Three Sundays without Formula One action will end this weekend with the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix. The last race in Budapest at the end of July saw tyre strategy rule supreme, and it's now the turn of the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to host F1. Last year's Belgian Grand Prix was a complete washout with just two laps of wet weather action – both behind the Safety Car – something we shouldn't see a repeat of this season if you believe the weather forecast, at least.
As Formula One summer breaks go, 2022 ranks as one of the better ones. The so-called silly season swung into action immediately with Fernando Alonso's shock switch to Aston Martin. This news was swiftly followed by Oscar Piastri's snub of Alpine, the team who supported his junior career. And this very week, Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed he's leaving McLaren at the end of 2022.
Yet, another unexpected twist came before Ricciardo's long-expected announcement when Haas confirmed Antonio Giovinazzi would return to the paddock this year. The vacuum created by Sebastian Vettel, the only driver definitely not racing in 2023, has suddenly meant the few remaining seats across the teams for next year are viable for anyone.
However, I hadn't expected to see Giovinazzi's name pop up to stage a comeback. The Italian racer left F1 when Alfa Romeo promoted Guanyu Zhou to their ranks, and I doubt many particularly noticed his absence with years of anonymous drives.
Giovinazzi found a new home in Formula E but didn't electrify in his debut season. The 28-year-old Italian scored 0 points, retired six times from his last seven starts, achieved a high of P16 at Monaco, and finished bottom of all the full-time drivers in the championship. To give some fairness and context to those numbers, his Dragon Penske Autosport team only enjoyed one points-scoring finish with Giovinazzi's teammate, who regularly outperformed the ex-F1 star. Irrespective, there was nothing to make people think his season out would earn a drive back at the pinnacle of motorsport.
I will clarify that no one has signed any contracts for 2023, and Giovinazzi's return is solely to drive for Haas in two Free Practice sessions later this season. He has served as the reserve driver for Ferrari all year alongside his Formula E duties, but that's a role which doesn't usually come alongside much track time. However, he will replace Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher for one round apiece with appearances at the Italian and U.S. Grands Prix for his first taste of 2022's new car design and tyres.
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Haas, and every other team, are obligated to give up Free Practice time at least twice this season. However, Giovinazzi's drives will not count toward that requirement. The ruling is there to allow rookies to F1 a chance to prove themselves and drive during a Grand Prix weekend – Giovinazzi is no F1 rookie. As such, Haas must kick Magnussen and/or Schumacher out of their car on at least two further occasions before 2022 ends in nine races.
Haas will only put Giovinazzi in their VF-22 challenger if they believe he's in with a chance of racing for them in 2023. Although he spent three full seasons in F1 before, there's nothing he will teach the team about their car that Magnussen or Schumacher can't. So, with Magnussen on a multi-year deal, the move suggests that Schumacher might be on his way elsewhere (Alpine, if you believe the rumour mill), and Haas wants to assess options to replace him if he leaves.
Although I understand the logic of wanting an established pair of hands with F1 experience, any partnership between Haas and Giovinazzi represents a lack of ambition from the team. For example, Giovinazzi's replacement at Alfa Romeo, Zhou, has surprised many in F1 with his speed, and Haas could choose another young driver for 2023 who could follow the Chinese racer's footsteps. With three years in F1, it's not like Giovinazzi hasn't had a fair opportunity to prove his worth, and at 28 years old, he's not young enough to be "one for the future" – it'll be a poor decision should it come to pass.
Before Giovinazzi comes back to the F1 paddock, F1 must first return to racing. The 2022 Belgian Grand Prix might have a brief storm nearby over the weekend, but thankfully any inclement weather won't hang around anywhere near as long as in 2021 with a dry and mild weather forecast.
Pirelli will provide the teams with the same tyre compounds as at the last two rounds in Hungary and France – the C2, C3, and C4 rubber. You may recall the prominence tyre choice played in both events, so keep an eye on each driver's tyre selection at lights out on Sunday.
The Belgian Grand Prix starts at 2PM on Sunday.
Qualifying – On air: 2PM, Session start: 3PM Saturday 27th August
Race – On air: 12:30PM, Session start: 2PM Sunday 28th August
Channel 4 will show the highlights of Qualifying and the Grand Prix at 6:30PM on Saturday and Sunday
Qualifying – 6:30PM Saturday 27th August
Race – 6:30PM Sunday 28th August
