Belgian Grand Prix: When is it, what time does it start, session times and schedule

Everything you need to know about the seventh round of the 2020 Formula One season

Lewis Hamilton heads to Spa this weekend with a 37-point advantage in the drivers’ championship, but fully aware that Belgium has not been a happy hunting ground.

The runaway leader returned to winning ways last time out in Barcelona with one of his most dominant victories in the Spanish Grand Prix, thrashing Max Verstappen by more than 24 seconds as he lapped the field up to third place.

But Spa is far from his strongest track, having only won three times in 13 visits, and in fact he has failed to finish more times than he has topped the podium at the Ardennes circuit - something that he cannot say for any other established track on the calendar.

It offers championship rivals Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas a glimmer of hope in their battle with the six-time world champion, and there will be further factors that come into play over the course of the weekend.

Pirelli have deployed the softer range of compound tyres for this weekend’s race, with Verstappen utilising them at Silverstone to take his one and only victory of the season, while rain is expected to seriously impact Sunday that could produce the most unpredictable race of the season so far.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.

When is it?

The Belgian Grand Prix takes place across 28 - 30 August 2020.

How can I watch it?

All European races will be held behind closed doors, meaning that the only way fans will be able to see the action is on television.

In the UK, Sky Sports continue to hold the exclusive rights for F1, with Channel 4 only able to show the British Grand Prix live as they are restricted to highlights coverage the rest of the year.

If you’re not a Sky customer you can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

What time does each session start?

FRIDAY

Free practice 1: 10am – 11:30pm BST

Free practice 2: 2pm – 3:30pm BST

SATURDAY

Free practice 3: 11am – 12pm BST

Qualifying: 2pm – 3pm BST

SUNDAY

Race: 2:10pm – 4:10pm BST

Here’s how Sky and Channel 4 plan to show the Belgian Grand Prix:

FRIDAY

Free practice 1: 10am – 11:50m BST – (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event)

Free practice 2: 1:45pm – 3:45pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event)

SATURDAY

Free practice 3: 10:45am – 12:10pm BST (Sky Sports F1 Sky Sports Main Event)

Qualifying: 1pm – 3:35pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event)

SUNDAY

Race: 12:30pm – 5pm BST (Sky Sports F1) + 12:30pm - 4pm BST (Sky Sports Main Event)

Highlights: 6:30pm - 9pm BST (Channel 4), 11pm - 12am BST (Sky Sports F1)

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