3108 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

It's the sixth Dutch/British front row of the season, but it's not Hamilton or Norris alongside Verstappen, it's George Russell!

 

The second half of the year has barely begun and we've already witnessed one of the all-time great qualifying laps.

 

Changeable conditions at Spa, the famous run through to Les Combes, and 44 laps ahead for race day in Belgium! Race start 2pm BST / 3pm CEST (2 hours 20 minutes from this post)

 

 

Thanks to Planet F1 for the retro graphic

 

 

 

--

 

Who will lead after Les Combes?

Can Russell hold on to a points-scoring position?

Will Hamilton and Verstappen battle wheel-to-wheel again?

How much progress will Norris make?
Will we see another surprise winner?

 

[IrvTheSwerve]

As much as I want Russell to cause a bit of an upset, I think we need Hamilton to overtake him on lap 1 for an epic battle in the wet with Verstappen.

[w1Y]

We definitely need both mac and Lewis to get through the 1st lap unscathed otherwise its going to be a procession

[Redaxo]

https://trackweather...gian-grand-prix

 

Only a few drops to be expected.

Edited by Redaxo, 29 August 2021 - 10:55.

[sofarapartguy]

First 6 cars on the grid are from different teams. When was the last time for that to happen? 

[Gambelli]

For all the GR hype its worth noting that BOTH Williams cars start in the top 10 for the first time in about 134 years....

[Goron3]

https://trackweather...gian-grand-prix

 

Only a few drops to be expected.

Windy.com and myweather2 both expecting more throughout the afternoon.

 

Either way, let's just hope for a safe lap one. Should be a great race. If conditions are borderline, I wouldn't be surprised if someone further back gambles on tyres.

[aray]

Still 70% chance of rain.I want another wet start.

[jpm2019]

Reading lots of reports of horrible traffic and people going to miss the race. Yesterday was the same. 1 hour per kilometer, and the traffic jam was 5 km. Spa organisation should be ashamed. This is NOT how you treath well paying customers. 

[Roadhouse]

Reading lots of reports of horrible traffic and people going to miss the race. Yesterday was the same. 1 hour per kilometer, and the traffic jam was 5 km. Spa organisation should be ashamed. This is NOT how you treath well paying customers.

It has been like this since forever. Just get a bicycle and park your car a bit further away, that did the trick for us.

[monolulu]

I’m confused on the different wing levels for Red Bull & Merc. I thought that Merc was running less downforce gambling on some dry running? Anderson on The Race website is stating the opposite. 

[Marklar]

I’m confused on the different wing levels for Red Bull & Merc. I thought that Merc was running less downforce gambling on some dry running? Anderson on The Race website is stating the opposite.

Well, no contradiction here. Gary always says the opposite of the truth

[Mc_Silver]

Expecting lots of red flags and crashes. I hope Lando can survive this time.

[Bleu]

First 6 cars on the grid are from different teams. When was the last time for that to happen? 

 

I think Germany 2012:

1. Alonso (Ferrari)

2. Vettel (Red Bull)

3. Schumacher (Mercedes)

4. Hülkenberg (Force India)

5. Maldonado (Williams)

6. Button (McLaren)

[Jordan44]

Well, no contradiction here. Gary always says the opposite of the truth

Somers also implied Mercedes ran with more downforce than Red Bull though, but this contradicts what Toto said, who claimed they had a dry weather setup.

[TheFish]

Hard to know who to believe. Seems crazy if Merc have actually gone for a dry setup though.

[Goron3]

Hard to know who to believe. Seems crazy if Merc have actually gone for a dry setup though.

Not dry, just a more traditional Spa set up. If the race is run on inters / borderline slicks, then they've made the right choice. Same for RB.

 

I have a friend at the circuit who works for a media organisation and he says that the weather is absolutely grim. Not just like Silverstonee 2008 or other wet races, but that it's very dark and really cold. He's gone to races for 15 years and says he's never been to a race weekend like this.

[milestone 11]

My hopes of it drying out have been dashed, raining now. Looks decidedly miserable.

[Marklar]

Hope for Max win, then Lewis wins #100 in Zandvoort for full chaos.

[aray]

Yup! No way for a dry start if it is not delayed.

[SagemX]

It's going to be raining all day, no chance of any dry running

[Beamer]

I think Germany 2012:
1. Alonso (Ferrari)
2. Vettel (Red Bull)
3. Schumacher (Mercedes)
4. Hülkenberg (Force India)
5. Maldonado (Williams)
6. Button (McLaren)

Same list except for ferrari 😀

[Ruusperi]

I have a friend at the circuit who works for a media organisation and he says that the weather is absolutely grim. Not just like Silverstonee 2008 or other wet races, but that it's very dark and really cold. He's gone to races for 15 years and says he's never been to a race weekend like this.

Your friend doesn't remember Fuji 2007? Or Suzuka 2014?

[TauriJ]

Bucketing down right now

Edited by TauriJ, 29 August 2021 - 11:44.

[IrvTheSwerve]

It has been like this since forever. Just get a bicycle and park your car a bit further away, that did the trick for us.

Yep. I was last there in 2017 and on race day it took 3 hours to travel into the final part of the circuit journey, when it took 10 mins the day before. That’s the thing about classic circuits, and it’s worth the wait!

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Looking at the Sky Sports coverage now and it's currently chucking it down and very windy too.

Also remember that once the clock starts, there's now a 3 hour time limit for the race regardless of red flags

[TauriJ]

Hard to know who to believe. Seems crazy if Merc have actually gone for a dry setup though.

Noone predicted dry sunday....NOONE

[TauriJ]

Looking at the Sky Sports coverage now and it's currently chucking it down and very windy too.

Also remember that once the clock starts, there's now a 3 hour time limit for the race regardless of red flags

why 3?

[Goron3]

Your friend doesn't remember Fuji 2007? Or Suzuka 2014?

He didn't go to Fuji, but he says it's much colder than Suzuka.

The fans at the circuit today deserve a lot of credit. Hopefully they are treated to a safe and exciting race.

Looks like Kimi is starting from the pit lane as they are going to run more rear wing. I wonder if others might do the same?

[smitten]

For all the GR hype its worth noting that BOTH Williams cars start in the top 10 for the first time in about 134 years....

 

Due to penalties for other drivers

 

why 3?

TV Schedules.

[Laster]

Ooooh that retro starting grid graphic makes my mind tingle with happy memories.

[krapmeister]

why 3?

 

I imagine for TV scheduling

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

why 3?

For broadcasters basically.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I’m going to spoil it for everyone now and say...

 

THIS HAS THE MAKINGS OF A CLASSIC

[TauriJ]

I thought it was 4 hours

[Redaxo]

Looking at the Sky Sports coverage now and it's currently chucking it down and very windy too.

Also remember that once the clock starts, there's now a 3 hour time limit for the race regardless of red flags

 

Well, since the FIA/Liberty got a fetish for red-flagging every situation nowadays it's pretty safe to say the the race won't go full distance.

[robefc]

Odds on SC standing start and everyone pits for inters?

[SamH123]

Well, since the FIA/Liberty got a fetish for red-flagging every situation nowadays it's pretty safe to say the the race won't go full distance.

 

tbf also drivers are more risk averse nowadays and put pressure on them

[Marklar]

I thought it was 4 hours

was reduced before this season

[JimmyClark]

I thought it was 4 hours

It changed this year. Ridiculous I think.

[Goron3]

Odds on SC standing start and everyone pits for inters?

I think the cars at the back will certainly gamble on inters but will it be worth the risk for those at the front?

We saw yesterday that the inters could be worth 4-5s a lap over the wets.

[Fastcake]

I want George Russell to jump Max on the start so badly. The chance of him staying near the front for the whole race are low, so I’d rather watch him have a lap or two of glory before the inevitable fall.

[Will]

So will Mercedes be able to revert to large rear wing on grounds of “safety” if it is raining hard or are they stuck with the low downforce setup?

[Ferrim]

Looking decent for a wet, but not too wet race. If it's too wet, we'll get 784 red flags and 321 SC periods and it will become a bit of a farce.

[jpm2019]

Wow that 3 hour rule will ruin some races

[TomNokoe]

I’m confused on the different wing levels for Red Bull & Merc. I thought that Merc was running less downforce gambling on some dry running? Anderson on The Race website is stating the opposite.

Merc has a bigger rear wing, but the RB derives more downforce from the floor and diffuser because of the high rake etc, so using rear wing levels isn't reliable.

All in all I'd say they are probably about even downforce wise. Merc are quicker in a straight line, although this has tended to be the case all year when they ran similar DF setups.

It bothers me to a degree because you only have to use your eyes to make these judgements, and yet so many pundits are drawn to make the same old conclusions, "high downforce RB" just because that's how it looked in FP1.

[TomNokoe]

Pit delta in the dry is 18-19s, so in the wet may come down to 16-17s. May encourage the odd extra stop.

[MJB5990]

33 laps needed for full points.

[f1paul]

Wow that 3 hour rule will ruin some races

There's only been one F1 race this century which has been over the three hour mark and that was Canada 2011 - 4 hours .

 

I think Brazil 2016 was right on three hours, even with lots of stoppages that day.

[Redaxo]

Wow that 3 hour rule will ruin some races

 

Like I said, especially in combination with the higher number of red flags nowadays.