After a series of modifications that reached a total cost of 80 million euros, aimed at improving safety both for the cars and for the return of motorcycle racing, the Spa-Francorchamps track is ready to delight the riders of Formula 1.
While some of the changes, such as the modification of the safety barriers at the Raidillon , won’t make a difference to track performance, teams will be looking to make some readjustments to areas that have been resurfaced.
As Pirelli ‘s F1 director Mario Isola put it: “This year Spa has undergone one of the biggest changes we’ve seen since we started racing there in the modern era of Formula 1.”
“As well as having changed the asphalt in five corners, there are new gravel run-offs in four areas, which are much closer to the track.”
“The drivers will now have to pay more attention to the limits of the track, as the possibility of gravel being washed into the track has also increased. However, the nature of Spa remains intact, with all the challenges that always They have made this circuit so exciting.
While most teams will find out the impact of the changes this weekend, Red Bull has already gotten a first glimpse of those adjustments through a promotional video posted on its social media titled “From Simulation to Simulation”. reality”, in which the Austrian structure showed some of the preparations prior to the Belgian GP with Max Verstappen .
The video starts off by showing some simulator games before the RB7 is seen completing a few laps around the revamped Spa circuit.
Said filming would have taken place at the beginning of this year, since the works seem to be still underway in some areas, although the main elements of the runway had already been completed.
It is quite rare for teams to decide to run their old cars, even historic ones, on current circuits, but doing so is allowed by the regulations.
The sporting regulations of the highest category explain that historic cars, a category in which the 2011 RB7 already falls, are free to be tested whenever the teams want, although obviously they must run on demo tires and the FIA must be notified.
While running such an old car on demo tires shouldn’t give Red Bull much benefit in terms of its targets for this weekend’s Belgian GP, having insight into the impact of resurfacing and track work before its rivals could mean a small advantage.
