekend, McLaren-Mercedes were the favourites and they certainly delivered.
Fernando Alonso’s performance was perfect. He was strong all weekend long and he seems to be really drawing on his years in the sport. He is digging deep to try and get that third title and, with the gap down to just three points now, it is very close.
