1066 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

C‘mon guys, it’s race time in less than an hour. And a bit of good news ahead of it.

 

 

 

"Formula 1 can confirm that the Belgian Grand Prix will be on the 2023 calendar following an agreement to extend our partnership together. Further details on the 2023 calendar will be announced in due course," F1's statement read.

 

https://www.autospor...-2023/10359488/

 

[IrvTheSwerve]

Merc predicting Max will be P5 after 7 laps.   
 

DRS isn’t needed on the Kemmel straight IMO. Ruins any battles…expect plenty of drive-bys today.

[ANF]

Final starting grid with remaining tyres (uppercase = new; lowercase = used):

1 Sainz H MM sss
2 Pérez H MM sss
3 Alonso H MM sss
4 Hamilton H MM sss
5 Russell H MM sss
6 Albon H MM sss
7 Ricciardo H MM S.sss
8 Gasly H MM S.sss
9 Stroll H mm S.sss
10 Vettel H mm SS.ss
11 Latifi H M.m SS.ss
12 Magnussen H MM SS.ss
13 Bottas H MM SS.ss
14 Verstappen H MM SS.s
15 Leclerc H MM S.ss
16 Ocon H MM S.ss
17 Norris H MM S.ss
18 Zhou H MM S.sss
19 Schumacher H MM S.sss
PL Tsunoda H MM SS.ss

In 2020 [the pit stop time loss] seemed to be 18.8–19.4s on average, ranging from 17.7s to 22.4s. But the race only had five non-SC pit stops...

(V)SC pit stop time loss between safety car lines (where overtaking is possible) seemed to be around 12.7s on average, hypothetically ranging from 8.1s to 21.1s (!).

[Sebastien007]

Great good news for next year.

[Ev0d3vil]

Hope Mercedes can be faster today, its depressing to see them like silver buses yesterday..

[ARTGP]

 

 

 

Hmm. Doesn't pole sitter usually start from the other side of the grid?

[SophieB]

@wtf1official

Alfa Romeo filled Bottas's driver room with LOADS of balloons this morning for his birthday 😂🎈

 

Happy Birthday Valtteri 🥳

📷: Alfa Romeo #BelgianGP

[ARTGP]

Latifi in P11. Oh my. 

[Roadhouse]

If everyone could stop jinxing Max, that would be great. 

Edited by Roadhouse, 28 August 2022 - 12:20.

[ANF]

Circuit map:
 

Edited by ANF, 28 August 2022 - 12:19.

[FLB]

 

@wtf1official

Alfa Romeo filled Bottas's driver room with LOADS of balloons this morning for his birthday

 

Happy Birthday Valtteri

: Alfa Romeo #BelgianGP

 

 

We'll see, but I hope Sauber keep him for the full three years of his contract, even after Alfa's exit. He just looks so much happier this year.

[ARTGP]

If every could stop jinxing Max, that would be great. 

 

If forum voodoo worked, we wouldn't have any race finishers   . 

Edited by ARTGP, 28 August 2022 - 12:19.

[Risil]

Circuit map:

Looks like Motor Sport magazine to me. Excellent set of Euro corner names!

[IrvTheSwerve]

Looks like Motor Sport magazine to me. Excellent set of Euro corner names!

 

They've renamed Eau Rouge 'Croydon corner' in honour of Lewis Hamilton. He won't be able to complete the first lap.

Edited by IrvTheSwerve, 28 August 2022 - 12:21.

[Ali_G]

Circuit map:
 

 

A bus stop less Spa would be great.

[MurMur80]

Domenicali said they value Spa very much. So much they got 1 year deal. 

[sheSgoTthElooK]

Time to kick-ass.

 

Bit fed up with some teams/drivers/F1 management..

 

Ferrari master strategist better deliver today.

 

 

 

 

[smitten]

Domenicali said they value Spa very much. So much they got 1 year deal. 

I'm sure they'd value Spa a lot more if they could cough up another couple million Euros.

[catent]

 

@wtf1official

Alfa Romeo filled Bottas's driver room with LOADS of balloons this morning for his birthday

 

Happy Birthday Valtteri

: Alfa Romeo #BelgianGP

 

 

Today I learned that Valtteri Bottas shares a birthday with my dad. 

 

I'll be watching the race today with my old man.

 

I still have a memory of him very excitedly waking up 7 year-old me one weekend to watch Schumacher in his bright red Ferrari; that would've been in 2002, and he would've been 41. 

 

Today I'm 27 and he is turning 61. Time goes on, but we still love the sport (and each other!) very much. 

[Acathla]

After years of Merc dominance, I don't mind seeing them at the back foot. Hell... they are still doing well. A couple of years in the midfield would work. 

[Thursday]

I was expect Mercedes to do better today than they did yesterday but I don't think they can win. The gap to Red Bull and Ferrari is just too great, and then there is the extra gap to Verstappen. He is driving so well and so full of confidence that being favourite to win today despite starting 14th is completely reasonable.

I would be really happy if Albon finishes in the points but I feel that may be a though ask.

[RekF1]

Max still heavy favorite with the bookies.

Max 7/5

Sainz 3/1

Perez 7/2

Leclerc 14/1

Hamilton 16/1

Russel 25/1

Sainz or Perez must be worth being a few quid

[krapmeister]

 

@wtf1official

Alfa Romeo filled Bottas's driver room with LOADS of balloons this morning for his birthday

 

Happy Birthday Valtteri

: Alfa Romeo #BelgianGP

 

 

They did that to cover up his cyclist's tan

[renzmann]

It's definitely warmer than yesterday. I think Verstappen's potential advantage of having two sets of fresh softs is useless today.

[IrvTheSwerve]

A bus stop less Spa would be great.

I wonder if they’ll ever consider going back to that. From memory there is only a car park behind La Source, so the option to create a mega run-off area (which would certainly be needed after that looong straight). It would bring back the challenge of La Source too, which has become a bit of a nothing corner since they re-profiled the Bus Stop and speeds on the straight are much slower. Pit entrance would be interesting though.

Edited by IrvTheSwerve, 28 August 2022 - 12:35.

[Ev0d3vil]

It's definitely warmer than yesterday. I think Verstappen's potential advantage of having two sets of fresh softs is useless today.

Sun is out, definitely.

[Paa]

How do you think warmer weather / track will effect the pace?

 

It certainly had an effect in Hungary, when suddenly was much colder, so I'm curious to see whether it will work the other way around.

Although I'm not sure that exactly how much warmer is today compared to yesterday.

[Ali_G]

I was expect Mercedes to do better today than they did yesterday but I don't think they can win. The gap to Red Bull and Ferrari is just too great, and then there is the extra gap to Verstappen. He is driving so well and so full of confidence that being favourite to win today despite starting 14th is completely reasonable.

I would be really happy if Albon finishes in the points but I feel that may be a though ask.

 

Hamilton could match Sainz and Perez for pace once he gets some temp in the tyres.

[Clatter]

It's definitely warmer than yesterday. I think Verstappen's potential advantage of having two sets of fresh softs is useless today.

After a cold start it's definitely toastie now.

[Anja]

After years of Merc dominance, I don't mind seeing them at the back foot. Hell... they are still doing well. A couple of years in the midfield would work. 

 

I try not to "celebrate" their misfortunes too much but it's pretty funny how dramatic they're being about this season. Hearing some of their quotes one would think they're completely out of points, not "just" third best with a whole lot of podiums. I know, I know, it's all about perspective etc, but still. 

Edited by Anja, 28 August 2022 - 12:40.

[Clatter]

How do you think warmer weather / track will effect the pace?

It certainly had an effect in Hungary, when suddenly was much colder, so I'm curious to see whether it will work the other way around.
Although I'm not sure that exactly how much warmer is today compared to yesterday.

Hugely different.

[IrvTheSwerve]

After a cold start it's definitely toastie now.

Enjoy yourself.   

[lewislorenzo]

Hamilton could match Sainz and Perez for pace once he gets some temp in the tyres.

They were 1.8 seconds off yesterday so that is unlikely even once the tyres are up to temp!

[TomNokoe]

Air 22
Track 35 (15c higher than Fri+Sat)

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 August 2022 - 12:38.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Proper gridwalk from Brundle today. 

[aray]

Merc will come alive in this temp.

[Henri Greuter]

 

@wtf1official

Alfa Romeo filled Bottas's driver room with LOADS of balloons this morning for his birthday

 

Happy Birthday Valtteri

: Alfa Romeo #BelgianGP

 

I think Roger Penske has got his excuse to retain the tradition of the ballon release during "Back home again" on Race Day at Indy with this.....

[Thursday]

Hamilton could match Sainz and Perez for pace once he gets some temp in the tyres.

That's what I'm hoping for but by the time the Mercs have got temps up the others will be five seconds up the road.

[RekF1]

Tottenham city?

[Ali_G]

Hakkinen on MS in 2000. The most overrated overtake in motorsport history.

[Clatter]

That's what I'm hoping for but by the time the Mercs have got temps up the others will be five seconds up the road.

It would have been 30+ seconds in yesterday's temps.

[Okyo]

Air 22
Track 35 (15c higher than Fri+Sat)

Talk about different conditions. We might actually see something similar to Hungary, with some teams coming alive. 

[Disgrace]

Hakkinen on MS in 2000. The most overrated overtake in motorsport history.

 

Booooooooo!

[Ali_G]

Booooooooo!

 

Followed by Zanardi on Herta by going rallying off track.

[KWSN - DSM]

I try not to "celebrate" their misfortunes too much but it's pretty funny how dramatic they're being about this season. Hearing some of their quotes one would think they're completely out of points, not "just" third best with a whole lot of podiums. I know, I know, it's all about perspective etc, but still. 

 

Mercedes have learned from the many years of Hamilton being on setting fastest lap and winning on hopeless tires.

[Disgrace]

Followed by Zanardi on Herta by going rallying off track.

 

I will give you that one, it wouldn't stand today and rightly so.

[Heyli]

the expectations for Max are so high from everyone that he's either going to go out in T1 or get stuck in some DRS train for sure.

[ArchieTech]

That new grandstand must have one of the greatest views in motorsports.

Edited by ArchieTech, 28 August 2022 - 12:46.

[aray]

Quite windy too.

[Disgrace]

the expectations for Max are so high from everyone that he's either going to go out in T1 or get stuck in some DRS train for sure.

 

As long as he doesn't try and take Eau Rouge full speed with broken suspension like he did in 2019.