The Belgian Grand Prix gets underway on Friday and the weather is expected to be mixed during the three days of action at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
For Friday’s practice, rain is expected throughout the day, starting very heavily in the morning before gradually easing as the afternoon progresses.
The Met Office forecast indicates a 50% chance of rain for the first training session at 1.30pm CET, after a morning where showers are forecast.
By the second training session at 5 p.m., the sky should have cleared slightly, although there is still a 40 percent chance of precipitation.
Qualifying on Saturday at 4pm (3pm BST) also features cloudy conditions with a 50% chance of rain, which could make the fight for pole position interesting, with drivers and teams having to be precise in changing tyres depending on the conditions.
However, Sunday’s Grand Prix at 3pm (2pm BST) is expected to be held in dry conditions.
There is less than a 10% chance of rain, with sunny conditions and temperatures around 20°C.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are among the best drivers on wet tracks, with Fernando Alonso also an expert.
Wet conditions are usually the cause of chaos in the pit lane. While dry (slick) tyres are the fastest, track conditions are fundamental to tyre choice and standing water will likely mean the intermediate tyre is regularly used.
If the rain is constant and heavy, extreme wet weather tyres may also be used, just to keep the cars on track. However, if this is the case, the session may well be interrupted.
Rain is often present in the Ardennes forests. The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, scheduled for the end of August, was cancelled due to heavy rain.