Lapping Spa-Francorchamps, with Isack Hadjar

As one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, victory at Spa-Francorchamps carries that little bit extra weight for drivers at all levels. With a win in Formula 2 and points in his first F1 weekend at the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar has previous good memories and is our guide for a lap of the 4.352-mile circuit.

It's in my top three circuits. I think it’s a good mix around the lap in enjoyment in terms of every speed range. Coming up through the ranks, it's a track where you can overtake properly – I think it's probably the best racetrack for cars like Formula 3, where you have the most fun racing people. And on top of that it's just an iconic track with nice elevation changes, a nice flow, so it's just perfect.

It's true that it is a challenge when it comes to setup considerations, not just the balance but also the load choices you make. Because you have Sector 2 where it's all about having the load to go fast around the corners, and then you have Sector 1 and Sector 3 which is purely straight-line speed mostly, so making your choice around that and also having to commit to one rear wing level to race with… It's a hard choice and through the ranks it's always been the same story, so it's always fun.

I think mostly in Formula 1 it's a bit easier because we also have a bit more flexibility with what we we have available in terms of parts on the car, whereas Formula 3, Formula 2 is a bit extreme between setup changes. But it's true that this year it's quite straightforward – I think most of us only have one rear wing configuration so far, and a lot of Straight Mode, but I think this track still makes it fun.

Turn 1 is key to getting the run up the hill right...which is critical, because it's a long climb. Mark Thompson/Getty Images

There are a number of sections of the track that you want to get right, but I would say Turn 1 is very hard because you never really know the grip you're going to get into Turn 1. It’s always hard on front lock-ups, and at the same time if you get this one wrong on the exit then your lap is pretty much over, because there's a long run up the hill and it's quite a hill, so probably this is the toughest.

I will remember the first time I went through Eau Rouge forever. It was like seven years ago in Formula 4 and it was very impressive. I felt like my head was going down in the car! Now you get used to it and it's not the same kick but it's always nice.

You can't really see up the hill so much so you kind of see trees and and sky – or mostly clouds! And the weather is another factor here too. It's the definition of changeable on this track. I think this weekend it's probably one of the rare weekend in history there's probably not going to be rain – or not a lot – but I've had sessions here where you don't even know which tire you're putting on the car and it makes it so difficult.

For me, that first lap in free practice on this track is like me Monaco and Japan – these are the tracks that are proper and need to stay on the calendar forever. Honestly, I'm really looking forward to driving in Spa all the time.

Belgian Grand Prix schedule (all times Eastern):

Friday, July 17
Practice 1, 7:30-8:30am
Practice 2, 11:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, July 18
Practice 3, 6:30-7:30am
Qualifying, 10:00-11:00am

Sunday, July 19
Race, 9:00-11:00am