After the humdrum that was provided by both the Hungaroring and Valencia in recent weeks, the 2008
Formula 1 World Championship moves onto what promises to be a race of rather more epic proportions this weekend – the Belgian Grand Prix around the spectacular Spa-Francorchamps circuit, a venue steeped in
F1 history and tradition.
On 42 of the 54 occasions that Belgium has welcomed the top flight since the official inception of the world championship all the way back in 1950, Spa has been the venue, and its long, sweeping straights and tight, demanding corners combined with the rush of racing through the depths of the Ardennes forest in all weather conditions make it a firm favourite amongst most – if not all – of the sport's drivers.
Arriving at Spa – the 13th round of the 18-meeting schedule this year –
Lewis Hamilton may have a six-point advantage in the title chase, but all the signs are pointing to
Ferrari holding the aces this time around, with
Felipe Massa incontrovertibly the man in-form as the campaign races towards what looks set to be a nail-biting conclusion, and
Kimi Raikkonen remaining unbeaten in the race since 2002.
Whilst the defending world champion has slipped some 13 points adrift of Hamilton in the drivers' standings following a lacklustre mid-season run, many are expecting the Finn to fight back at Spa, a favourite stomping ground of the 28-year-old's and a track where in five races he has an average score of six points – and that with two failures to finish amongst them.
Massa, meanwhile, shadowed his team-mate all the way to the chequered flag this time last year in Belgium, and also finished fourth for Sauber-Petronas back in 2004. Given the almost effortless manner in which he has recently outpaced Raikkonen in both qualifying and the races, and his determination to overhaul Hamilton's championship lead, only a fool would write the Brazilian out of the equation for victory this weekend either as he seeks to establish himself as Maranello's
de facto number one.
