The FIA has shared details of the changes made to Spa-Francorchamps ahead of the 2021 Belgian GP along with track limits, DRS zones, PU elements, stewards & more.
With the summer break done and dusted, the FIA is back in business, looking ahead to F1 Belgian GP, as it shares details of the Spa-Francorchamps’ circuit. It starts with the track limits, which will be at Turn 4, Turn 9 and Turn 19, respectively.
They have also about how to use the escape road at Turn 5. Here’s the details:
Turn 4 Exit –
a) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the apex kerb of Turn 4, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
Turn 9 Exit –
a) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the red and yellow kerb on the exit of Turn 9, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
Turn 19 Exit –
a) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the red and yellow kerb on the exit of Turn 19, will result in that lap time and the immediately following lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
General – Turn 4, Turn 9 Exit and Turn 19 Exit –
a) Each time any car fails to negotiate Turn 4 and/or Turn 9 Exit and/or Turn 19 Exit by using the track as described above, teams will be informed via the official messaging system.
b) On the third occasion of a driver failing to negotiate Turn 4 and/or Turn 9 Exit and/or Turn 19 Exit by using the track as described above during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards.
c) In all cases detailed above, the driver must only re-join the track when it is safe to do so and without gaining a lasting advantage.
d) The above requirements will not automatically apply to any driver who is judged to have been forced off the track, each such case will be judged individually.
Escape Road at Turn 5 –
a) If a driver overshoots the corner at Turn 5 there is a small road along the front of the tyre barrier which leads back on to the track at Turn 7, please ensure that your drivers use this when necessary.
Regarding the DRS zones, the first detection zone is at 240m before Turn 2, while the activation zone is 230m after Turn 4. The second detection zone is 160m before Turn 18 and activation zone 30m after Turn 19. Moving on the circuit changes, the FIA shares of changes at Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 7 and Turn 14:
- The right hand side wall after Turn 1 that creates the endurance pit entry has been extended back towards Turn 1.
- The apex kerb at Turn 2 has been removed and replaced with a double negative kerb.
- The Turn 7 exit kerb has been reduced in width to maximum 2m from the edge of the track.
- The Turn 14 exit kerb has been reduced in width to maximum 2m from the edge of the track.
Moving on to the four stewards, they will be led by Garry Connelly, who will be joined by Felix Holter, Derek Warwick and Yves Bacquelaine. In terms of the PU elements, the ICE and TC has everyone on their second ahead of Belgian GP, apart from Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and George Russell.
The MGU-H is in a similar space with everyone on their second apart from the above mentioned, who are on their third. Additionally, Fernando Alonso is also on his third, as MGU-K sees everyone on their second apart from Verstappen, Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
The ES is a mixed bag with most on their second, barring Verstappen, Alonso, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Haas drivers, while Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda are on their third. As for CE, everyone is on their second, barring Alonso and Mick Schumacher being on their second, while Perez and Tsunoda are on their third.
Here’s the full FIA Race Director’s Note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2021%20Belgian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Directors’%20Event%20Notes%20.pdf