Belgian Grand Prix 2022: Time, TV channel, live stream

Henry Valantine
Daniel Ricciardo drives up Eau Rouge. Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps July 2021.

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo navigates a wet Eau Rouge in qualifying. Belgium July 2021.

Formula 1 returns from its summer break for the first of a triple-header in Europe, heading to Spa-Francorchamps for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix.

With nine races to go this season, Max Verstappen and Red Bull hold a commanding lead in both championships – an 80-point advantage for the Dutchman in the Drivers’ standings, alongside a 97-point buffer for Red Bull in the Constructors’ table.

Formula 1’s ‘silly season’ on the driver market is very much in the headlines at the moment, with ongoing drama between Alpine and Oscar Piastri set to dominate conversation away from the track.

But on it, the stage is set for one of the fastest tracks of the year to come to the fore. After the monsoon conditions in 2021, hopefully we get to see some racing laps this time around.

 

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Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix…

When is the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix?

Friday 26 August
Free Practice 1: 1400-1500 (1300-1400 UK time)
Free Practice 2: 1700-1800 (1600-1700 UK time)

Saturday 27 August
Free Practice 3: 1300-1400 (1200-1300 UK time)
Qualifying: 1600 (1500 UK time)

Sunday 28 August
Race: 1500 (1400 UK time)

Where does the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix take place?

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a fan and driver favourite, one of Formula 1’s classic tracks and one of the fastest circuits on the calendar.

The track has undergone significant changes in the past year, including gravel traps being introduced at four corners and resurfacing work at five parts of the circuit.

The iconic Eau Rouge/Raidillon section has had a makeover too, with changes made for safety to add run-off, a new sausage kerb on entry to discourage drivers from cutting the first apex and a new fan grandstand has been put in place.

The high-speed layout has some of the most heralded corners in Formula 1, with the double-left of Pouhon being a true test of strength for the drivers, the chicane at Les Combes represents one of the best overtaking opportunities and with only 44 laps, drivers have to work quickly to make progress in the race.

The future of the Belgian Grand Prix is uncertain at the moment though, with Spa being in the final year of its current contract to host Formula 1 and no agreement yet reached to keep its place on the schedule.

Where can I watch the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix?

In the UK, pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports will show the entire race weekend, from FP1 to the race, on its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. You can also access a live stream of the coverage via Now TV. Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4 will broadcast highlights across the race weekend.

PlanetF1 will carry live timing and expert commentary on every session of the race weekend, from FP1 on Friday morning to the race on Sunday afternoon.

The Belgian Grand Prix will be shown live on TV on the following outlets in other key markets:

United States: ESPN
Canada: RDS (French), TSN (English)
Australia: Fox Sports
France: Canal+
Italy: Sky Sport F1
Germany: Sky Sport F1
Spain: DAZN
Netherlands: Ziggo Sport
Brazil: Band
Japan: DAZN

What are the odds for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix?

Here are the favourites for the race win from Planet Sport Bet:

7/4 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
9/4 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3/1 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
12/1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
12/1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
18/1 George Russell (Mercedes)
50/1 and bigger the remainder

(Last updated after qualifying)

What is the grid for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix?

1. Sainz Ferrari
2. Perez Red Bull
3. Alonso Alpine
4. Hamilton Mercedes
5. Russell Mercedes
6. Albon Williams
7. Ricciardo McLaren
8. Gasly AlphaTauri
9. Stroll Aston Martin
10. Vettel Aston Martin
11. Latifi Williams
12. Magnussen Haas
13. Bottas* Alfa Romeo
14. Verstappen* Red Bull
15. Leclerc* Ferrari
16. Ocon* Alpine
17. Norris* McLaren
18. Zhou* Alfa Romeo
19. Schumacher* Haas
PL Tsunoda* AlphaTauri

*denotes grid penalty

 

What is the weather forecast for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix?

Fans under umbrellas at the Belgian Grand Prix. August 2021.
Fans under umbrellas as the rain falls heavy at Spa-Francorchamps. Belgium, August 2021.

Friday 26 August – 27°C, sunny intervals with light winds
Saturday 27 August – 24°C, overcast with a chance of rain
Sunday 28 August – 23°C, high chance of rain

Directions to the Belgian Grand Prix

Spa-Francorchamps is situated in central Belgium between Liege and Brussels. The nearest international airport is Brussels Zavantem, approximately 110 km (70 miles) away, but private planes are able to use Spa La Souveniere airport which is only 5km (3 miles) away.

Since 2019 there has been a shuttle bus service which connects major regional cities to the circuit on all three days of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. These cities include Aachen (Aix-La-Chapelle), Amsterdam, Anver, Bruxelles-Midi, Bruxelles-Nord, Charleroi, Düsseldorf, Eindhoven, Gand, Liège, Lille, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Mons and Namur.

Verviers Central station is the closest major station to the circuit. Shuttle buses from Verviers to Spa (bus 294 or 395) run regularly on race weekends with a journey time of 45 minutes.

If you’re driving then Spa-Francorchamps can be accessed by the E42 motorway. Fortunately the country roads which surround the track are well signposted.

Address: Route du Circuit 55, 4970 Stavelot, Belgium

Which drivers have won the Belgian Grand Prix?

History of the Belgian Grand Prix goes all the way back to 1925, but in the Formula 1 era, Michael Schumacher tops the all-time win list with six victories, ahead of Ayrton Senna’s five.

Winning at Spa takes a mastery of high-speed corners in particular, and there have been eight different winners of the Belgian Grand Prix in the past decade, showing that it is a race that is very much up for grabs.

The last 10 winners of the Belgian Grand Prix are as follows:

2021: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2020: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2019: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2018: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2017: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2014: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012: Jenson Button (McLaren)

What are the latest F1 Championship standings?

Drivers’ Championship

Max Verstappen – 258 points
Charles Leclerc – 178
Sergio Perez – 173
George Russell – 158
Carlos Sainz – 156

Constructors’ Championship

Red Bull – 431 points
Ferrari – 334
Mercedes – 304
Alpine – 99
McLaren – 95

Tyre choices for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix

Pirelli have confirmed they will bring the middle compounds in their range for the outing at the revamped Spa-Francorchamps, with motorsport director Mario Isola saying the changes at the circuit are of “epic” proportions.

They have already collected a significant amount of data on the resurfaced areas of the track, having supplied tyres for the recent 24 Hours of Spa.

The C2 compound will be the hard tyre, C3 will be the medium and C4 will be the soft tyre.