Preview / BELGIUM spa francorchamps

30/31 August - 1 September 2019

Summary Nico Hülkenberg / / Academy / Track Notes / History

Friday 30th August 2019 Saturday 31st August 2019 Sunday 1st September 2019 Free Practice 1 11:00 - 12:30 Free Practice 3 12:00 - 13:00 Race 15:10 Free Practice 2 15:00 - 16:30 Qualifying 15:00

Q&A

NICO

F1 TEAM

Nico Hülkenberg is focused on commanding his R.S.19 at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps, with his aim the top ten.

What do you like about How challenging is a lap? What did you do over the summer break? Spa-Francorchamps? It’s a long lap with a lot of things to get The break certainly came at a welcome Spa is one of my favourite tracks to race right. It can be tricky to find the right time for us after a disappointing July. We at in Formula 1. Everything about the balance on the car; you need high- know the season has fallen below our place makes it so special. The scenery in downforce for some of the corners in the expectations so far and it’s up to us now the forest, the unpredictable weather, the middle part of the lap, while also not taking to ensure we recover it for the remainder awesome corner combinations; it all adds too much off to ensure a good top-speed of the year. I relaxed a little, recharged the up to create this really cool challenge. Spa on the straights. It has a nice flow to it and batteries on a boat in Croatia. But now it’s is known for its elevation changes and fast you need to piece together the sectors. The time to get going again and I’m ready for corners. It’s a real thrill when you nail a lap weather can be a bit weird in Spa; one part the challenge. These next two back-to-back and head through Eau Rouge, Pouhon and of the circuit might be dry, while another races are almost a make or break for our Blanchimont at high-speed. I think Spa suits could be wet. Anything can happen there, season. We have to be on it. my style of driving and we’ll be aiming for a and we know a big opportunity could arise. solid run this weekend to start this second-half of the season on the right foot.

These next two back-to-back races are almost a make or break for our season. We have to be on it.

NICO

Q&A

DANIEL

renault F1 TEAM

Daniel Ricciardo is back in town ready for the second part of the 2019 season. The first challenge, tackling the longest track on the calendar, Spa-Francorchamps.

What are your thoughts on Do you have a favourite corner? Are you looking forward to the rest of Spa-Francorchamps? Of course, we all love taking on Eau Rouge the season? I think most drivers love racing at Spa. It’s – that’s a wicked corner – but I really enjoy It’s been a challenging season so far, we such a cool place and a track with a lot the middle sector. It flows nicely with quick can’t hide from that. There have been some of history. I seem to have a decent record changes of direction. Pouhon – Turn 10 – is positives, some things not so good, so the there; a win in 2014 and podiums in 2016 rapid nowadays and it’s probably one of the summer break was ideal for us. It was nice and 2017. It’s a long lap – the longest of most enjoyable corners on the calendar. It’s to take some time off, have a holiday in the year – so if you do make a mistake you pretty brave, over 280kph in seventh gear. Los Angeles, and not think too much about know there is a chance to make it back up It’s a great feeling, especially on an all-out racing. It was the same for the team, so somewhere. There are so many corners to qualifying lap. hopefully we’re all feeling refreshed now. get right and it’s never over until you cross We’re targeting a better second-half of the that line. season to catch our competitors. I know we can do it, we just need cleaner weekends.

We’re targeting a better second-half of the season to catch our competitors. I know we can do it, we just need cleaner weekends. ACADEMY

FORMULA 2

Spa time for Aitken, Hubert and Zhou as Formula 2 heats up

Renault Sport Academy duo and Anthoine Hubert and Renault F1 Team Test Driver , return from the summer holiday ready to take on Spa-Francorchamps for the ninth round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Four rounds remain in the 2019 season with Zhou and Anthoine well in the mix for top rookie honours and a place in the top five in the series. Jack, meanwhile, sits 62 points from the championship leader, as he targets closing that gap.

Anthoine Hubert

“Spa is in my top five favourite tracks so I’m obviously very happy to race there this weekend. I feel very refreshed after the summer break and I really enjoyed the training camp with the other Academy drivers! I’m now looking forward to fighting on track and returning to the front positions this weekend!”

jack Aitken

“I’m really looking forward to getting out racing again after a break. Everyone looks forward to these two tracks – Spa and Monza – as they are amongst the best on the calendar. We’ll definitely be aiming to get the second part of the season underway with some wins!”

Guanyu Zhou

“Finally, we are back racing. I didn’t have much time off as we had a training camp in France. Now I’m looking forward to getting back in the seat and I want to have a good weekend. I’ve been fast in Spa in the past, so I’m excited to do it again in Formula 2 and begin this next part of the season on a positive.” ACADEMY

formula 3

All or nothing for Lundgaard and Fewtrell as Yifei searches for first points

Renault Sport Academy’s and enjoyed a successful weekend in Hungary at the start of the month to get their 2019 season back on track.

Christian took pole position, a race win and the fastest lap in Budapest to edge into the top five in the standings. Max finished closely behind Christian in race one before retiring with a mechanical issue while in the hunt for another podium in race two. The ART Grand Prix team-mates head to Spa-Francorchamps for round six, ready for another strong weekend.

Yifei Ye is yet to score in 2019 as he searches for his first top ten finish at Spa-Francorchamps

Christian LundgaarD

“It will be good to be back on track after the summer break. We ended the first part of the season on a high in Hungary, which was important for us to keep the momentum we’ve got going within the team and we want to continue bringing home some good results. Spa was a good track for me last year so I hope I can bring the experience with me to be on top from the start.”

MAX FEWTRELL

“I’m really looking forward to Spa, hopefully it will be a good weekend for us. We need to carry on the speed we had in Budapest, it was a strong weekend for the team all round, so we need to keep it up for the next races. The summer break was a big training camp, I’m feeling strong after that and ready to get back in the car and fight for the wins.”

Yifei Ye

“I’m really looking forward to the next race in Spa. I completed some excellent training in the short summer break and now I’m ready to come back on track to race. Spa is one of my best circuits, so I can’t wait to drive there.” ACADEMY

Eurocup

Martins, Collet and Lorandi ready for Nürburgring in Eurocup

Renault Sport Academy Driver aims to return to the top of the Drivers’ Championship as the series heads to the legendary Nürburgring for round six.

Victor sits second in the championship on 147 points, level with current leader . The Frenchman is on a strong run of form with six podiums from the last seven races. remains fifth in the standings and top rookie on 99 points with Affiliate Driver Leonardo Lorandi ninth.

victor martins

“It’s an awesome feeling to be back racing this weekend for the sixth round of the season at the Nürburgring. The preparation has been great with the training camp in the south of France with the Renault Sport Academy, so I’m definitely feeling ready for this race. We’ve put in a lot of effort to be able to attack the second part of the season and show our true potential. Let’s get back to the hard work.”

caio collet

“I’m really excited to be back racing, especially after this long break. I’m feeling really good. The training camp with the other Academy drivers has helped a lot to be ready for this next stage of the season. The Nürburging is a new track for me so it will a nice challenge and the team and I are looking forward for it.”

LEONARDO LORANDI

“The Nürburgring is going to be a new track for me to learn, so I’ll try to optimise free practice to be ready for qualifying. I’ve trained as much as I could on the simulator to be ready from the start of the weekend. The summer break has been very productive and I’m looking forward to going back in the cockpit!” TYRE SELECTION