2018 Belgian Grand Prix Preview – Including Driver Interviews
It only feels like yesterday that we were all complaining about the summer break however now, we’re all ready and waiting for the racing to resume over the weekend with the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.
We’ve had driver announcements and plenty of news to keep us going and in this post, you can see all the latest ahead of the weekend including driver interviews for the race weekend ahead.
MERCEDES – 2018 Belgian Grand Prix Preview
Toto Wolff – Team Principal, Mercedes AMG-Petronas
Toto Wolff: “Our first stop after the summer break is Spa – an historic circuit that has been the venue of some of the most spectacular races in F1 history.”
“Corners like Eau Rouge are known to race fans around the world and the race always attracts a huge and very enthusiastic crowd. From a team’s perspective, the circuit is quite tricky, as it is not easy to find the right set-up for a track that has long straights, considerable changes in elevation and high-speed corners.”
“You want to have enough downforce to be quick through the corners, but at the same time not carry too much drag for the long straights.”
“It’s very difficult to make any predictions for Spa. If this season has taught us one thing, it’s that there are no clear favourites for specific tracks anymore and that it’s not always the fastest car that wins. Instead, the competitive balance seems to swing back and forth from circuit to circuit.”
“What is clear is that our competitors are pushing extremely hard and put up a very tough fight. So we need to keep our heads down, work hard to eliminate our weaknesses and further build on our strengths, and take the season race by race.”
“2018 promises to be a season that we will still be talking about in years to come and we can’t wait to get out there and start racing again.”
MCLAREN – 2018 Belgian Grand Prix Preview
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso: “Even though Formula 1 has been on its summer shutdown, it feels like a lot has happened since Hungary! I’m pleased to finally confirm my decision for 2019, but that doesn’t in any way deter from what me or the team will be focusing on for the rest of the year.”
“We still have a lot of work to do and I’m really looking forward to being back in the car from FP2. Although I’ve raced more recently that anyone else on the grid, at Silverstone in WEC last weekend, I still can’t wait to get behind the wheel at Spa – it’s one of the best circuits on the calendar and usually a lot of fun!”
“Spa is the longest track we race on and a lot of it is at full throttle, so it will be a challenging weekend for us. But, I feel fresh, motivated and ready to attack the weekend and the second half of the season.”
Stoffel Vandoorne
Stoffel Vandoorne: “I’ve never felt more ready to come back after the summer break! I’ve really enjoyed the time away, being able to switch off and spend time with friends and family that I don’t often get to see much between races, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the car.”
“My home race is always one of the key highlights of the season, and every year I go there we see more and more passionate fans in the grandstands.”
“The feeling is incredible and the whole team always receives a very warm welcome everywhere we go.”
“Although the DNF was hugely disappointing in Hungary, I had a much more positive feeling in the car and my main objective is to carry this momentum forward to Spa and these back-to-back races.”
“Spa is also my favourite track – as it is for many other drivers – and I’ve raced there all through my junior career, so it feels like a second home for me and I hope we can put on a good show for the Belgian fans.”
RENAULT – 2018 Belgian Grand Prix Preview
Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg: “Spa is up there as one of my favourite tracks in Formula 1 and one I always seem to go well at. The track is located within some nice natural scenery in the middle of the forest, which can throw up some surprises, especially with the weather.”
“Spa is notorious for its elevation changes and fast, sweeping corners – driving at Spa is special, especially in a modern Formula 1 car, as it sticks to these flat-out corners at high-speed, it’s so unique and gives you a thrill.”
“Eau Rouge is of course the corner that everyone talks about, but Pouhon and Blanchimont are also exciting and taken at very high-speed. Spa is really suited to my style of driving.”
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz: “Spa is very enjoyable as it has everything: fast corners, long straights, overtaking opportunities, elevation changes and random weather!”
“I like racing in Spa, it’s one of the special Grands Prix in Formula 1, and one all drivers look forward to racing. I enjoy sector two, as it’s quite busy and has a nice flow to it.”
“It’s tough to find that perfect car balance between setting up for the flowing corners, which require high downforce, while being careful not to take off too much straight-line speed, which you need for the Kemmel Straight and before the bus-stop chicane.”
Toro Rosso – 2018 Belgian Grand Prix Preview
Brendon Hartley
Brendon Hartley: “Sarah and I headed to Colorado straight after the Budapest test and stayed out there for two weeks with Mark (Webber). We did a lot of hiking, relaxing and mountain biking and it was nice to switch off.”
“One day turned out to be very tough as I took part in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, a hundred-mile mountain bike race, which I’d originally signed up to do last year, however, I didn’t manage to get an entry at the time.”
“It was incredibly tough, the race started at over 10,000 feet and ended at over 12,000, but it was very satisfying to complete, especially as it pushed me outside my comfort zone. It was something I had wanted to do for a while, achieving a goal which also took me away from the F1 paddock.”
“It went really well and since then I’ve felt refreshed after all that time in the mountains and I’m ready to take on the rest of the season, starting with this weekend in Belgium.”
“I’ve won at Spa in Formula 3 and in WEC. The venue is another crowd pleaser, very popular with the drivers and the fans. It’s old-school and scenic as it undulates through the forest and it’s a track that we very much enjoy. “
“On top of that, the weather often comes into play and we’ve seen some very exciting races over the years because of the changing conditions.”
“In Budapest, we showed that we had the pace and could do the job in mixed conditions, so that could mean we can have a very positive weekend in Spa. During the break, I made a big effort not to think about racing as it’s important to switch off and recharge, but in the last week, I’ve started thinking about the rest of the season and specifically Spa.”
“It’s been a tough first half of the year, but I’m sure after the break, everyone at Toro Rosso is raring to go for the remaining races.”
“We are all feeling optimistic after showing good pace in Hungary. It’s going to be very nice getting back in the cockpit on Friday, especially as I will be taking on Spa in a Formula 1 car for the first time – it’s one of the most iconic tracks on the calendar and I can’t wait!”
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly: “I enjoyed the holiday, spending time with my family and close friends. The summer break was made even better when I found out I would be promoted to Red Bull Racing next year!”
“I was on holidays with my friends when I first saw the news Daniel was leaving, then a few days later I got the call from Helmut saying he decided to take me. I was so happy and excited about it! I always dreamed of going there since I joined the Red Bull programme in 2013.”
“I didn’t expect Daniel to leave so it made the news even better!”
Now, I want to stay focussed for the end of the year, because there’s still nine races to go and I want to give my best for Toro Rosso who gave me my first chance in Formula 1, and finish on a high with the team.”
“After a trip to Greece, I was back in France enjoying the break and getting energised for the final part of the season doing all sorts of things, including surfing and wakeboarding and playing football with mates, enjoying the sun and the sea.”
“There were a few days where I did nothing right after the Hungarian GP, but I quickly picked up my training again, not too hard at first, but I’ve been doing it intensively again this last week.”
“There are still nine races to go, so I want to be in the best condition possible.”
“Spa is my favourite circuit, it’s an amazing track and I really loved driving there in all the categories, so I can’t wait to tackle it in these current F1 cars that have so much downforce.”
“It’s going to be very fast! Kicking off the rest of the season here is going to be great. The last time I raced here in GP2 in 2016, I won and before that, I also won in Renault 3.5. In general, I’ve always gone well here. I’ve spent some time driving Spa on the simulator and we know that, on paper, this might be a difficult weekend for us, but we will give it our best shot as always.”
“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel on Friday for the first time in over three weeks. I have to admit I’ve been thinking about racing a lot during the break. I missed the sense of competition and in fact, during the holidays, whatever the activity I was doing with my friends, I was always trying to put some sort of competitive element into everything we did!”
“Competing is what drives me, so I’m keen for the weekend to start!”
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