The 2015 Belgian GP preview

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The summer break has finished and F1 makes its return when the Belgian Grand Prix gets underway on Friday 21st August on Sky Sports F1.

The 2015 Belgian GP preview: Everything you need to know about this weekend's race!

A favourite amongst drivers and fans alike, the longest lap on the calendar will test engines through the high-speed sectors one and three, but also aerodynamics through the twisting middle sector.

So read on below as Sky Sports provide your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the grand prix weekend.

The 2015 Belgian GP in a nutshell

Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Permanent circuit.

Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).

Laps: 44.

Track length: 7.004 km.

Tyre allocation: Soft (yellow) and medium (white).

DRS Zones: Two with separate detection spots (Pit straight and Kemmel straight).

Driver steward: Emanuele Pirro.

Lap record: Sebastian Vettel - 1:47.263 (Red Bull, 2009).

2014 pole: Nico Rosberg - 2:05.591 (Mercedes).

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Watch as Mercedes' Nico Rosberg secures pole position in the 2014 Belgium Grand Prix in damp conditions.

Sky Sports F1's schedule

Thursday August 20

2pm - Drivers' Press Conference - Live!

Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Danill Kvyat (Red Bull), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Will Stevens (Marussia), Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso).

8:45pm - Paddock Uncut.

9pm - Classic Races - Belgium 1985.

Friday August 21

8:45am - Belgian GP Practice One - Live!

11am - GP2 Practice - Live!

12:45pm - Belgian GP Practice Two - Live!

2:50pm - GP2 Qualifying - Live!

4pm - Team Principals' Press Conference.

James Allison (Ferrari), Nick Chester (Lotus), Giampaolo Dall'Ara (Sauber), Andrew Green (Force India), Paddy Lowe (Mercedes), Paul Monaghan (Red Bull).

5pm - The F1 Show - Live!

Saturday August 22

8:45am - GP3 Qualifying - Live!

9:45am - Belgian GP Practice Three - Live!

12pm - Belgian GP Qualifying - Live!

2:35pm - GP2 Feature Race - Live!

4:15pm - GP3 Race One - Live!

6:25pm - Ted's Qualifying Notebook.

Sunday August 23

8:20am - GP3 Race Two - Live!

9:30am - GP2 Sprint Race - Live!

11:30am - The 2015 Belgian GP - Track Parade - Live!

12pm - The 2015 Belgian GP - Pit Lane - Live!

12:30pm - The 2015 Belgian GP - Race - Live!

3:30pm - The 2015 Belgian GP - Paddock Live!

6:30pm - Belgian GP highlights.

7:30pm - Ted's Race Notebook.

7:45pm - Classic Races - Japan 1989.

Form guide

Daniel Ricciardo capitalised on the fighting between the Mercedes drivers to take victory in last year's race. It was Red Bull's third win at Spa in four years, with Ferrari and McLaren the only other teams to enjoy recent success. You have to back to Damon Hill's 1998 victory for Jordan in an action-packed race for the last win by another team.

2014 result: 1. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull); 2. Nico Rosberg, (Mercedes); 3. Valtteri Bottas (Williams); 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari); 5. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 6. Jenson Button (McLaren); 7. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 8. Sergio Perez (Force India); 9. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso); 10. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India).

Last five winners at Spa: 2014: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull); 2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2012: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2010: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

Daniel Ricciardo celebrates his 2014 win

Tyre allocation

Pirelli will bring the yellow-marked soft and the white-banded medium tyres to Belgium.

The Italian firm explained the reasoning behind this decision, stating: "Spa is the longest lap of the year, where the medium and soft should provide consistent performance."

Sky Bet odds

After extending his championship lead in Hungary, Lewis Hamilton remains favourite for the race victory with Sky Bet. Check out the latest full range of race and title odds here.