Why do Kimi and co. love Spa so much?

Ask any F1 driver today what his favourite circuit is, and the majority will answer Spa. You can see why. It’s fast, long, scenic, challenging and uncontrived - in short, it’s a stone-cold classic track. Above all though, it has a whiff of danger that so few tracks possess these days - f**k up at Spa and the consequences can be serious. No F1 driver wants to risk his life in a car, but they all love the turbo boost of adrenaline that comes with taking a corner like Eau Rouge flat out.

With the Belgian GP just a few days away, here’s what the key players have to say about Spa. And it’s all good:

Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
“The Belgian Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the season and I usually obtain a good result at Spa. I need it more than ever after the results of the last races… I’ve only good memories of this race. Obviously it would be fantastic to win it for the fourth time in a row… Whatever the outcome will be, it’s nice to race at Spa. It’s a very special feeling when you’re driving on this track.”

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
“Spa’s one of my all-time favourites. Even before I first came here, which was back in 2002 for a Formula Renault race, I played it on my computer - it was always one of the best tracks. It has probably the most exciting corner in Formula One, Eau Rouge, and it’s one of the few circuits where you really feel like you’re actually going somewhere; you blast off into the forest and get to the top of the hill and can feel the whole circuit beneath you.”

Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
“Like most of the drivers, I think this is the best circuit on the current calendar and I love the track.”

Fernando Alonso (Renault)
“Spa is one of those exceptional circuits on the Formula One calendar. Like all the older circuits, there is always a very special and warm atmosphere. For the drivers, Spa is an unbelievable challenge and is a very enjoyable place to drive a Formula One car.”

Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
“From my point of view the race in Spa is one of the best Grands Prix in the calendar. It is a very unique track with high-speed corners you can approach with different racing lines.”

Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
“Spa is a big, fast circuit and still feels a little bit dangerous. For a driver, that always gives you an added element of excitement - it’s fast and narrow, almost like a street circuit between the trees. And it’s long, so it’s very difficult to string a good lap together. The most important thing you need here is bravery: you really need to attack the corners faster than your brain is telling you to. You’ve got to keep the throttle flat even if it doesn’t look possible, you have to trust your instincts and just put the danger out of your mind. It’s a real driver’s circuit.”

Nico Rosberg (Williams)
“I’m really looking forward to the Belgian Grand Prix because Spa is an amazing race track.”

Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
“In my opinion Spa is simply the best circuit in the world and I love driving there. Every part of the circuit is challenging for a driver and that is fantastic because you have to really push in every corner to get the best lap time; it gives you a special feeling.”

Jenson Button (Honda)
“All the drivers love going to Spa, and for me, it is one of the most beautiful circuits that we race on with fantastically green and lush surroundings. For a driver, the circuit has one of those layouts which has everything and gives you a real buzz to drive, just like Suzuka and Silverstone. Eau Rouge is a legendary corner and the feeling when you hit the bottom of the hill, the car touches the ground and you shoot straight back up again is amazing. It’s a crazy corner in the dry and even more so in the wet.”

Nelson Piquet (Renault)
“Spa is one of the circuits that I enjoy above all - it’s probably my favourite of the championship, along with Silverstone.”

Kazuki Nakajima (Williams)
“Spa is probably one of the greatest tracks on the calendar so I’m really looking forward to taking my FW30 out and doing that first lap!”

Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)
“Spa is a fantastic race track with unique corners and a very special character. Although these days with the V8 engines it is no problem taking the Eau Rouge combination in the hollow at full throttle, it remains a standout feature.”

Anyone notice a theme here?

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