F1 Racing Point Belgium GP Thread

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First topic message reminder :

Imagine it'll all be temp like most street circuits

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

It's not just that the power is shifting from Ferrari to Mercedes. It's that Haas and Sauber are now roadblocks if you end up qualifying out if position as they are essentially Ferrari juniors and somehow they are both incredibly rapid

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Vettel gets his second pole in Germany some 8 years after his last. Bottas second. Kimi third and made so many errors.

[Fernando]

Hamilton pushing his car back to the pits, possible hydraulic problem, and out of qualifying. Probably be fined for doing it.

He didn't exactly help himself trying to floor it over massive kerbs not sure why he stayed out on the run off He'll be fine for the pushing was just helping to an escape road by the looks of it.

Will probably pick up 5 places for a new gearbox too

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With Ricciardos penalty and the long straight, it should be 5th minimum if he stays out of trouble anyway

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2 tenths is a sizable margin around here, so you would suspect Vettel was set for pole regardless of Lewis' misfortune.

Hard not to connect the engine upgrade that was delayed 2 weeks and reliability issues thereafter for Mercedes, reality at the time was without the new engine they were slower than Ferrari by a decent margin anyway. Merc have developed a soft underbelly after years of being unchallenged.

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I appreciate the desperation, but Lewis trundling along in 4th and then pushing the car was silly, not to mention fairly dangerous. Be surprised if that doesn't garner some demerit points

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Interesting statement from Toto Wolff and Ferrari’s straight line speed. The Austrian claims Ferrari gained 0.5sec on the straights at Hochenheim.

Mercedes might be a tad concerned for Spa and Monza if that’s remotely true

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Decent component of that will be downforce if bottas is 2 tenths slower

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne has left the Prancing Horse due to complications following surgery. As such Marchionne’s choice of promoting Charles LeClerc won’t happen as the new CEO wants to retain Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn’s renewal should be confirmed at Hungary with LeClerc going to Haas

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Riccardo DNF with another power unit issue. This was a brand new engine

[Guest]

Ferrari making a strategical meal out of this. Hamilton needs rain.

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Bizarre strategy.

Raikkonen is racing Hamilton/ rain, not Vettel, get him out of the way.

[Guest]

TR had full wets on

Hamilton on the charge

[Guest]

Raikkonen tyres have gone. Bottas into second

[Guest]

Vettel bins it

The scenes

[Guest]

Hamilton leads the race

Unbelievable

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Hamilton cheated the pitlane. Should be a 10 sec pen

[Guest]

Mercedes killing themselves. Bottas should tactically hold stations for the championship

[Guest]

What a race, and what a difference a day makes.

Huge shift in the championship in favour of Hamilton, who now leads by 17. Mercedes take a 1-2 for the constructors too. Amateurish from Vettel today, and Ferrari will look back at their strategy today with regret.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Plain luck for Mercedes getting absolutely battered saved by the rain

[Guest]

Hamilton cheated the pitlane. Should be a 10 sec pen

Lewis Hamilton receives a reprimand from the stewards for crossing the line separating the pit entry and the track.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Really struggling to understand these bizarre penalties the fia are dishing out. Vettel 5secs in Paul Ricard despite breaking the floor in Bottas’ car. Raikkonen gets 10secs for hitting Hamilton despite neither car being damaged.

Hamilton breached the rules, yet gets away with it, despite Raikkonen doing the same at Baku in 2016 and getting a 5sec penalty

What’s the point of the regulations if there’s no uniformity in the penalties? Gasly got a dud penalty at Silveratone as well.

The stewards are incompetent

[Guest]

The stewards are incompetent

Their not the only ones. Did you hear the Mercedes’ radio messages? Absolute brown pants, under any sort of pressurised moment, or situation. Ferrari’s strategy today was so amateurish too, it was bizarre viewing. Comical really.

As for the championship, Mercedes still behind the 8 ball really, in terms of the best package out there. Ferrari shouldn’t panic, but ideally they need Vettel to showcase some of the form he produced for RB, because he’s making hard work of achieving #5.

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Reprimand is fair. Championship keeps swinging back and forth. Most would have expected Hamilton to emerge from Austria and Silverstone with a sizable lead, just as most expected Vettel to extend his today.

With Hungary up this week and RB likely to be amongst the top 2 at this track, it could end up being a handful of points going into the summer break.

Car performance advantage has also swung a few times (seems like both Vettel and Hamilton capitalise when the other has the faster car), though Mercedes seem particularly troubled by Ferraris latest engine update given the results at Sauber and Haas.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

The stewards are incompetent

Their not the only ones. Did you hear the Mercedes’ radio messages? Absolute brown pants, under any sort of pressurised moment, or situation. Ferrari’s strategy today was so amateurish too, it was bizarre viewing. Comical really.

As for the championship, Mercedes still behind the 8 ball really, in terms of the best package out there. Ferrari shouldn’t panic, but ideally they need Vettel to showcase some of the form he produced for RB, because he’s making hard work of achieving #5.

I said this a friend the other day, I still reckon that should Vettel land a fifth championship in this current season, he'll retire. Hence why Riccardo is still stalling. 

Ferrari absolutely clueless today to be honest why on earth pit Kimi so early and then he became an issue of Vettel after the pit stops...

Without Marchionne the wheels might come off again

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Reprimand is fair. Championship keeps swinging back and forth. Most would have expected Hamilton to emerge from Austria and Silverstone with a sizable lead, just as most expected Vettel to extend his today.

With Hungary up this week and RB likely to be amongst the top 2 at this track, it could end up being a handful of points going into the summer break.

Car performance advantage has also swung a few times (seems like both Vettel and Hamilton capitalise when the other has the faster car), though Mercedes seem particularly troubled by Ferraris latest engine update given the results at Sauber and Haas.

I think a key point in this championship is at present Kimi in on his second power unit but he's still only got the first generation unit. His first engine failed in Spanish. I read a report that Kimi will only receive the upgraded engine at spa or alternatively they'll have him wait until Singapore for the third generation upgrade. 

Similarly Bottas is also into his third power unit but he has two of the upgraded Mercedes engines

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Kimi took his 3rd turbocharger in Canada I think. Rest is the first spec i guess

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Not much point taking a new engine at Singapore though. You'd usually run an old unit there as power isn't that key. Used to be you'd take a fresh unit at Spa and Monza back when you could have 7.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

100% that it wouldn't be ideal for Kimi to take a new engine in Singapore but using a heavily worn engine in a very hot/humid conditions could be risky as well

[Marky]

Plain luck for Mercedes getting absolutely battered saved by the rain

Apart from how Hamilton was catching (and probably passing) Raikkonen and Bottas on his new ultra softs before the rain came.

Without Vettel's crash, Hamilton probably still takes 2nd.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Plain luck for Mercedes getting absolutely battered saved by the rain

Apart from how Hamilton was catching (and probably passing) Raikkonen and Bottas on his new ultra softs before the rain came.

Without Vettel's crash, Hamilton probably still takes 2nd.

Sarcasm my friend...

[Marky]

Plain luck for Mercedes getting absolutely battered saved by the rain

Apart from how Hamilton was catching (and probably passing) Raikkonen and Bottas on his new ultra softs before the rain came.

Without Vettel's crash, Hamilton probably still takes 2nd.

Sarcasm my friend...

You can never be sure. Especially when you inexplicably suggested Hamilton should get a 10 second penalty

[Fernando]

Sergio Marchione has passed away after complications in surgery left him in a deep coma

[dyrewolfe]

RIP Sergio. Wasn't even aware he was in poor health.

Wonder who they'll bring in to replace him...and if Ferrari will continue their resurgence.

Also RIP Vettel's wet driving skills. Really tame way to bin it. Haven't laughed that hard in quite a while.

Starting to think Bernie Ecclestone might actually have been on to something when he suggested installing sprinkler systems on tracks. Seems to be one of the few things that can really liven up races (at least until someone has the balls to change the regs, to enable proper racing).

Felt sorry for Bottas. With a more favourable pit strategy he could have won. Seemed like he was the sacrificial lamb again to give Hamilton the best chance of winning. Brief moment of excitement when they went wheel to wheel. Sensible call by Mercedes to issue team orders, given the conditions and risk of a double DNF.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Very sad news about Sergio Marchionne, he gave Ferrari their balls back in recent times

Elsewhere Mclaren have landed James Key

[Guest]

McLaren have landed James Key

James Key is to join McLaren as technical director. Good appointment. This follows the resignation of the engineering director, Matt Morris.

[Fernando]

merc without a front wing

[Fernando]

Sauber & Haas getting Ferrari Spec 3 engine this weekend 40bhp increase could see them close in on Renault & RB at certain tracks

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Looks like Ferrari vs RB with little to call it so far.

Merc not close.

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FI placed into administration overnight, team expects a new buyer to emerge by Spa. Some talk Perez and Merc instigated the court action.

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Engine power doesn't mean quite as much around here but Ferraris extra quali settings might give them the free performance to edge RB

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Force India got reported debts of £159m and team boss Vijay Mallya has had his bank accounts frozen after he stole a reputed $1bn from the Indian government. Rumours suggest Lance Stroll's father will buy the team so his hapless son is guaranteed a seat for the foreseeable future

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Rain around, everybody bar Vettel went out on slicks in Q2 and had to ditch them after an outlap

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Does also mean if it remains too wet for slicks everyone has a free choice of tyre tomorrow

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Kimi fancying it in these conditions

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Mercedes luck is incredible. Two weekends in a row rain saves them

[CaledonianCraig]

Mercedes luck is incredible. Two weekends in a row rain saves them

Or Vettel can't handle difficult situations. Depends how you want to paint it really.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Mercedes luck is incredible. Two weekends in a row rain saves them

Or Vettel can't handle difficult situations. Depends how you want to paint it really.

Delusional

[CaledonianCraig]

Mercedes luck is incredible. Two weekends in a row rain saves them

Or Vettel can't handle difficult situations. Depends how you want to paint it really.

Delusional

Sorry? The rain is the same for everybody. Damned tough conditions to drive in. I'd take your point if the track was dry for Mercedes to set quick times whilst rain hit Ferrari and Vettel - it didn't. Heavy rain was there for all and Mercedes dealt with it better than Ferrari- Nothing to do with luck.

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Would probably suggest the rain fixed Mercs long standing issue of overheating the rears at tracks like this, but still a great lap time.

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