Formula 1’s final stop before the summer break is the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
Round 14 of F1’s 2024 season could be the most pivotal of the year, with the title race in the balance and drivers fearing their futures.
The summer break is regularly when teams lock their line-up for the next season and occasionally make a change for the here and now.
This period is often dubbed ‘silly season’ due to the endless rumour mill but this year has thrown up numerous possibilities.
Sergio Perez desperately needs a strong showing in Spa after his latest crash opened the door in Hungary for Red Bull’s rivals McLaren to close the gap to 51 points in the constructors’ championship.
Should the Mexican falter again, RB pair Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will hope to be promoted to Max Verstappen‘s partner.
The Dutchman already has a point to prove himself, after his gap to Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings was reduced last time out.
Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz continues to be in the shop window after Lewis Hamilton was announced as his Ferrari replacement for 2025.
Belgian Grand Prix: Date and start time
The Belgian Grand Prix will take place from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium.
Sunny intervals and light winds are the early forecast across all three days for the often changeable wet weather at Spa-Francorchamps.
The first two practice sessions will be held on Friday with the opening session starting at 12:30pm and the second at 4pm UK time.
Practice Three is scheduled for at 11:30am on Saturday morning before qualifying gets underway at 3pm later that day.
Lights out for the race is set for 2pm on Sunday afternoon.
Belgian Grand Prix: TV channel and how to follow
The race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with coverage of Sunday’s Grand Prix getting underway at 12:30pm.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
You can also purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £11.98.
Fern Buckley will also have updates of the race from Belgium live on talkSPORT.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Belgian Grand Prix: What has been said?
Former F1 driver and Top Gear co-presenter Tiff Needell hit out at Verstappen for overstepping the mark at the Hungaroring.
Red Bull’s poor strategy calls in Budapest saw the three-time world champion fire expletives to his race engineer Giampiero Lambaise.
Verstappen’s frustration led to contact with Hamilton after a desperate lung to seize third, with the collision seeing him finish fifth.
“Lewis called it a racing incident whereas Max was going mad about him moving under a braking zone. It was amazing both cars survived,” said Needell on the Lovecars on the Grid podcast.
“He [Verstappen] acts like a petulant child.
“This is that arrogant child we have seen in the past. When the going gets tough, the little child returns.”
Belgian Grand Prix: Driver standings
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull– 265
- Lando Norris, McLaren– 189
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari– 162
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 154
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren– 149
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes– 125
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull– 124
- George Russell, Mercedes – 116
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin– 45
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin– 24
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas – 22
- Yuki Tsunoda, RB – 22
- Daniel Ricciardo, RB – 11
- Oliver Bearman, Ferrari – 6
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 6
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas – 5
- Alex Albon, Williams – 4
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine – 3
- Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber– 0
- Valtteri Bottas, KickSauber – 0
- Logan Sargeant, Williams – 0