After a long European summer break, Formula 1 returned to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the thirteenth round of the 2018 season - the Belgian Grand Prix .
The 7.004 kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps is as Formula 1 as it gets. Terrifyingly-fast long-radius corners, quick left-right combinations, elevation changes and long straights.
One week from today... F1 is back! 👀#BelgianGP #F1 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/eUW64bcHcq
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 17, 2018
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps course was built in 1921 to accommodate Grand Prix racing, but it was only used for motorcycle racing until 1924.
After the success of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1923, a 24-hour endurance race was run at the Spa track, but it has frequented the Formula 1 calendar for over 60 years.
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Spa is known for its unpredictable weather; at one stage, it had rained at the Belgian Grand Prix for twenty years in a row.
Such is the size of the circuit precinct, that drivers can drive on a half of the course that is clear and bright, while the other half of the circuit is rainy and slippery.
Notably, the 1998 race was marred by a monster pile-up in horrible conditions.
No driver is more successful at Spa than Michael Schumacher, who won the Belgian Grand Prix six times (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002).
Ayrton Senna won five times, including four times in a row in 1988-1991.
Such is the demanding nature of the race, that only the best drivers have mastered it; in fact, just six drivers have won the race more than twice - Schumacher (six times), Senna (five times), Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Kimi Raikkonen (four times) and Jim Clark (four times).
One of the race's greatest moments came in 2000, when Mika Häkkinen put a daring pass on Schumacher to win the race. On lap 41, Häkkinen overtook Schumacher for the lead, lapping BAR driver Ricardo Zonta in the process.
TYRE COMPOUNDS
The 2018 Belgian Grand Prix saw Pirelli's white-walled medium, yellow-walled soft and red-walled supersoft compounds used.
While some are dreaming of summer, we're hard at work getting the #Fit4F1 #BelgianGP shoes ready. https://t.co/X8JMYY8zQe pic.twitter.com/BEA8bJ7CJt
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) August 6, 2018
SESSION TIMES
FP1: Friday, August 24, 7:00pm
15 MINS TO FP2 ⏰
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 24, 2018
Need a refresher of FP1? Here's our highlights#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Br5iCkkOYx
FP2: Friday, August 24, 11:00pm
Raikkonen roars to P1 💪@Charles_Leclerc and @Ericsson_Marcus star for @SauberF1Team 👏
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 24, 2018
Watch all the best bits from FP2 at Spa 👀#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Mu3XCFb0vS
FP3: Saturday, August 25, 8:00pm
Qualifying coming up...
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2018
Here's what happened in FP3 👀#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/8v1UoMbe4A
Qualifying: Saturday, August 25, 11:00pm
WATCH: QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2018
It was wet, it was wild, it was dramatic ☔️
Two Force Indias and a Haas in the top five, as Hamilton beats Vettel to pole 👀
VIDEO >> https://t.co/BDVUTl6FAx #BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/FQKqBl1Fyj
Race: Sunday, August 26, 11.10pm
WATCH: RACE HIGHLIGHTS 🇧🇪
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 26, 2018
F1 returned after a four-week break on Sunday 👍
And drama erupted just seconds after lights out 😮💥
VIDEO >> https://t.co/CzNkkt1OaZ#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/9AoVA2jEUy
All times shown AEST.
QUALIFYING REPORT & RESULTS
Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after an eventful finish to qualifying at Spa on Saturday while Australia's Daniel Ricciardo will start from eighth spot on the grid.
The world championship leader produced a sensational final lap in wet conditions to jump ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who was unable to better his title rival in a dramatic conclusion to the session.
Force India's Esteban Ocon caused a surprise by claiming third position, with team-mate Sergio Perez joining him on the second row of the grid.
Qualifying report and results here.RACE REPORT & RESULTS
Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory in an action-packed Belgian Grand Prix to close the gap to championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
Vettel took the lead from Hamilton on the first lap before the field was compressed following a monstrous accident at the first corner.
BREAKING: Sebastian Vettel wins the #BelgianGP - his third win at Spa, his fifth this season, and the 52nd of his career 💪 #F1 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/AY0nmkP3A5
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 26, 2018
F1 DRIVER STANDINGS
AFTER ROUND 13 (BELGIUM)
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Points | Margin |
| 1st | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 231 | |
| 2nd | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 214 | -17 |
| 3rd | Kimi Raikkönen | Ferrari | 146 | -85 |
| 4th | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 144 | -87 |
| 5th | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 120 | -111 |
| 6th | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 118 | -113 |
| 7th | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 52 | -179 |
| 8th | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 49 | -182 |
| 9th | Fernando Alonso | McLaren | 44 | -187 |
| 10th | Sergio Perez | Force India | 40 | -191 |
F1 CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
AFTER ROUND 13 (BELGIUM)
| Position | Constructor | Points | Margin |
| 1st | Mercedes | 375 | |
| 2nd | Ferrari | 360 | -15 |
| 3rd | Red Bull | 238 | -137 |
| 4th | Renault | 82 | -293 |
| 5th | Haas | 76 | -299 |
| 6th | McLaren | 52 | -323 |
| 7th | Toro Rosso | 30 | -345 |
| 8th | Sauber | 19 | -356 |
| 9th | Force India | 18 | -357 |
| 10th | Williams | 4 | -371 |
| EXC | Force India | 0 (59) | -375 |
