Five Formula 1 tips for Belgian Grand Prix following summer break

Lee Gormley | August 25, 2016

Belgian Grand Prix

Five Formula 1 tips for Belgian Grand Prix

The 2016 Formula 1 season returns to the track this weekend following the summer break, with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton aiming to pick up where he left off when taking to the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

Mercedes driver Hamilton will take to the Belgian circuit possessing a promising 19-point lead over teammate and Championship rival Nico Rosberg, an impressive feat considering he was previously trailing the German by 43 points after five races.

Although, the Briton will be met by a grid penalty in this latest race, forcing him to start proceedings at the back the grid, meaning his lead is actually a precarious one.

So, ahead of the returning race, Coral outline five Formula 1 tips for the Belgian Grand Prix which punters and fans can enjoy during the action…

Rosberg to prevail in return race at Belgium

With his fellow Mercedes steerer Hamilton set to take the inflicted grid penalty this time out, instead of waiting until the Italian circuit, Rosberg will look to take advantage and begin the second half of the season strongly.

Before Hamilton’s resurgence, the German had won the opening four races of the campaign, but managed only three podium finishes once his teammate hit his stride.

Though, after a summer break to refresh himself, Rosberg enters proceedings at 8/15 with Coral to triumph at the prestigious the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Francorchamps.

Hamilton to record fastest lap

Triple world champion Hamilton will look to continue his blistering pace onto the highly-regarded Belgian track, after ending with six race victories, including four in a row, before the summer break took place.

The 31-year-old can make history in this returning race too, with a win set to see him become only one of three drivers in history to secure an impressive 50 career Grand Prix successes, as only Michael Schumacher (91) and Alain Prost (51) have reached the half century so far.

Hamilton has prevailed in Belgium twice before, including last year when first securing pole position, and is a tasty 13/8 to storm to the fastest lap in this comeback circuit, with the Briton having plenty of making up to do from a daunting grid position.

Verstappen to secure podium place at home

For 18-year-old sensation Verstappen, the Spa-Francorchamps track is the closest he has to being a home circuit, having been born in the country to a Belgian mother, but holds Dutch nationality.

The Red Bull teenager wrote himself into the history books earlier in the season by becoming the youngest ever Grand Prix winner, and he is odds-on 10/11 to earn a place on the podium in front of his home fans.

Verstappen’s heroics this year have helped his team move ahead of rivals Ferrari in the overall standings, while teammate Daniel Ricciardo also continues to impress, with the young F1 star ready to showcase his talents once again in a testing circuit.

Grosjean to get in top six places

In last season’s trip to Belgium, Swiss-born Frenchman Romain Grosjean produced a superb showing to secure third place at this challenging track, having finished behind just Hamilton and Rosberg on the podium.

Since then the 30-year-old has switched allegiances from Lotus-Mercedes to Haas F1 Team and will enter this latest outing at 8/1 to earn a top six finish.

Grosjean gained points on the board in the first two races of the season at Australia and Bahrain, as well as Russia and Austria, and he will be confident of kickstarting his campaign this weekend.

Vettel to land podium position

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has been involved in an indifferent season to date, having so far failed to win a race, but the four-time world champion has come close by finishing on the podium in all of Australia, China, Spain, Canada and Europe.

The previously dominant German will hope to enjoy more fortune on his return to action following a month-long lay-off, especially at a Belgian circuit which he has triumphed in the past, back in both 2011 and 2013. Vettel will therefore take to the track at 11/8 to earn another podium position this season.

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