- Mercedes have won two of the last three Grands Prix
- Spa is a high-speed circuit, and the weather is expected to be cool
- Recommended bets: 
- Team of winning driver: Mercedes
- George Russell podium finish

McLaren dominated at the twisty Hungaroring last time but the high-speed blast of Spa-Francorchamps could see Mercedes return to the top step in the Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa-Francorchamps is a classic circuit, loved by the drivers. Characterised by long periods of full throttle and sequences of high-speed and sweeping curves, the circuit nestled in the Ardennes forest provides a completely different challenge to that of Budapest last time.

McLaren scored a 1-2 finish in Hungary, with Oscar Piastri claiming his first Grand Prix victory ahead of team-mate Lando Norris, and the market expects the papaya cars to head the charge again.

But Mercedes' constant stream of upgrades has brought them right into the hunt for victories, and they could find Spa plays to the strengths of their car.

The stats

Mercedes have won two of the last three races and claimed a front-row lockout in qualifying at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has failed to win in three consecutive races for the first time since the 2021 season.

George Russell claimed a podium finish in Canada and a win in Austria and led the early stages in Great Britain. 

Predictions

For the first time this season, three-time world champion Max Verstappen is not the early favourite going into a Grand Prix weekend.

The Red Bull ace has finished fifth, second and fifth in the last three races, and his position at the head of the market has been taken by McLaren's Lando Norris.

Norris magnanimously moved aside to let his team-mate Oscar Piastri win in Hungary last week after the Australian had been compromised by team strategy.

That saw Briton Norris come home second for the fifth time this season.

He was third in Great Britain in another race he could have won with a better strategy. However, the McLaren was at its best in the wet at Silverstone, whereas the papaya cars struggled to match Mercedes in the dry.

Spa is a similar type of circuit to Silverstone and, with sunny but cool weather forecast, the Silver Arrows may be the ones to side with.

George Russell took a somewhat lucky win in Austria, benefiting when Verstappen and Norris collided while battling for the lead.

However, he has been out of luck since, suffering a mechanical issue at Silverstone, where he had started from pole position, and qualifying only 17th in Hungary after a messy session.

Russell has generally been the stronger performing Mercedes driver this season, but Lewis Hamilton's victory at Silverstone seems to have revitalised the seven-time world champion. 

The 39-year-old put in a fantastic effort in Budapest to finish third and move ahead of Russell in the standings for the first time this season.

Qualifying first and second at Silverstone suggests this kind of high-speed challenge is what the car needs to be at its best. It is hard to choose between the Mercedes drivers, but the odds are attractive for the winning driver to be from the team.

Back Mercedes to win at 6/1 with LiveScore Bet

Back George Russell to finish on the podium at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet