
F1: 'We've Had To Reset'
The championship stops at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the 13th round of the season.
Spa, near the German border, is one of the oldest tracks in Europe. It is currently the longest circuit on the calendar at just over seven kilometres, and contains high-speed straights and fast corners.
Racing Bulls have not always been at their best on fast long circuits, and the team acknowledges the challenges of the combination of high-speed corners, long straights and significant elevation changes.
Lawson has raced there before in F3 and F2, but has been back in the simulator to prepare. It has been three weeks since he raced the British Grand Prix, but he was involved in the Goodwood Festival of Speed a fortnight ago.
"Spa is an iconic track with a lot of history. I've enjoyed racing here in other categories, so I am excited to tackle it in a Formula 1 car too."
The 23-year-old scored his best points of the season with a sixth place finish in Austria last month, but then followed that up with a DNF at Silverstone when he was hit by another car on the first lap.
"I'm excited to be back in the car after the short break we've had to reset, so feel ready for a strong end to the first part of the season."
The weather is also expected to play a part with some rain forecast for the weekend.
Added to that is that Belgium will hold the third sprint race of the season, meaning there is just one practice session before sprint qualifying and the sprint race followed by qualifying and the Grand Prix.
In the first two sprint races, Lawson finished 14th in Shanghai (racing for Red Bull) and 13th in Miami.
Racing Bulls chief technical officer Tim Goss said their set-up would rely on a lower rear wing level due to the high speeds.
"With fewer track sessions for set-up work, we depend more on our pre-race preparations in the simulator.
"We bring some modest performance updates and a dedicated rear wing. Preparations have gone well and we look forward to the challenge of a busy weekend ahead."
Racing Bulls are seventh in the Constructors' standings, having recently been overtaken by Kick Sauber, who have found form in the last couple of races.
Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar has had success at the circuit, winning there in F2 in 2024.
Spa-Francorchamps hosted its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has held a Grand Prix every year since 1985, except for 2003 and 2006.
It also holds numerous other top level motor racing events, including the 24 Hours of Spa.
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1News
10 hours ago
- 1News
Lawson 'frustrated' as he qualifies 11th for Belgian GP sprint
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RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Piastri takes F1 sprint pole in Belgium; Lawson 11th
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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
F1's Spa weekend kicks off a new era for Red Bull
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton at the Belgium Grand Prix. 2024. Photo: Thomas Maheux/ / PHOTOSPORT Formula 1's Spa weekend marks a new start for Red Bull and reigning world champion Max Verstappen as the team go racing for the first time without Christian Horner at the helm. The Briton's sudden sacking after a 20-year reign of rare success, including the most dominant of seasons in 2023, has had the sport buzzing for weeks with plenty of questions to be asked in Belgium. A Saturday sprint will be the first race of new boss Laurent Mekies' tenure and the change, and how it affects four-times world champion Verstappen's future, remains the big talking point of the moment. Horner has made no public comment and Red Bull's preview for the 13th round of the 24-race season made no mention of him. 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George Russell, his contract expiring at the end of the season and in danger of losing his Mercedes seat to Verstappen or having him as an uncomfortable teammate, is also not short of motivation. The Briton was stripped of victory last year at Spa when post-race checks found his car to be underweight, handing victory to then-teammate Lewis Hamilton in what remains the seven-times champion's most recent win in F1. Ferrari have yet to triumph, other than a Shanghai sprint, since Hamilton moved from Mercedes to Maranello in January but they are gathering momentum. The Italian team are second overall and Charles Leclerc has secured three podiums in the last five races while Hamilton was fourth at Silverstone. New Zealand's Liam Lawson wil be planning to get back into the points after lasting just one lap at Silverstone when he was hit by Esteban Ocon. New Zealand driver Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / PHOTOSPORT Lap distance: 7.004km. Total distance: 308.052km (44 laps) 2024 pole position: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull one minute 53.159 seconds* 2024 race winner: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes** Race lap record: 1:44.701, Sergio Perez (Mexico) Red Bull 2024. Start time: 1300GMT (1am Monday NZ time) *Verstappen was demoted to 11th on the grid for the use of an additional power unit element. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc started on pole. **Mercedes' George Russell finished first but was disqualified for having an underweight car. Teammate Hamilton was promoted from second. The grand prix is the third sprint weekend of the year, with qualifying for the sprint on Friday and the 100km race on Saturday before qualifying for Sunday's main event. There is no Belgian driver on the starting grid but Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris have Belgian mothers. Verstappen was also born in Belgium. This will be the 70th Belgian Grand Prix and 58th at Spa. Spa is the longest lap in F1, with the fewest laps, and one of the fastest with an average speed of around 230km/h. Cars can hit 315km/h at Blanchimont. Three current drivers have won at Spa: Hamilton (2010, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024), Leclerc (2019) and Verstappen (2021, 2022, 2023). Michael Schumacher won a record six times at Spa, including from 16th on the grid in a wet 1995 race. Hamilton can equal that tally this year. McLaren's Oscar Piastri leads teammate Lando Norris by eight points. Verstappen is third and 69 points off the lead. In the constructors' standings, McLaren (460 points) are now 238 points clear of second-placed Ferrari (222), with Mercedes third (210) and Red Bull fourth (172). Spa last year was Hamilton's most recent win and the record-extending 105th of his career. He has made 368 starts. Piastri has won five of 12 races this season, Norris four, Verstappen two and Russell one. Norris is going for three wins in a row for the first time in his career. Verstappen has won 65 grands prix and is third on the all-time list after Michael Schumacher on 91. Norris has eight career wins, Piastri seven. McLaren have had five one-two finishes this season, including the last two races. Piastri and Verstappen have been on pole four times this season and Norris three, Russell once. The McLaren drivers have each finished on the podium 10 times in 2025. Charles Leclerc's second place in Monaco remains Ferrari's best of the season so far. Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari. Piastri is the only driver to have scored in every race this season. The Australian has scored for 38 race weekends in a row, if sprints are included. Only one driver on the grid has yet to score - Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto. This weekend will be the first grand prix since 2004 without Christian Horner in charge at Red Bull. Mercedes' Toto Wolff (since 2013) is now the longest-serving principal. Nico Hulkenberg's third place for Sauber at Silverstone, the last race before Spa, removed his unwanted record of being the most experienced driver never to stand on the podium. He did so in his 239th race. The record reverts to fellow-German Adrian Sutil, who made 128 starts with a best result of fourth. Mercedes are marking their 600th grand prix weekend as an engine supplier. Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda is making his 100th start. - Reuters