The 2023 Belgian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Belgian Grand Prix 2023) was the thirteenth round of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on the weekend of July 28 to July 30 2023.
Background[]
Sprint events[]
The sprint format had ran at six Grands Prix starting this season, compared to three in 2021 and 2022.[1] It had took place at the Azerbaijan, Austrian, Belgian, Qatar, United States and São Paulo Grands Prix.[2]
To accommodate the sprint events, a fresh weekend format was introduced, departing from the one used in 2021 and 2022. The revamped schedule kicks off with a single practice session on Friday, followed by the all-important qualifying session to determine the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. On Saturday, a thrilling new qualifying session, Sprint Shootout, replaces the former second practice session. This session is solely responsible for establishing the grid positions for the Sprint.
The Grand Prix itself still takes place on Sunday, but the build-up and anticipation were heightened by the intense Sprint Shootout on Saturday.
In contrast to the traditional qualifying, the Sprint Shootout qualifying features shorter durations for each phase. Q1 lasts for 12 minutes, Q2 for 10 minutes, and Q3 for a nail-biting 8 minutes. Additionally, a fresh set of tires was mandatory for each phase of the Sprint Shootout. Teams must use medium tires for Q1 and Q2, while the high-performance soft tires are reserved for Q3, adding a strategic twist to the proceedings.[3]
Ahead of the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, the FIA modified the rules for tire usage during the Sprint Shootout. Race Director, Niels Wittich, announced the revised rule for Article 30.5 h) iv), to:
“In the period SQ3 of the sprint shootout, up to one set of dry-weather tyres may be used, and this must only be a set of the soft specification.”
Ultimately, this allowed teams to use a used set of tires in Sprint Shootout.[4]
Weekend format[]
As the season progresses, motorsport enthusiasts are in for a treat with the third race featuring an innovative addition to the schedule - the exhilarating sprint race. The new format promises to bring a fresh dose of excitement to the Grand Prix weekend.
The action-packed weekend will commence with a single practice session on Friday, allowing drivers to fine-tune their strategies and get a feel for the circuit. However, the real battleground will be the qualifying session, determining the starting grid for the prestigious Sunday's Grand Prix.
Saturday's schedule sees a notable change, as the traditional second practice session makes way for the highly anticipated "Sprint Shootout" qualifying. This gripping session will play a pivotal role in deciding the grid for the sprint race, elevating the stakes for all participants.
To the delight of fans, Sunday's Grand Prix will showcase the thrilling outcome of the sprint shootout. With its condensed format, drivers will face intense challenges in the quest for optimal starting positions.
The sprint shootout qualifying will feature three stages, each with progressively shorter durations. Q1 will test drivers' mettle for 12 minutes, followed by Q2 with a 10-minute battle, and culminating in the heart-pounding Q3 with just 8 minutes on the clock.
Adding another layer of intrigue, the new regulations stipulate that fresh tires are mandatory for each phase of the sprint shootout. Medium tires will be utilized in Q1 and Q2, offering a strategic puzzle for teams to solve. In contrast, the high-performance soft tires will be reserved for the adrenaline-filled Q3, presenting a tantalizing challenge for drivers to master.
Excitement is building among fans and drivers alike, as they eagerly await the action-packed weekend. The innovative sprint race format promises to test the skill, determination, and adaptability of the competitors, making it an unmissable event in the racing calendar.
As Sunday's Grand Prix approaches, anticipation soars, and all eyes are on the outcome of the sprint shootout, which will undoubtedly set the stage for a thrilling and unforgettable motorsport spectacle.[5]
Entry List[]
The full entry list for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix is outlined below:
Free Practice[]
Report[]
Practice Results[]
The full results of the only practice session for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| No. | Driver | Team | Time | Pos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Max Verstappen
|
 Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
No Time | 20 | |||||
| 2 |  Logan Sargeant
|
 Williams-Mercedes
|
No Time | 16 | |||||
| 3 |  Daniel Ricciardo
|
 AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
2:09.319 | 9 | |||||
| 4 | Lando Norris
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
2:04.484 | 3 | |||||
| 10 |  Pierre Gasly
|
Alpine-Renault
|
No Time | 18 | |||||
| 11 |  Sergio Pérez
|
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
2:08.240 | 5 | |||||
| 14 |  Fernando Alonso
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
2:10.283 | 11 | |||||
| 16 |  Charles Leclerc
|
Ferrari
|
2:08.148 | 4 | |||||
| 18 |  Lance Stroll
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
No Time | 17 | |||||
| 20 |  Kevin Magnussen
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
2:09.229 | 8 | |||||
| 22 |  Yuki Tsunoda
|
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
2:09.067 | 7 | |||||
| 23 |  Alexander Albon
|
Williams-Mercedes
|
2:08.394 | 6 | |||||
| 24 |  Guanyu Zhou
|
 Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
2:14.002 | 15 | |||||
| 27 |  Nico Hülkenberg
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
2:10.042 | 10 | |||||
| 31 | Esteban Ocon
|
Alpine-Renault
|
No Time | 19 | |||||
| 44 | Lewis Hamilton
|
Mercedes
|
2:10.299 | 12 | |||||
| 55 | Carlos Sainz, Jr.
|
Ferrari
|
2:03.207 | 1 | |||||
| 63 | George Russell
|
Mercedes
|
2:10.475 | 13 | |||||
| 77 |  Valtteri Bottas
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
2:12.085 | 14 | |||||
| 81 | Oscar Piastri
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
2:03.792 | 2 | |||||
| Source: [7] | |||||||||
Qualifying[]
Q1[]
Q2[]
Q3[]
Qualifying Results[]
The full qualifying results for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Time | Time | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen
|
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
1:58.515 | 1:52.784 | 1:46.168 | 6[8] |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc
|
Ferrari
|
1:58.300 | 1:52.017 | 1:46.988 | 1 |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Pérez
|
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
1:58.899 | 1:52.353 | 1:47.045 | 2 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton
|
Mercedes
|
1:58.563 | 1:52.345 | 1:47.087 | 3 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz
|
Ferrari
|
1:58.688 | 1:51.711 | 1:47.152 | 4 |
| 6 | 81 | Oscar Piastri
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
1:58.872 | 1:51.534 | 1:47.365 | 5 |
| 7 | 4 | Lando Norris
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
1:59.981 | 1:52.252 | 1:47.669 | 7 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell
|
Mercedes
|
1:59.035 | 1:52.605 | 1:47.805 | 8 |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
1:58.834 | 1:52.751 | 1:47.843 | 9 |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
1:59.663 | 1:52.193 | 1:48.841 | 10 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda
|
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
1:59.044 | 1:53.148 | N/A | 11 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly
|
Alpine-Renault
|
1:59.511 | 1:53.671 | N/A | 12 |
| 13 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
2:00.020 | 1:54.160 | N/A | 16[9] |
| 14 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
1:59.484 | 1:54.694 | N/A | 13 |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon
|
Alpine-Renault
|
1:59.634 | 1:56.372 | N/A | 14 |
| 16 | 23 | Alexander Albon
|
Williams-Mercedes
|
2:00.314 | N/A | N/A | 15 |
| 17 | 24 | Guanyu Zhou
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
2:00.832 | N/A | N/A | 17 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant
|
Williams-Mercedes
|
2:01.535 | N/A | N/A | 18 |
| 19 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo
|
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
2:02.159 | N/A | N/A | 19 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
2:03.166 | N/A | N/A | 20 |
| 107% Time: 2:06.581 | |||||||
| Source:[10] | |||||||
- Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
Grid Penalties[]
- Max Verstappen qualified on pole position, but received a 5-place grid penalty for exceeding his gearbox allotment.[8]
- Kevin Magnussen received a 3-place grid penalty for impeding Charles Leclerc.[9]
Grand Prix Grid[]
| Pos. | Pos. | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Driver | |
| ______________ | ||
| Row 1 | ______________ | 1 |
| 2 | 16. Leclerc
| |
| 11. Pérez
|
______________ | |
| Row 2 | ______________ | 3 |
| 4 | 44. Hamilton
| |
| 55. Sainz
|
______________ | |
| Row 3 | ______________ | 5 |
| 6 | 81. Piastri
| |
| 1. Verstappen
|
______________ | |
| Row 4 | ______________ | 7 |
| 8 | 4. Norris
| |
| 63. Russell
|
______________ | |
| Row 5 | ______________ | 9 |
| 10 | 14. Alonso
| |
| 18. Stroll
|
______________ | |
| Row 6 | ______________ | 11 |
| 12 | 22. Tsunoda
| |
| 10. Gasly
|
______________ | |
| Row 7 | ______________ | 13 |
| 14 | 77. Bottas
| |
| 31. Ocon
|
______________ | |
| Row 8 | ______________ | 15 |
| 16 | 23. Albon
| |
| 20. Magnussen
|
______________ | |
| Row 9 | ______________ | 17 |
| 18 | 24. Zhou
| |
| 2. Sargeant
|
______________ | |
| Row 10 | ______________ | 19 |
| 20 | 3. Ricciardo
| |
| 27. Hülkenberg
|
______________ |
Sprint Shootout[]
SQ1[]
SQ2[]
SQ3[]
Sprint Shootout Results[]
The full Sprint Shootout results for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | SQ1 | SQ2 | SQ3 | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Time | Time | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen
|
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
1:58.135 | 1:55.200 | 1:49.056 | 1 |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
2:00.056 | 1:56.392 | 1:49.067 | 2 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz
|
Ferrari
|
1:59.414 | 1:56.557 | 1:49.081 | 3 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc
|
Ferrari
|
1:59.575 | 1:56.265 | 1:49.251 | 4 |
| 5 | 4 | Lando Norris
|
McLaren-Mercedes
|
2:00.436 | 1:56.828 | 1:49.389 | 5 |
| 6 | 10 | Pierre Gasly
|
Alpine-Renault
|
2:00.032 | 1:56.137 | 1:49.700 | 6 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton
|
Mercedes
|
1:58.939 | 1:55.823 | 1:49.900 | 7 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Pérez
|
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
|
1:59.362 | 1:55.878 | 1:49.961 | 8 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon
|
Alpine-Renault
|
1:59.884 | 1:57.051 | 1:50.494 | 9 |
| 10 | 63 | George Russell
|
Mercedes
|
2:00.475 | 1:57.393 | 1:55.742 | 10 |
| 11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo
|
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
2:00.177 | 1:57.687 | N/A | 11 |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon
|
Williams-Mercedes
|
1:59.198 | No time | N/A | 12 |
| 13 | 2 | Logan Sargeant
|
Williams-Mercedes
|
2:00.031 | No time | N/A | 13 |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
2:00.460 | No time | N/A | 14 |
| 15 | 14 | Fernando Alonso
|
Aston Martin-Mercedes
|
1:59.038 | DNS | N/A | 15 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda
|
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
|
2:00.568 | N/A | N/A | 16 |
| 17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
2:00.951 | N/A | N/A | 17 |
| 18 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
2:01.079 | N/A | N/A | 18 |
| 19 | 24 | Guanyu Zhou
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
|
2:01.430 | N/A | N/A | 19 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg
|
Haas-Ferrari
|
No time | N/A | N/A | 20 |
| 107% Time: 1:52.490 | |||||||
| Source:[11] | |||||||
- Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
Sprint Grid[]
| Pos. | Pos. | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Driver | |
| ______________ | ||
| Row 1 | ______________ | 1 |
| 2 | 1. Verstappen
| |
| 81. Piastri
|
______________ | |
| Row 2 | ______________ | 3 |
| 4 | 55. Sainz
| |
| 16. Leclerc
|
______________ | |
| Row 3 | ______________ | 5 |
| 6 | 4. Norris
| |
| 10. Gasly
|
______________ | |
| Row 4 | ______________ | 7 |
| 8 | 44. Hamilton
| |
| 11. Pérez
|
______________ | |
| Row 5 | ______________ | 9 |
| 10 | 31. Ocon
| |
| 63. Russell
|
______________ | |
| Row 6 | ______________ | 11 |
| 12 | 3. Ricciardo
| |
| 23. Albon
|
______________ | |
| Row 7 | ______________ | 13 |
| 14 | 2. Sargeant
| |
| 18. Stroll
|
______________ | |
| Row 8 | ______________ | 15 |
| 16 | 14. Alonso
| |
| 22. Tsunoda
|
______________ | |
| Row 9 | ______________ | 17 |
| 18 | 77. Bottas
| |
| 20. Magnussen
|
______________ | |
| Row 10 | ______________ | 19 |
| 20 | 24. Zhou
| |
| 27. Hülkenberg
|
______________ |
Sprint Race[]
Report[]
Sprint Results[]
The full results for the Sprint of the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
Post Sprint Penalties[]
- Lewis Hamilton originally finished fourth, but received a 5-second penalty for causing a collision with Sergio Pérez.[13]
- Logan Sargeant originally finished fourteenth, but received a 5-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.[14]
Race[]
Report[]
Results[]
The full results for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
Milestones[]
- 20th start from pole position for Charles Leclerc
- 8th consecutive win and 45th grand prix victory for Max Verstappen
- 13th consecutive win for Red Bull, extending the all-time record of consecutive wins for a constructor
- 27th one-two finish for Red Bull
- 370th grand prix start for Fernando Alonso
- 175th grand prix start for Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, Jr.
- 135th grand prix start for Lance Stroll
- 120th grand prix start for Pierre Gasly
- 115th grand prix start for Charles Leclerc
Standings[]
Only point-scoring drivers are shown. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References[]
Images and Videos:
References:
- ↑ "Formula 1 calendar to feature six Sprint events from 2023 onwards". 27 September 2022. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-formula-1-calendar-to-feature-six-sprint-events-from-2023-onwards.6JpUPQeXnDnmYEzvlcySXk.html. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ↑ "Formula 1 announces venues for six F1 Sprint events across 2023 season" (in en). 7 December 2022. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-formula-1-announces-venues-for-six-f1-sprint-events-across-2023.4tvAAXFGdkoHKE8Onjh8Ya.html. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "Explained: Everything you need to know about the 2023 F1 Sprint format". 25 April 2023. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.explained-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2023-f1-sprint-format.583WHWKbWVVBemPKi6pJxH.html. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ↑ "FIA tweaks F1 sprint qualifying tyre rules to avoid inters farce". 29 June 2023. https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-tweaks-f1-sprint-qualifying-tyres-rules-to-avoid-inters-farce/10488948/. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ↑ "Explained: Everything you need to know about the 2023 F1 Sprint format". 25 April 2023. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.explained-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2023-f1-sprint-format.583WHWKbWVVBemPKi6pJxH.html. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Infringement - Car 1 - RNC Changes (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Infringement - Car 20 - Impeding of Car 16 (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Final Qualifying Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Final Sprint Shootout Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Final Sprint Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Infringement - Car 44 - Causing a Collision (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Infringement - Car 2 - Pit Lane Speeding (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
- ↑ 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - Final Race Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
| v·d·e | Nominate this page for Featured Article |
| V T E |  Belgian Grand Prix
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Circuits | Spa-Francorchamps (1950 - 1970, 1983, 1985 - Present), Nivelles (1972, 1974), Zolder (1973, 1975 - 1982, 1984) |  |
| Races | 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 | |
| Pre-1950 races | 1925 • 1930 • 1931 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1937 • 1939 • 1947 • 1949 |