Belgian GP Thread - Containing Spoilers of Race & Qualifying

[Fernando]

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. 

[Guest]

''Andrea Caldarelli has apparently confirmed he'll be racing in SuperFormula this weekend, taking Andre Lotterer's place. Deal looks done for Caterham then''.

Hope it's true, we had the old Sebastien Loeb story a few years back, which never materialised, but this would be pretty cool. Shame he's getting into a Caterham though, be funny if he beats Ericsson.

[Fernando]

Caterham have confirmed Andre Lotterer for the Belgian GP this weekend.

[Bull]

Stupid! TEAM KK!

[GSC]

Will be interesting to see the running order.

Merc have lost ground to the rest of the field so far, and last season lost masses of time over the summer break.

[GSC]

Sauber to retain Sutil for 2015 for some reason.

[GSC]

Rossi will replace Chilton in the Marussia this weekend

[Fernando]

            

[Gerry SA]

Daddy's cheques finally must be bouncing for Max...

Let's be honest without daddy's money, Max didn't merit as seat as his talent was minimal

[Guest]

Sauber to retain Sutil for 2015 for some reason.

Great news, you know the reason why

Chilton has never been good enough, no surprise he's been dropped. As for Mercedes losing ground GSC, that's what Hamilton wants & he admitted it. Get the Williams involved, taking points off Rosberg. Of course, could hurt Hamilton but you get his drift. Looking forward to this weekend, new drivers & unpredictable weather.

[Gerry SA]

Max Chilton is more racing again. Starting from practice 2 and will do the race. 

Daddy must've found his credit card...

[GSC]

Yes, it did seem rather odd that Chilton was vacating his seat so the team could sell it to someone else when he current buys it.

[Guest]

Qualifying will be interesting, not sure pole will be the position to be in, will get swallowed up.

[Bull]

Sauber to retain Sutil for 2015 for some reason.

Really? Do you have a link GSC?

Oh and anyone know whatever happened to "Forza Rossa?"   

[dyrewolfe]

Will be interesting to see the running order.

Merc have lost ground to the rest of the field so far, and last season lost masses of time over the summer break.

Well, if first practice is anything to go by, it'll be business as usual at the front of the grid. The only real issue will be whether Rosberg or Hamilton ends up on pole.

[GSC]

In shocking news, Maldonado caused a red flag

Surely all the money he brings in is spent on repairs.

[Guest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQPleWahDcI&app=desktop

anyone see this?

[CaledonianCraig]

Big crash that John and lucky to escape unscathed.

[Fernando]

Looks like a wet qualifying

[GSC]

Maldonado is truly an awful driver

[GSC]

Theres something seriously wrong at Ferrari if Bianchi doesn't replace Raikonnen.

[GSC]

Sums up this season that Hamilton can overshoot the braking for the bus stop chicane and still go a few seconds faster than the other teams.

[GSC]

Scruffy session for Hamilton, both of Rosbergs Q3 laps faster.

[GSC]

Good effort from Vettel to get 3rd, with whats left of his car

[Guest]

Hamilton will be passed rosberg after au rouge most likely. Hammy wa pole last year & got eaten up.

[GSC]

Not sure that really means much, Hamilton just ran wider through Eau Rouge last year and Vettel had more momentum coming out of it as a result.

[Gerry SA]

When Sebastian was dominating between 2010-13, a lot was made about hoe he had the best car and a weak team mate.

Well now Hamilton has the best car and in Rosberg, a team mate whom isn't much different to Webber.

Yet whilst Sebastian destroyed Webber to the tune of 4 world champions and 30 odd victories.

Hamilton can't even put it on Rosberg in a commanding manner...

Vettel better than Hamilton? You better believe it.

[CaledonianCraig]

When Sebastian was dominating between 2010-13, a lot was made about hoe he had the best car and a weak team mate.

Well now Hamilton has the best car and in Rosberg, a team mate whom isn't much different to Webber.

Yet whilst Sebastian destroyed Webber to the tune of 4 world champions and 30 odd victories.

Hamilton can't even put it on Rosberg in a commanding manner...

Vettel better than Hamilton? You better believe it.  

Slight differences though. First of all Webber was blighted by far more mechanical problems than Vettel hence he dropped points with DNF's. This season it is Hamilton who has had the rougher deal (compared to his team-mate) with regards to mechanical faults. Pretty sure Hamilton has never been so readily bettered by a team-mate as Vettel has been this season by a comparative newbie as Ricciardo as well.

[GSC]

And this season Vettels been the one blighted by mechanical issues. Can't pick and choose when to apply that particular gem.

Rain coming apparently

[GSC]

Alonsos car starts at the last second preventing a pit lane start

[GSC]

Will be a penalty though in all likelihood.

[GSC]

Raining...

[GSC]

Rosberg has an awful start drops 2 places.

Vettel would've done Hamilton again if he had a proper engine.

[GSC]

Coming together between Rosberg and Hamilton.

Rosberg loses some wing, Hamilton gets a puncture.

[GSC]

WOW

[Gerry SA]

Karma's a b!tch hey Hamilton. 

C'mon Nico take the win!

[GSC]

Alonso gets a 5 second stop go penalty.

What.
a.
start.

[mystiroakey]

What an idiot rosberg is. He should have a stop and go for that

[GSC]

Ricciardo on Alonso.

Racing incident I think.

Both Mercs reporting damage, RBs buzzing behind Rosberg. Suspect he'll be getting a new front wing when he stops, especially if it rains

[Guest]

Can't stand rosberg, another issue for LH.

[GSC]

Rosbergs trying to hold it round the outside, Hamilton isn't aware hes there and tries to take the racing line. Racing Incident Myst. Neither did anything particularly untoward.

[bogbrush]

Hamilton will have to be held back from chewing these up in no time.

[GSC]

Don't rule out Bottas here if it stays dry

[GSC]

Smart move from Merc I think, changing the wing.

[mystiroakey]

Rosbergs trying to hold it round the outside, Hamilton isn't aware hes there and tries to take the racing line. Racing Incident Myst. Neither did anything particularly untoward.

Lh is in front. He has the right to hold the racing line. Rosberg is a shocking overtaker , and he shows himself up again .

[bogbrush]

But it's not an offence. It won't even be looked at.

[Gerry SA]

Hamilton fanboys make me laugh.

[Bull]

Racing inncident please move on ugh

[GSC]

They're just about side by side into the corner, he has to be aware of him trying it.

As I say though, racing incident. Just one of those things I'm afraid.

Rosberg has a streamer

[GSC]

That is hilarious

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