Belgian GP Thread - Containing Spoilers of Race & Qualifying

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

The 2014 Belgian GP preview: Everything you need to know about this weekend's race!
The F1 action resumes after the summer break at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
So read on below as Sky Sports Online provides your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the grand prix weekend.

The 2014 Belgian GP in a nutshell
Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Permanent circuit.
Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).
Laps: 44.
Track length: 7.004 km.
Tyre allocation: Medium (white) and soft (yellow). 
DRS Zones: Two with separate detection points – pit straight and Kemmel Straight.
Driver steward: TBA.
Lap record: Sebastian Vettel - 1:47.263 (Red Bull; 2009).
2013 pole: Lewis Hamilton - 2:01.012 (Mercedes).
Form guide
Kimi Raikkonen is the most successful of the current drivers in Belgium, having won the race on four occasions. However, he still trails Michael Schumacher who is out in front with six victories.
Sebastian Vettel is the only other multiple winner amongst those on the 2014 grid having stood atop the podium in 2011 and 2013.
2013 result: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 4. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 5. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 6. Jenson Button (McLaren); 7. Felipe Massa (Ferrari); 8. Romain Grosjean (Lotus); 9. Adrian Sutil (Force India); 10. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso).
Last five winners in Belgium: 2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2012: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2010: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren); 2009: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).
Pirelli will bring the white-marked medium and yellow-banded soft tyres to Spa-Francorchamps – a step softer with both compounds than last year.
“Spa is one of the most epic circuits of the year, and a track we know well from our experience of GT racing at the Spa 24 Hours too,” Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery said. 
“This is because of the length of the lap, meaning also that strategy is a very big factor in Spa: there is more time to be won and lost by being on the right tyre at the right time than at many other venues. It’s the sort of race where, under the right circumstances, it’s absolutely possible to go from last to first – and that always makes for a very exciting grand prix.”“An adaptable tyre is the key element, able to work equally well within the very wide range of track and weather conditions that we often see in Belgium. Despite the fact that tyre wear and degradation is traditionally high at Spa – the result of the multiple energy loadings put through the tyres – we have been able to nominate the soft tyres here as well as the medium for the first time since 2011, with the softer option liable to be the preferred choice in qualifying due to a significant time gap. 

[Fernando]

Essentially a slap on the wrist because no one will ever know. I doubt Toto will announce what his done. Lauda on the other hand may 

[mystiroakey]

Mercedes have taken disciplinary action against Nico Rosberg following his collision with Hamilton.

Not sure what it is yet?

he is probably being made to wash LH's car or something- but i doubt its even that bad!!

[GSC]

Might as well take his wing off next time, less to do

[Guest]

So, after refusing to apologise he's now apologised & admitted his mistake. Clearly forced to under the pressure of Mercedes management. Disciplinary action means nothing, it will be a reprimand or something & told not do to it again. Pretty pointless news really.

[mystiroakey]

what can they do. Merc should have just said - there is nothing we can do but tell him he needs to apologise. the end.. Unless they have financially fined him- which i suppose could have happened.

Like a couple of thousand K is going to hurt these lads !!


I think we should see a public spanking.....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hamilton has released a statement

Seems Mercedes have got them both in and told them to stop p1ssing about and get on with it

[seanmichaels]

what can they do. Merc should have just said - there is nothing we can do but tell him he needs to apologise. the end..

Should have put the reve driver in for a race. Doesn't harm merc but harms rosberg

[GSC]

what can they do. Merc should have just said - there is nothing we can do but tell him he needs to apologise. the end..

Should have put the reve driver in for a race. Doesn't harm merc but harms rosberg

Lets not get silly now...

[Scrumpy]

I think they should replace Rosbergs highly trained mechanics with some of the blokes from that Scrappers TV programme for a couple of races.

[dyrewolfe]

I think they should replace Rosbergs highly trained mechanics with some of the blokes from that Scrappers TV programme for a couple of races.

Just imagine the pitstop! Rosberg exits the pit lane with pram wheels on the back and go-kart tyres on the front! The stop also takes 5 minutes instead of 5 seconds! They also cut holes in the bodywork and glue extra bits on for no discernible reason.

[GSC]

He also emerges with a blue shell 

[dyrewolfe]

what can they do. Merc should have just said - there is nothing we can do but tell him he needs to apologise. the end.. Unless they have financially fined him- which i suppose could have happened.

Like a couple of thousand K is going to hurt these lads !!


I think we should see a public spanking.....

Kinky Mysti!

[bogbrush]

I think Hamilton will be gone elsewhere next year;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29067962

Whatever the blame it don't be the German leaving. Making further comments won't help him either.

[Guest]

nonsense stuff, why bother bringing this up again?

It's all 'if' or 'maybe' stuff about next year. Your just looking for an argument, it's another way of getting on Hamilton that post.

[Guest]

agree john. nonsense stuff. if hamilton win the championship & it's still easily on, he won't be going anywhere.

[ChequeredJersey]

Ooh look......

However, Wolff said Rosberg's remarks had been misinterpreted.
Wolff admitted Hamilton had accurately represented what Rosberg said, but added: "Nico felt he needed to hold his line. He needed to make a point and for Lewis it was clearly not him who needed to be aware of Nico.
"(Rosberg) didn't give in. He thought it was for Lewis to leave him space and that Lewis didn't leave him space.
"So they agreed to disagree in a very heated discussion among ourselves, but it wasn't deliberately crashing. That is nonsense."

After Hamilton disobeying instructions last time Rosberg (and when you look back to their first race when Rosberg was told to stay behind him) Nico has obviously decided it was time to show he was Alpha too, by holding the line.

Yeah, holding the line and crashing... Top alpha driving

[CaledonianCraig]

Craig 


Vettel will beat Ricciardo this season.

Still sure about that as the gap continues to widen and the races continue to erode away?

[Guest]

Vettel can change his chassis all he wants, Ricciardo is showing him up massively. I am surprised that it's continued in this fashion, going into the latter part of the season, honestly thought Vettel would come to terms with the car, but it just hasn't happened. Loved Ricciardo's switchback overtakes this weekend, guys been a revelation this year.

[GSC]

Ricciardos done very well, his best asset at present seems to be the knack of being in the right place whenever Mercedes has trouble. Thats the biggest thing separating him from Bottas or Massa imo.

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