WHAT TO WATCH FOR: All to play for around Spa-Francorchamps

The double-header comes to a close at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend as Formula 2 prepares for its final race ahead of the summer break and the title races are hotting up, even if the weather isn’t.

Round 10 of the 2024 campaign is an intriguing prospect, with carry over penalties, strategy and weather all looking like playing a pivotal role in how the weekend unfolds.

Here are a few items you’ll want to keep a closer eye on in Belgium.

ARON ON THE OFFENSIVE

It was not the cleanest of weekends for Paul Aron last time out around the Hungaroring. After the Hitech Pulse-Eight driver started on the front foot by securing Pole Position ahead of title rival Isack Hadjar, things quickly unravelled.

In the Sprint Race, Aron got a poor getaway at lights out left him down in 16th having started from P10 on the grid. It was a slow fightback to seventh from there, but with Richard Verschoor’s disqualification, that became sixth while rival Hadjar was promoted to third, extending his points advantage.

The Feature Race was more trouble for Aron, as he made contact with Zane Maloney in the early stages, putting both on the sidelines. He earned a five-place grid penalty for that collision as well as another five for forcing PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman off the road on Lap 1 at Turn 4.

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It means Aron will have a 10-place grid penalty to serve this weekend at Spa. He will serve the sanction in the next race in which he competes, currently set to be the Sprint, but will need to be on the attack to limit the damage to his closest rivals in the Championship.

With the summer break coming up, the Estonian will be aiming to go into his holidays with Hadjar well within his sights, and a positive weekend in Belgium is paramount to those hopes. The Campos Racing driver meanwhile is now in a position where he may well be a little more reserved such is his points advantage at the moment.

TEAMS’ FIGHTING FOR THE TITLE

Invicta Racing are the new leaders in the Teams’ Standings, overtaking Campos Racing at the top following an intriguing two races in Budapest. Now on 184 points, Invicta are the third different team to lead the way in the Teams’ stakes, following Rodin Motorsport’s fast start and Campos’ impressive middle third of the campaign.

Along with the team showing signs of improvement, rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto has staked his claim in the Drivers’ Championship, moving himself into the top three with yet another top five result in the Feature Race, and he is building serious momentum as the year progresses.

His Sprint non-score at the Hungaroring was the first time dating back to Melbourne’s Feature Race that he has failed to finish in the points-paying positions, an impressive run to say the least.

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On the other side of the garage, Kush Maini was a winner for the first time in Formula 2 after Verschoor’s DSQ on Saturday. It wasn’t the way the Indian driver will have imagined his first victory occurring, but he was due a good result after showing impressive pace in 2024.

As both title fights continue to evolve, Invicta look like they are getting back to their early season form, able to exploit strong one-lap pace and combining that with eye-catching race performances for both drivers.

Will they be able to extend their points advantage over Campos and the rest this weekend at Spa?

WEATHER REPORT

As is usually the case around Spa-Francorchamps, the weather is set to play a role this weekend on at least one of the days of on-track action.

Currently, forecasts predict that Friday and Saturday could be rain-affected, with the Sprint Race set to be a wet one if the pre-weekend predictions hold.

Friday’s Qualifying though will be one to watch if the rain arrives, as the opportunity for a great result opens up for everybody if they can nail their flying lap.

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Last season, PREMA Racing locked out the front row with Oliver Bearman and Frederik Vesti after getting to the end of the pit lane first and recording a flying lap just before rain arrived to prevent any further improvements.

Timing is everything in racing and that is never truer than when the weather radar indicated incoming inclement weather.

Who will get it right this weekend?