The world champion climbed to the RB7 on the legendary Belgian track
The organization has made various changes in favor of security
Max Verstappen has already made his debut at the revamped Spa-Francorchamps, days before Formula 1 returns to the legendary Belgian track. The current world champion took control of the 2011 RB7 and took the first laps on a circuit that had undergone several safety changes.
Verstappen He arrives in Belgium as the clear leader of the World Cup this weekend, with an 80-point advantage over his main rival, Charles Leclerc. The Dutch player is facing a special event, in his home country and on a circuit where the orange tide appears in large part again, a few days before the main event in Zandvoort.
Before the race at home, Verstappen will visit a very special circuit, in the country where he was born 25 years ago. Historically, Spa-Francorchamps has not been an ideal circuit for Red Bullbut he already had three podiums, one of which was a victory, in last year’s race that will go down in history for the fact that There was not a single course under the green flag.
Verstappen had the privilege to shoot before anyone else at the revamped Spa-Francorchamps at the controls of the RB7 who was world champion with Sebastian Vettel In 2011. Experienced the Belgian track A series of changes to security And in the first corner, there will be a gravel runoff that seeks to prevent drivers at all costs from using the outside of the track at that point.
A new look It’s time for a Spa-Francorchamps test drive # F1 pic.twitter.com/PioaD2r9Ds
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (redbullracing) August 22 2022
Moreover, at the most prominent point of the track, with Eau Rouge and Raidillon, there are wider replays so that in the event of an accident, the injured car is not in danger when returning to the track. In addition, at Curva Bruxelles, the asphalt was changed to gravel, with the aim of punishing mistakes on a circuit that is too difficult for any driver.
Finally, at both Les Combes and Blanchimont – spins 6, 7, 16 and 17 – the gaps were widened and pebbles added as well. Overall, with these changes, Spa-Francorchamps is seeking to improve security and earn integers to convince Liberty Media to stay on the calendar from next season.
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