Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Number of Laps: 44
Circuit Length: 4.4 miles (7km)
Race Length: 191.4 miles (308.1km)
Start Time: 13:00 BST
Fastest Lap: 1:44.503 (Jarno Trulli, Panasonic Toyota Racing, 2009, Q2)
Fastest Race Lap: 1:47.263 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing Renault, 2009)
2015 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas, 1:47.197, Soft Tyres
2015 Race Winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas
Tyre Compounds: Supersoft, Soft, Medium, Intermediate, Wet
First F1 Championship Grand Prix: 1950
Most Wins (Driver): Michael Scumacher, 6
Most Wins (Country/Track): Ferrari, 16/Ferrari, McLaren, 12
The summer break is finally at an end! Formula One returns to the track this weekend at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix.
There is plenty to watch out for in round 13 of the championship.
Esteban Ocon will make his Formula One début with Manor this weekend, after the 19-year-old Mercedes reserve replaced the financially troubled Rio Haryanto. The Frenchman, who won the 2015 GP3 series, is very highly rated by the Silver Arrows and will be partnered alongside his fellow Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein.
Sauber are bringing a large upgrade package to this race. The Swiss team are the only constructor yet to score a point in 2016 and, after a recent buyout, are desperate to move up the field – especially when trying to persuade top drivers to race for them in 2017.
After the Mercedes collided here in 2014, Daniel Ricciardo claimed an unlikely Red Bull victory. With Spa having a tight, downforce dependant middle section, the Milton Keynes-based team are going to be snapping at the heels of the reigning World Champions. Ricciardo has not won a race since his triumph in Belgium that year, but do not write off his teammate Max Verstappen. The 18-year-old was born in Belgium and, despite racing with a Dutch licence, uses his Belgian passport when travelling to and from races. He will no doubt be desperate to claim a home victory.
It feels like an eternity since the chequered flag fell at Hockenheim, but the wait for Formula One to return is very nearly over.
