Belgian Grand Prix 2025 Preview: Who will win at Spa?

The excitement of Formula 1 has started. The Belgian Grand Prix 2025 will be held at the Spa-Francorchamps F1 track between July 25-27. There will be a last Grand Prix before summer break, leading to more tension and fierce competition. Altogether, the race will be exciting.

Belgian Grand Prix 2025 preview

The Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit, renowned for its structure, will host the Belgian GP. Meanwhile, high-speed corners, elevation changes, and unpredictable weather are the biggest challenges for every F1 driver. As a result, every year brings with it a sense of drama. The level of excitement for this year's Belgium GP 2025 will only be revealed during the announcement on 27th July.

So in today's blog post, we will cover the Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix 2025 preview. In which we will know what the scene of the championship battle is, we will know which drivers are in form this time, and we will also talk about the challenges of the Spa track. So read this blog today, and then on 27th July you will have more fun watching the race live.

Spa-Francorchamps Overview: A Legendary Circuit

One of the most thrilling track in motorsports is iconic Spa-Francorchamps F1 Circuit. F1 drivers often refer to it as the "ultimate drivers track." This is because the track is located in the middle of a forest called Ardennes in Belgium. Therefore, it is considered to be a very iconic and challenging track. Its distance is almost 7.004 km. The track boasts 19 corners and a variety of elevation changes. This track provides an exhilarating experience for F1 cars as they race. On such a dangerous track, it is not only speed that matters, but it also requires a proper strategy, skills, and courage. Therefore, the competition here is quite fierce. Crashes are also quite common on this track.

1) High-speed corner

There are also some ultra-high-speed turns on the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit, like Eau Rouge–Raidillon, Blanchimont, and Pouhon, which are considered the toughest. It is important for the car to be at full speed while turning here, as even a slight oversteer or understeer can result in a crash.

2) Dual weather

Since the Spa-Francorchamps track is located in the middle of a jungle, dual weather conditions can be witnessed here; it can be sunny or rainy on the same track. In such a situation, it becomes difficult to predict, and a single wrong decision can cause the driver a big loss. If it rains, then the track becomes slippery, which can lead to aquaplaning at full speed or on high-speed corners, due to which the car can go out of control. Rain might sometimes make it difficult to see the tracks. Therefore, both control and driving skills are very important in this situation.

3) There are no runoff areas.

Spa-Francorchamps is a very old track, so it does not have modern designs or structures like modern tracks. Because of this, if the driver loses control over the car and goes off the track, then it can directly crash. This is because earlier there were no runoff areas; now modern tracks have asphalt runoff areas, which have a smooth surface. As soon as the car comes on that surface, it skids and slows down and stops, due to which no crash occurs. However, the Spa-Francorchamps track does not include a runoff area; instead, vehicles that stray off the track face obstacles such as gravel traps or metal barriers. That's why only the best drivers with concentration survive here.

4) Wet Start or Restart Accidents

There are a lot of cars on the track when the race begins. As soon as all of them run together, if any driver applies brakes, the chain that is formed can get disturbed, leading to car accidents caused by a chain reaction. And this scenario has been seen a lot. That is why even a single mistake from start to end can result in a crash.

5) Famous Spa Crash

1) 2012: Romain Grosjean's First-Lap Carnage

Roman made a wrong move at the start of the race and collided with Lewis Hamilton. And the car went over Fernando Alonso.

2) 2019–Anthoine Hubert's Fatal F2 Crash

This was an F2 crash that happened on the same track at Raidillon corner. After Anthoine Hubert's vehicle slammed against the wall, it was involved in a collision with another vehicle.

3) 2021 – Lando Norris Qualifying Crash

The qualifying round had started, and the track in Spain was completely wet. Lando Norris lost control of the car at Spa's Eau Rouge-Raidillon corner, leading it to crash head-on into the barrier.

4) 2023 – Multiple Practice & Qualifying Crashes

The weather conditions were not good in the 2023 Belgian GP; sometimes it was raining and sometimes it was not raining, as a result of which the drivers lost control of the cars and collided with the barriers. There were many red flags in qualifying and practice.

The Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit is a beautiful track, but it is also very dangerous. Here, skills and strategies are crucial, and even a small mistake can prove costly for the drivers. Spa has a historic record of crashes and accidents.

Spa-Francorchamps F1-related latest updates

In 2024, the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit was slightly resurfaced, and a new asphalt layer was laid. Tires were able to get superior traction as a result. The problem was that the tyres started wearing out sooner rather than later. Therefore, a deep analysis of the Spa circuit is carried out to formulate the best tyre strategy, so that the compound that would be the best based on the number of laps can be determined.

There is an elevation change of 100 meters at Spa-Francorchamps, in which the car sometimes goes up and sometimes down; it is not a straight track. Therefore, drivers have to use their engineering brains to use top speed and braking at the same time.

According to Pirelli's 2025 data, the modified track at Spa is more dangerous. Because here there is more stress on the tyres, the team has to take frequent pit stops. And this also affects the race.

But some drivers, like Max Verstappen, like this track of Spa-Francorchamps the most. This track provides an unparalleled thrilling experience, testing the skills, speed, and techniques of the driver.

Key Teams and Drivers to Watch

The Formula 1 2025 season has been very thrilling so far. One after the other there were races, and we got to see the full drama. Now the Formula 1 Belgian GP is going to happen next Sunday, that too on the most iconic racetrack, Spa-Francorchamps. So now in this race all the teams and drivers are giving their 100%. Now, who among them will lead, and which underdog can surprise? The truth is to be known in the future.

1) Team 1—McLaren 

This year McLaren has dominated the other season of F1. 12 races have taken place, and this team has won 9. Therefore, McLaren is expected to be the strongest team in the Belgian GP. With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri behind the wheel of MCL39, this is a great way to have fun on the Spa track. Because MCL39 is made for high-speed tracks, and for Spa, it is McLaren's favorite.

Their drivers are also very strong; recently Lando Norris won the Hungarian GP. He is in momentum, and this time he is also the strongest contender for the F1 Championship.

The other driver, Oscar Piastri, has been consistent throughout the entire season. He is certain to finish in the top 3.

2) Team 2—Red Bull

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen (RB21) considers Spa-Francorchamps to be his favorite and lucky track. Because he already has 3 wins to his name on this track, too, consistently from 2021 to 2023.

But this time Max Verstappen is facing a big problem. According to reports, he has exceeded the engine component limit; due to this rule break, he can be penalized, and he can get a 10th place grid penalty. But if past records are considered, then Max has already received a similar penalty before; still, he won that race.

Max's car, RB21, is considered fast on low-downforce circuits. That's why Max Verstappen is still a part of the race even after the penalty, and fans also want him to be a part of this race.

3) Team 3—Ferrari

This time, Ferrari is not having any special performances in all 12 races. So not much is expected from them in this race. But the drivers of the Ferrari car SF-25 are Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Out of these, Charles Leclerc has the record of securing pole position in the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. So there is a hope that the driver who took pole position at Spa last year can give tough competition this time too.

Ferrara's performance depends on car upgrades. If they do any major upgrades to their car, then maybe they can give a performance at the level of McLaren and Red Bull.

4) Team 4—Mercedes

This time this team can make a wild card entry in the Belgian GP 2025, as it has been upgraded mid-season. It has George Russell, who is an experienced driver, and Kimi Antonelli, who is a rookie driver who has come directly to F1 from F2. Both of them can prove to be surprise underdogs. Because Mercedes has just made some major aerodynamic and power unit updates in its cars. Which increases straight-line speed and also helps in cornering grip. These updates are perfect for Spa's twisty sector 2. If all these updates work well, then Mercedes can surprise everyone.

Here are the teams and drivers that have the potential to achieve something special in the Belgian GP. Verstappen is the king of Spa but is stuck in a penalty, but this will not have any negative impact on his performance. McLaren and Red Bull are in form, but Ferrari and Mercedes have upgrades so they can also do something amazing. Now in the Belgium GP preview, we can say that these top 4 can be seen on the podium.

Weather Impact and Strategy

The weather at the Spa-Francorchamps track was and still is unpredictable. Despite hosting the Belgian GP here for many years, the weather has never been completely predictable. If we talk about the F1 Belgian GP weather forecast, it could be a little sunny and a little wet from July 25 to July 27, 2025.

Ardennes is a jungle area, so rain is common here. There is a high likelihood of rain occurring at least once every 24 hours. Now if it rains on race day, the chances of a car slipping increase on the tough corners of the Spa, like Eau Rouge–Raidillon, Blanchimont, and Pouhon.

If it rains this time, the cars will have to drive behind the safety cars, that too without overtaking, until the rain subsides or stops. Because in rain track visibility becomes poor, cars tend to slip, and a crash can also occur because of the debris. This has happened before as well, because in 2021 during the Belgium GP, it started raining heavily, after which some laps became slow, that too behind the safety cars. The race had to end because the rain wouldn't stop.

That is why this time the drivers will have to remain active and may have to take quick tyre calls. If a team takes a quick decision and changes the tire, then it may get an advantage, but if the decision is wrong, then they will not even be able to finish the race. Only the one whose decision on the pit wall is accurate and fast will be able to come close to winning; otherwise, they will have to face defeat. 

If we talk about tyre strategy, this time Pirelli has given C2, C3, and C4 tyres compound. If it rains heavily, then intermediate or full wet tyres can be used, and if it is not raining, then a 2-stop strategy will be used because tyres wear out quickly on this track.

This time only 2 teams are showing a better level. McLaren's pit stop is 2.1 seconds, which can give them a little advantage. And Red Bull has Max Verstappen, so this is plus point for them.

It is a long track, so there will be chances of overtaking as well, but chances of crashing are also equally high. But if it rains or the tyres get worn out, then teams can use an undercut or overcut strategy.

So the overall start is this: if a team manages the weather + tyres + pit stop, then it will give a great performance at the Spa.

Final thoughts on Belgian Grand Prix 2025

The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix will stand out from the rest of the season. Because in this race, we will get to see everything—the dangerous Spa-Francorchamps F1 track, unpredictable weather, McLaren's strategy, Max's penalty comeback from Red Bull, Ferrari's Spa winner, and Mercedes' new upgrades. This is going to be the toughest race if it rains, and even if it doesn't rain, Spa's 19 corners are going to present a lot of thrill.

Therefore, the Formula 1 Belgian GP is expected to provide a thrilling experience this time. This will be an iconic race, so you won't get up from your seat, whether you're watching it live at Spa or on TV.

As a viewer, please share your predictions for the Belgian Grand Prix 2025. After witnessing the historic events at Spa, what are your thoughts? Which team do you think will win, and which driver will perform the best? Do tell us in the comment box.