6 Things to watch out for at the Belgian GP

It's been a while since the debut of a young driver has generated such anticipation, but Esteban Ocon's arrival at Manor Racing is arguably the big story of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Though few are expecting miracle results in the minnow team, the Frenchman is being measured against similarly highly-rated Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein on the other side of the garage. With Mercedes and Renault watching with interest, the defending GP3 Series champion is already facing a fair amount of pressure before he turns a wheel but the youngster has taken the attention in his stride so far...

It's hard to go through any Belgian Grand Prix weekend without Michael Schumacher's hallowed name being uttered. However, this weekend more than most there is added relevance given the 25th August marks exactly 25 years since the sporting legend made his F1 debut with Jordan at Spa-Franorchamps. On that occasion his race didn't even last a lap, but Michael had already made his mark, setting the ball in motion for what would become an extraordinary racing career. The flags and banners that pop up each year at Spa continue to honour the great, a poignant tribute to a man still fighting injuries sustained in a skiing accident in 2013... #KeepFightingMichael

The man himself reckoned he needed the summer break more than any other driver on the grid, but now there really is nowhere to hide for Daniil Kvyat as he fights for his Toro Rosso seat... and possibly his F1 career. While it is hard not to sympathise with the articulate Russian after his controversial demotion by Red Bull (being informed by Helmut Mark as he was watching Game of Thrones no less!), his disappointing form and deflated demeanour thereafter next to Carlos Sainz at STR has caught the eye for the wrong reasons. With the chance to pause, reflect and re-motivate himself during the August hiatus, Kvyat's results in the coming races will be watched with keen interest by Red Bull and the man waiting in the wings, Pierre Gasly.

Red Bull and Ferrari may be engaging in a fierce battle for second in the constructors' standings, but there is also an intriguing battle brewing for fourth between incumbents Williams and the steadily looming Force India. Having claimed a best-ever fifth overall in 2015, Force India may have started the year slowly but has arguably shown Williams a clean pair of heels in recent events, topped by Sergio Perez's podiums in Monaco and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Spa has been kind to the Mercedes-powered team in the past... with just 15 points between them, Force India's lofty fourth place target could come well into view this weekend.

With Red Bull nosing ahead of Ferrari to grab second in the F1 constructors' standings for the first time ahead of the summer break, it comes to Spa-Francorchamps eager to consolidate its newfound peak. Far from merely battling Ferrari this weekend though, Red Bull is being tipped for a potential Mercedes fight, the strength of its RB12 package in the high-speed bends helping to negate its weaker power unit. Furthermore, Max Verstappen can almost certainly count on BIG support from his growing band of merry Dutch supporters who will no doubt cross the border from Holland this weekend...

Something to literally watch out for this weekend, the wasps of Spa have become something of an infamous legend. Indeed, for all of the Ardennes' beauty, it is a veritable hive for wasps and the current heatwave across Europe isn't helping! Not convinced? Ask Max Verstappen... it's his only criticism of this otherwise gorgeous region and fabulous venue.