Essential Ferrari improve
This weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix is massive for Ferrari and F1 staff principal Frederic Vasseur.
The Scuderia are and not using a victory in F1 2025 following a disappointing first half of the season.
The SF-25 hasn’t lived as much as expectations, with Ferrari pressured to compromise on automobile setup to compensate for a number of inherent points with their 2025 challenger.
Whereas Ferrari sit second within the constructors’ championship, they haven’t lived as much as expectations, significantly as they completed simply 14 factors off McLaren final 12 months.
Their poor kind has resulted in hypothesis surrounding Vasseur’s future, and this weekend may very well be essential in deciding the Frenchman’s destiny.
Throughout the two-week break forward of the Belgian GP, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton debuted a rear suspension improve at Mugello.
The 2 drivers accomplished 19 laps every as they trialled the brand new half forward of this weekend.
Ferrari’s hopes of successful races once more are pinned on this improve.
In concept, the suspension tweak ought to enable them to run their automobile extra aggressively when it comes to setup, because the mechanical platform will probably be extra steady.
Ferrari have been conservative with how they’ve run their automobile this 12 months, particularly after their double disqualification on the Chinese language Grand Prix.
It probably received’t be the silver bullet, although, with Leclerc hinting at one other situation after qualifying at Silverstone.
Ferrari’s new ground improve on the Austrian GP gave the impression to be an instantaneous step ahead, so there are causes to be optimistic.
Verstappen’s F1 future rumbles on
Unsurprisingly, Max Verstappen’s Purple Bull F1 future stays the largest speaking level heading to Spa.
Verstappen’s state of affairs will stay unsure if Mercedes don’t affirm their driver line-up for subsequent 12 months.
Max Verstappen
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are out of contract on the finish of this 12 months.
Whereas each drivers expressed confidence in being retained by Mercedes when chatting with the media, together with Crash.internet, on the British GP, the hearsay mill isn’t slowing down.
With Christian Horner’s sudden departure including one other layer to the story, Thursday’s media day will probably be dominated by speak of Verstappen’s future once more.
The F1 title battle
In case you’ve forgotten, there’s an F1 title battle ongoing.
Eight factors separate Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the high of the drivers’ championship.
The momentum is with Norris after taking back-to-back victories.
The McLaren pair are intently matched on tempo, with wonderful particulars deciding who comes out on high.
Norris dominated qualifying on the Purple Bull Ring, however Piastri would probably have received had he been capable of make a transfer stick within the first stint.
Piastri led by over 12 seconds at Silverstone earlier than the varied Security Vehicles neutralised the race.
A uncommon mistake below the Security Automotive resulted in an unprecedented 10-second time penalty after he was deemed to have dangerously jammed on the brakes.
Piastri will probably be eager to halt Norris’ latest run of wins.
Be careful for Mercedes?
Mercedes claimed a 1-2 end on the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix earlier than Russell’s post-race disqualification.
Situations are set to be cool and damp, making this weekend one which performs into Mercedes’ strengths.
George Russell, Mercedes
© XPB Photographs
During the last 18 months, Mercedes’ finest races have been on weekends when the climate has been cool and the observe traits require a low-downforce configuration.
Russell received the Canadian Grand Prix from pole place.
Equally, on the finish of final 12 months, Mercedes dominated the Las Vegas GP.
Is Colapinto on borrowed time?
It’s a vital two weeks for Franco Colapinto, who’s preventing for his F1 future.
The Argentine is reportedly below stress to maintain his Alpine drive amid solutions that Flavio Briatore is weighing up one other driver swap.
Colapinto has been underwhelming since being handed Jack Doohan’s Alpine drive following the Miami GP.
Briatore has been rumoured to have held talks with Mercedes over signing Valtteri Bottas.
With the summer season break following subsequent weekend’s journey to Hungary, Colapinto might want to put collectively two encouraging races to make sure he’s at Alpine after the shutdown.
