1345 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

Time for Round 7 of the F1 season at a sweeping, symbolic, sombre Spa-Francorchamps. The very definition of a drivers' circuit, showcasing their skill and bravery at every turn. Blasting through the Ardennes in the pursuit of glory. Superheroes in their own right.

 

It's the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix ...

 

 

-

 

 

The speed and precision of this lap. Incredible.
 

The Grid
 

 

The field is headed by the medium-shod Mercedes and Max Verstappen. Hamilton was in a league of his own in qualifying, in dedication to the late Chadwick Boseman. He will be challenged on the run to Les Combes. Can Verstappen split the Mighty Mercedes again?

 

The fight for P3 in the Constructors' Championship has swung badly away from Ferrari this weekend. Racing Point, in sympathy, is also languishing in the bottom reaches of the top ten, leaving McLaren, and more so Renault to really build some mid-season momentum. Advantage Woking at the moment, such is their current standing. Ricciardo a massive outside bet for a podium.

 

Alpha Tauri are line astern with free tyre choice from P11-12. A welcome return to form for Kvyat at a track he always goes well at. Gasly's run of Q3 appearances comes to an end, but both will be aiming for solid points as they try to gatecrash the big fight in the WCC. Italy's second team, Ferrari, will spend Sunday looking backwards, not forwards. It can't get any worse, can it?

 

A welcome return to Q2 for George Russell as Williams, Alfa and Haas bring up the rear. A sprinkling of Spa-chaos will be required for any of them to get near the points.

 

 

Farewell to the King (of Spa)?

 

From the death of one king to the departure of another. Will this be Kimi Raikkonen's last Belgian Grand Prix? If so, let's remember some of his better moments, earning him the title "King of Spa".

 

 

 

 

Tyres, Strategy, Weather

 

 

 

 

Will it rain? Depends on who you ask. The clouds have been swirling all weekend.

 

Time Zones

 

Same as always ...

 

 

In Memoriam

 

Almost one year ago exactly we lost the sparkling talent of Anthoine Hubert. The raw emotion from last year has been replaced by reflection and solace. There will be a one-minute silence before the race.

 

 

Edited by TomNokoe, 30 August 2020 - 09:30.

[HeadFirst]

One word .... brilliant. Thanks Tom. 

[gowebber]

What a cracking grid. I really hope it stays dry because we could see some great action on lap 1 particularly down the Kemmel straight with that high top speed Renault in Dan's hands too.

Edited by gowebber, 30 August 2020 - 02:24.

[renzmann]

Remembering Hubert for a minute will make the BLM ritual extra cringy, I reckon.

 

The race has a couple of variables that could make it interesting. Ricciardo's low df Renault could fly in the first rounds. With all those straights, Bottas has no excuse: he must attack Hamilton in the first round. Verstappen was on par with Mercedes in the long runs - his car seems to have improved a lot since the last race. Mercedes going for a wet race setup - what if it doesn't rain?

 

Oh, who am I kidding. This will be a "get in there Lewis" and "oh my God I can't believe it, the car was amazing" borefest from start to finish.

[PayasYouRace]

Let's see... Ideally the typical La Source melee sees Verstappen and both Mercedes eliminated. Then the fight for the win is on.

[aray]

Seems like chances of rain is low.

[w1Y]

Why are people writing the race off. Lewis won't be 1st after the first lap so either bottas poor race pace will keep max and lewis in the fight or max will lead and we will get a good race.

Especially if the mercs are down on straight line speed.

[kernel]

Seems like chances of rain is low.

Yep. Mercedes took the wrong bet...

[Spillage]

If quali is anything to go by the Merc advantage is huge irrespective of whether it rains. I suspect the best chance of anyone beating them is by slipstreaming them into Les Combes and then sitting in front of them all race, similar to Raikkonen v Fisi in 2009.

[Anja]

Why are people writing the race off. Lewis won't be 1st after the first lap

 

Right, just like in every other race when Bottas starts behind him 

Edited by Anja, 30 August 2020 - 08:16.

[PayasYouRace]

Why are people writing the race off. Lewis won't be 1st after the first lap so either bottas poor race pace will keep max and lewis in the fight or max will lead and we will get a good race.

Especially if the mercs are down on straight line speed.

 

A fiver that he is.

[jjcale]

Let's see... Ideally the typical La Source melee sees Verstappen and both Mercedes eliminated. Then the fight for the win is on.

 

If that happens it wouldnt be a fight - DR would walk it ... probably with EO second for a dominant Renault 1-2 .... but no one would call that boring - for some reason. 

[jjcale]

A fiver that he is.

 

I take that bet .... have you seen his top speed? .... sitting duck on lap 1 ... could very well be DR leading. [edit - unless the 2 mercs do some serious #1 and wingman team play  ... but I cant see VB playing ball]

 

I am so stoked for this race start ...

Edited by jjcale, 30 August 2020 - 08:40.

[MortenF1]

I am prepared to take almost any result today, if Ricciardo can get on the podium!
...and for Räikkönen to score points.

Edited by MortenF1, 30 August 2020 - 08:40.

[Anja]

If that happens it wouldnt be a fight - DR would walk it ... probably with EO second for a dominant Renault 1-2 .... but no one would call that boring - for some reason. 

 

No way. Renault is usually weaker in the races than in quali and there's plenty of close competition. Even without Merc and Max they could easily end up off the podium.

[LiftAndCoast]

I hope that if somehow Danny manages to jag a podium today, the tattoo he chooses for Cyril is AH19.

[Requiem84]

The cars with a low df set-up will struggle for pace in the race, but will be a real threat in lap 1 (Ricciardo gained 0,5 on Verstappen in S1 (apart from Max’ tow lap behind Albon, where Ricciardo still gained 0,3 on him).

They will be hard to pass too...

[Joefane]

If that happens it wouldnt be a fight - DR would walk it ... probably with EO second for a dominant Renault 1-2 .... but no one would call that boring - for some reason. 

Ocon not crashing out when he has the chance for a podium? Don't be silly.

[Marklar]

tbh with Merc being on a higher df set-up, Ricciardo on low df and soft tyres, and the massive long straight I would surprised if he isnt leading after Les Combes. As we've seen in the support races even if P1 gets a great getaway they are a sitting duck. So I expect Hamilton somewhere at P3 or something after the first lap. If not the race will be very boring.

as for the weather. Heavy rain will apparently arrive in the evening, as always
 

@fergieweather

·

7m

#F1 #BBCF1 #BELGIANGP SUN UPDATE: With a generally slower progression of shower development eastwards to Spa expected today (based on overnight forecast modelling), apparently teams are being advised this morning of a 40% risk of rain by race start; rising to 60% by race end.

[SophieB]

I hope that if somehow Danny manages to jag a podium today, the tattoo he chooses for Cyril is AH19.

Why is Cyril betting on his own cars being middling at best?

[oli4]

Yep. Mercedes took the wrong bet...

 

Missed something? Could you explain this please.

[FirstnameLastname]

Why is Cyril betting on his own cars being middling at best?

He’s betting against it isn’t he?

[FirstnameLastname]

Literally saying to Daniel ‘there’s no way you’ll get that piece of shite onto the podium... if you can manage the impossible I’ll get a tattoo’

I might take that approach to motivate my guys at work 😂

[SophieB]

He’s betting against it isn’t he?

That’s what I’m saying? Unless I’ve massively misunderstood the terms of the bet, Ricciardo is saying ‘bet I get a podium this year’ and Cyril is all ‘haha, our car is crap. In fact, I’m so sure of us being mediocre at best, I will stick ink filled needles into my bum if I’m wrong’

 

i confess I don’t really follow Renault doings that closely, though so it’s possible I have it wrong.

[Joefane]

Missed something? Could you explain this please.

Mercedes set up their car for the wet, and it doesn’t look like it’ll rain much.

[Marklar]

That’s what I’m saying? Unless I’ve massively misunderstood the terms of the bet, Ricciardo is saying ‘bet I get a podium this year’ and Cyril is all ‘haha, our car is crap. In fact, I’m so sure of us being mediocre at best, I will stick ink filled needles into my bum if I’m wrong’

 

i confess I don’t really follow Renault doings that closely, though so it’s possible I have it wrong.

I often bet against things I dont want to happen, so that I win either way, either by winning money or by getting what I wanted. Maybe Cyril is having the same approach here?

[oli4]

Mercedes set up their car for the wet, and it doesn’t look like it’ll rain much.

 

Thank you. Exactly on a 30% chance of rain, an hour ago it was 70%.... might become interesting after all.

[Kalmake]

Mercedes set up their car for the wet, and it doesn’t look like it’ll rain much.

I think it's just that their car just works and works the tyres best with that downforce level.

[Ellios]

Nice OP ! 

 

Always enjoy watching F1 races at Spa, put the Porsche unrestricted LMP1 track time firmly to bed yesterday now for the race day, hopefully Danny RIC gets a podium would be awesome !! 

 

Some rain would be fun to watch, fingers crossed! Forecast says no but Spa is often different.

 

Going to keep an eye out to see if a few crazy Dutch fans sneak in as well. 

Edited by Ellios, 30 August 2020 - 09:13.

[SophieB]

I often bet against things I dont want to happen, so that I win either way, either by winning money or by getting what I wanted. Maybe Cyril is having the same approach here?

I think it makes more sense where you don’t have at least some of the responsibility for the opposing outcome. It would make more sense if F1 was a sport where they’d randomly been assigned a car and it was a weak one.

[rf90]

I agree that Hamilton's pole lap was impressive to watch but for Verstappen to be just 0.5 secs slower on a track of that length against that beast of a Merc was mighty too.

[oli4]

I agree that Hamilton's pole lap was impressive to watch but for Verstappen to be just 0.5 secs slower on a track of that length against that beast of a Merc was mighty too.

 

Verstappen is outperforming everyone.

[Mrlarsen]

Verstappen is outperforming everyone.

                         

[Goron3]

Hamilton. Max. Riccardo.

Best of the grid imo.

[Mrlarsen]

Hamilton. Max. Riccardo.

Best of the grid imo.

 

Bottas, LeClerc, Vettel are all better driver than Ricciardo.

[RedBaron]

Judging by F2 doesn't seem like rain yet

[EvilPhil II]

So I am located in Zurich in Switzerland.  The past few years the weather here has mirrored that at the Belgium GP despite the distance not being that close, however, very similar micro climates. 

 

If the GP weather were to be like here right now I doubt it would start.  Heavy, heavy rain. 

 

Obviously past patterns are not indicative of the future.... 

[oli4]

Judging by F2 doesn't seem like rain yet

 

30% chance of rain

[Mercstar]

I agree that Hamilton's pole lap was impressive to watch but for Verstappen to be just 0.5 secs slower on a track of that length against that beast of a Merc was mighty too.

Not to take anything away from Max, he is on stellar form, but he had Albon towing him around on his 2nd run, easily worth 2-3 tenths around here, whereas neither Merc driver opted for a tow

[rf90]

Not to take anything away from Max, he is on stellar form, but he had Albon towing him around on his 2nd run, easily worth 2-3 tenths around here, whereas neither Merc driver opted for a tow

The Mercs don't need a tow with THAT engine. They gain more in clear air than with the disturbed air that a tow gives.

[shure]

Not to take anything away from Max, he is on stellar form, but he had Albon towing him around on his 2nd run, easily worth 2-3 tenths around here, whereas neither Merc driver opted for a tow

I've seen this posted before, but I've no idea where that's come from.  The replays of Max crossing the line on his final run had Albon crossing it in front of him

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=FgWrOroT3DE

 

He couldn't have done that if he was giving Max a tow

Edited by shure, 30 August 2020 - 10:29.

[Winterapfel]

The Belgian police have been searching for fans in the trees around Spa.

https://twitter.com/...8231635968?s=09

[femi]

I take that bet .... have you seen his top speed? .... sitting duck on lap 1 ... could very well be DR leading. [edit - unless the 2 mercs do some serious #1 and wingman team play  ... but I cant see VB playing ball]

 

I am so stoked for this race start ...

Bottas will be busy fending off Verstappen & Daniel. Anyway, I see Lewis pulling rank on him!

[f1paul]

Ricciardo starts on softs so here is what he'll do...  

 

Gets Max off the start whilst the two Mercs go side by side into turn one and compromise their exit. Hamilton comes out on top but now Ricciardo is on Bottas' tail. 

 

Then either they go 3 wide and Ricciardo's straight line speed is enough or Ricciardo gets Bottas then gets Hamilton before Le Combes.

[jjcale]

Not to take anything away from Max, he is on stellar form, but he had Albon towing him around on his 2nd run, easily worth 2-3 tenths around here, whereas neither Merc driver opted for a tow

 

Merc is doing everything possible to make it interesting ... no tow in quali, high downforce set up ..... and still some of the punters are ungrateful

[SophieB]

The Belgian police have been searching for fans in the trees around Spa.

https://twitter.com/...8231635968?s=09

For many reasons, I hope the tv Director doesn’t film anyone they spot during the race.

[Risil]

Yay, Spa!

[femi]

Judging by F2 doesn't seem like rain yet

The forecast is possibility of rain from 17hr local time. I see a Merc win regardless. If anyone gets ahead of them at start, undercut option is always on the table.

[Ev0d3vil]

The forecast is possibility of rain from 17hr local time. I see a Merc win regardless. If anyone gets ahead of them at start, undercut option is always on the table.

 

As always during an f1 weekend..

[Mercstar]

I've seen this posted before, but I've no idea where that's come from. The replays of Max crossing the line on his final run had Albon crossing it in front of him

https://www.youtube....h?v=FgWrOroT3DE

He couldn't have done that if he was giving Max a tow

Aye, Albon crossing the line in front of him is exactly what you'd expect if he was giving Max a tow. It wasn't that RB completely sacrificed Albons lap for Max, but they had them run in fairly close proximity so Max would get the tow on the straights.