It is time to go back to school, metaphorically speaking. The circus heads to a track many describe as the university of Formula 1, due to the variety of technical challenges drivers must tackle. Next weekend, the teams will be at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, the penultimate round before the summer break.

The circuit is the longest on the calendar, at 7.004 kilometres, and is one of the most beloved for its history, having been part of the World Championship since 1950, and for its layout, characterised by long straights, high-speed corners and the greatest elevation change of the entire season. There is also an element of unpredictability in an event that is already extremely demanding from both a technical and driving perspective.

The track is set in the Ardennes forest, which has a very particular microclimate compared to the rest of the region. In case of bad weather, rain-laden clouds take longer to clear the area, leaving the circuit damp and affecting the asphalt conditions. When it rains, drivers often encounter sections of the track that are dry and others that remain wet, making tyre choice particularly delicate, between slicks and intermediates.

For this challenge, Pirelli has brought the C2, C3 and C4 compounds. Spa-Francorchamps ranks among the most demanding circuits for tyres in terms of loads and forces, though not reaching the levels of Suzuka or Silverstone. The most iconic section is undoubtedly the stretch from Eau Rouge to the Raidillon climb. Here, corners follow one another in quick succession and in opposite directions while the track rises, before leading onto the Kemmel Straight. This section now features grooves in the asphalt designed to improve water drainage and visibility in wet conditions.

The track was completely resurfaced a couple of years ago and, in the early days of the weekend, generally offers a relatively low level of grip. Grip levels may improve thanks to the recent GT racing weekend, with the 24 Hours of Spa leaving additional rubber on the track.

The three sectors of the circuit each have very different characteristics and have always posed a setup puzzle for teams. The first is the fastest and includes a long straight where overtaking is common; the second is more technical, with medium-speed corners, many of which are downhill; the third is more flowing and develops on a gentle uphill gradient.

This year, the introduction of new aerodynamics should make it easier to find the right compromise in terms of downforce. The cars will be able to run higher downforce configurations for the more technical sections while benefiting from straight-line mode on the straights. As seen at Silverstone, the drivers' ability to manage and efficiently recharge the power unit will also be crucial.

Temperatures could also have a significant influence on the weekend and race strategies. During the 24 Hours of Spa, held at the end of June, track temperatures exceeded 55°C. With such high values, it is plausible that thermal tyre degradation will increase, raising the likelihood of two-stop strategies. In any case, the two hardest compounds in the range are expected to be the protagonists in Sunday's race.

Last year, rain caused a delay of over an hour to the start of the race. After a formation lap, the procedure was halted due to poor visibility. When it resumed, following four laps behind the Safety Car, the Grand Prix restarted with all drivers on intermediate tyres. From lap 11 onwards, all cars switched to Mediums, with the sole exception of Norris, who ran on Hards. Only six drivers, at the back of the field, made a second stop.

This year's event will be the 71st Belgian Grand Prix to be held. The circuit has hosted 58 editions of the race, which has also taken place at Zolder for 10 years and at Nivelles for two. The driver with the most victories in the Belgian Grand Prix is Michael Schumacher, with six wins. The German claimed his first Formula 1 victory at Spa in 1992, driving for Benetton. Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna follow with five wins each. Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor at the event, with 18 victories, three more than McLaren.