Rain expected to impact 2023 Belgian Grand Prix weekend

Some of Formula 1's most iconic wet weather moments have come at Spa in the Belgian Grand Prix.

Whether it be the multi-car pile-up on the opening lap of the 1998 race that was quite possibly the worst in Grand Prix racing's history to Michael Schumacher marching down the pit-lane to have it out with David Coulthard following their collision in that very race or the washout and abandonment of the 2021 event, Spa and wet weather are linked together.

Famously, it can rain at one end of the 7km long track, but be dry at the other end of the Ardennes Forest.

And this weekend, the 2023 race weekend is expected to be wet. Very wet.

2023 Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast

This weekend will feature the first Sprint race at Spa, and third of the season, with the sole practice session being held on Friday afternoon before Grand Prix Qualifying at 5pm local time.

The Sprint race itself is at 4:30pm local time on Saturday afternoon, with lights out for the Grand Prix set for 15:00pm local time on Sunday, and there is a big chance of rain, according to RacingNews365's weather partner WeerOnline.

The weekend is set to be cloudy with rain falling regularly throughout, but as things stand, the current forecast is for rain only in practice on Friday and not Qualifying.

It is predicted the rain will move away to the northeast - away from the Kemmel Straight - with the sun expected to break through for Qualifying. The temperature is set to be around 21 degrees celsius.

Both Saturday's Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint itself are expected to be wet - with the last Sprint race also being wet in Austria. However, teams must keep a close eye on the radars as the rain is expected to move around the track with the sun peeping through.

As for the race, there is a chance of showers on Sunday, with the sun maybe drying the track if it can break through the cloud cover.

Temperatures will be cool at 18 degrees celsius with a moderate westerly wind, blowing across the track from left to right across the Kemmel Straight as the drivers look.