The Formula One World Championship is back this weekend after the summer break with the Belgian F1 GP 2021, the twelfth round of the season’s calendar. The Spa-Francorchamps will open the second half of the championship with the first race of the second triple header of the year.

The famous circuit, who was witness to the Battle of the Bulge during the Second World War, will play host this Sunday to a new chapter in the fight for the title between Mercedes and Red Bull.

The German team will be defending the leadership of both the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ standings following Hamilton´s victorie at Silverstone leading up to the summer break, which put a stop to Red Bull’s 5-win streak in Emilia-Romagna, Monaco, Azerbaijan, France, Styria & Austria.

Lewis Hamilton’s Silverstone’s victory, after he caused Max Verstappen to suffer a horrendous crash, signalled a change in the championships hierarchy. But it also unleashed a bitter off-the-track battle with the team from Milton Keynes.

Tensions were made worse after Bottas was guilty of a multiple accident at the start of the Hungarian GP which ruined Red Bull’s chances. It was precisely at the race in Budapest that the team of the star managed to snatch the lead of both classifications.

The hostilities between the two scuderias have since reached a new height and the Belgian F1 GP 2021 is taking place amidst the ongoing turmoil. On top of that, there is rain forecasted for the weekend.

The Wallonian track, with its long straights, should, in theory, favour the greater power and a lower aerodynamic load of the German machines. The circuit’s characteristics should, on the other hand, play against the Austrian cars.

At an individual level, Hamilton will be defending its 8-point advantage over Verstappen (195 against 187). Having added 32 points in the last two races, the Briton will be pursuing his fifh victory (Bahrain, Portugal, Spain & Great Britain) of this unpredictable season at the Spa-Francorchamps.

Red Bull Racing, on the contrary, furious after the Mercedes-caused accidents of England and Hungary, is very eager to have its back. Calm and contained in appearance,

it’s leader Max Verstappen, wants to take revenge on the Germans with a sixth 2021 victory. It won’t be easy. The damage endured by its engine might be beyond repair and if he needs a replacement he will be penalised in the starting grid.

As for the Manufacturers’ standings, Mercedes is leading Red Bull by 12 points (303 – 291). The “second” drivers of both teams, Valtteri Bottas and Checo Perez, will play a key role in this battle, despite their performances being consistently lower than what was expected of them so far.

Meanwhile, Ferrari and McLaren will continue leading the fight for the midfield. Despite the clear inferiority of the SF21 to the MCL35M, the consistency of the Ferrari drivers (Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz) has earned the Italian team a place a-la-pair with the Britons with 163 points.

Images of Belgian F1 GP 2021: F1.com