[Official] Round 13: Belgian Grand Prix

[frostie]

Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes forest. As an original host to Formula 1 Spa has a long and storied history and a cursory look at the list of past winners shows only seven races not won by a world champion(bonus points for the first poster with the three!). The challenge that Spa presents has consistently brought the most talented drivers to the fore with the likes of Schumacher, Senna, Clark, Fangio all multiple winners at the circuit.

The Circuit

Despite undergoing numerous redevelopments during the past 60 years, most notably shortening the track from 14km to the current length of just less than 7km, the challenge remains the same for teams and drivers. With long straights and fast corners Spa requires that a car is run in low downforce configuration, thus reducing drag and increasing top speed, yet that can still give the driver confidence to push hard through the corners. Indeed while the top speeds reached this weekend will be in excess of 205 mph the greatest challenge at Spa is to give the driver the confidence through Eau Rouge, Pouhon and the flat out left hander Blanchimont.

Past races

At any historic circuit it is easy to become lost in its history, but Spa holds a special place in any Irish fan’s heart. It was here in 1998 that Eddie Jordan’s team won its first Grand Prix during a chaotic race. The start of that race was marked by one of the biggest crashes in the history of the sport with almost every car damaged in some way. As it was, Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher both luckily avoided contact with other cars and took the restart. During the race Michael Schumacher led comfortably before crashing into the back of David Coulthard and retiring, leaving Jordan to score a famous one-two finish.

Spa has always been a circuit that brought out the best in Michael Schumacher. The German made his debut at the track in 1991 at the wheel of a Jordan and qualified in 7th before a clutch failure on the opening lap ended his day early. One year later though Schumacher won his first Grand Prix during another rain affected race. He took the lead with only nine laps to go after a crafty strategy paid off and he comfortably came home over 35 seconds clear of world champion Nigel Mansell.

Apart from winning his first race at Spa Schumacher became the most successful driver in history after he won the 2001 race which was shortened after Luciano Burti crashed heavily at Blanchimont. In 1995 Schumacher raced through the field from 16th on the grid to win. The year before though was a raced shrouded in controversy when Schumacher was disqualified for running his car too low after his wooden plank was found to be worn past the allowable tolerances. Benetton claimed this was due to the fact that Schumacher spun during the race but this claim was thrown out by the FIA and Schumacher was disqualified thus leaving Damon Hill to win without having led a lap.

In 2000 Mika Hakkinen emerged victorious after completed a fantastic overtaking move on Schumacher as the pair came up to lap the BAR of Ricardo Zonta. The Finn ended up holding off Schumacher by just one second at the flag. Only two Finns have won at the circuit with 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen winning four times including during his title year and last year when he held off the Force India of pole sitter Giancarlo Fisichella before the pair became teammates at the next race when Ferrari lost patience with Luca Badoer as the replacement for Felipe Massa following the Brazilian’s crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa actually won this race in 2008 having somewhat inherited the win following a post race penalty for Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver was battling with Raikkonen for the win, with the Finn vying for a fourth consecutive victory in Belgium, when with rain starting to fall inside the last three laps Hamilton closed rapidly on the Ferrari driver. Hamilton short cut the final chicane to move past Raikkonen but having realised this the Englishman let Raikkonen back through in a manoeuvre designed to allow him to move straight back through into the lead at the first turn. The race stewards deemed this to be an illegal move and Hamilton was penalised 25 seconds. With Hamilton leading the race Raikkonen felt he needed to push and retake the lead and he crashed while attacking too hard, this left Massa free to take the win.

What can we expect this weekend?

This weekend’s race promises to be exceptionally exciting with the contrast between the fastest cars set to allow for a thrilling battle at the front. McLaren will have the fastest car down the straights once more this weekend and should be able to overtake the Red Bulls if they can get close enough out of Eau Rouge. The issue for the silver cars though is that Red Bull will have an exceptional car in the middle sector of the lap and so staying close may be a challenge. The RB6 has consistently shown itself to have vastly superior grip than the cars of its title rivals and through corners such as Pouhon Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel should be incredibly fast.

Even with the advantage enjoyed by Red Bull the overall lap times should be very closely matched with McLaren. Ferrari is the potential joker in the pack this weekend. They have excelled at certain circuits this season and have become progressively stronger as the season has progressed, and have a superb recent record in Belgium having won the last three races at Spa.

It has been clear to see the change in Fernando Alonso during recent races, as the double world champion has finally realised that he is a title contender. The Spaniard actually came to the attention of Formula 1 team managers during a 1999 F3000 race here when he pulled off a series of daring moves to win the Formula 1 support race. He may need to do something similar this weekend if he is to maintain his title charge.

Tyre supplier Bridgestone made a statement during the summer break saying that they feel that they are “frustrated and feel that some people are changing tyres too early” This weekend could potentially see the possibility of multiple tyre strategies playing out in the battle for the win. Spa has a very short pitlane and the expected pit stop times are in the region of 18 seconds, so the time penalty of changing tyres is not too excessive. While the season has been dominated by single tyre stops and teams matching their rival’s strategy, it will not be inconceivable to see some variety in terms of strategy at the front of the field.

Weather has traditionally played a part in creating excitement at this race and this year looks set to offer wet weather once more, with local forecasts expecting showers on Sunday. In the wet, Spa is one of the ultimate tests for a driver. The rain and mist hang amongst the trees making visibility so bad that drivers can hardly see their own steering wheel! They are therefore forced to drive with nothing but their instincts. Having a clear track is obviously an advantage but having confidence is crucial, and in the wet no one is more confident than McLarens’ Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. The team know that they need to capitalise on races that play into their hands. Red Bull may have a faster car but McLaren have shown they are much more adaptable. The battle should be enthralling once more and with every race of increasing importance to the outcome of the title any mistakes will be magnified.

BBC Schedule

Friday 30 July

Practice one: 0855-1035, BBC Red Button

Practice two: 1255-1435, BBC Red Button

Saturday 31 July

Practice three: 0955-1105, BBC Red Button

Qualifying: 1210-1430, BBC One

Sunday 1 August

Race: 1210-1515, BBC One

Year	Driver	Team
2009	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari
2008	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
2007	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari
2005	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren
2004	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren
2002	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
2001	Fernando Alonso	Renault
2000	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren
1999	David Coulthard	McLaren
1998	Damon Hill	Jordan
1997	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
1996	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
1995	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
1994	Damon Hill	Williams
1993	Damon Hill	Williams
1992	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
1991	Ayrton Senna	McLaren
1990	Ayrton Senna	McLaren
1989	Ayrton Senna	McLaren
1988	Ayrton Senna	McLaren
1987	Alain Prost	McLaren
1986	Nigel Mansell	Williams
1985	Ayrton Senna	Lotus
1983	Alain Prost	Renault
1970	Pedro Rodriquez	BRM
1968	Bruce McLaren	McLaren
1967	Dan Gurney	Eagle
1966	John Surtees	Ferrari
1965	Jim Clark	Lotus
1964	Jim Clark	Lotus
1963	Jim Clark	Lotus
1962	Jim Clark	Lotus
1961	Phil Hill	Ferrari
1960	Jack Brabham	Cooper
1958	Tony Brooks	Vanwall
1956	Peter Collins	Ferrari
1955	Juan Manual Fangio	Mercedes
1954	Juan Manual Fangio	Masserati
1953	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari
1952	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari
1951	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo
1950	Juan Manual Fantio	Alfa Romeo

Misc

Weather

Chatroom

[Born Racer]

Nice one frostie. I can't wait; it's my first Belgian Grand Prix.

[stripedcat]

Ye. The greatest motor racing circuit in the world!!! Road America is the second! Although they have tried to mess with it in recent years(the bus stop has been changed), but it still is a great challenge. Don't let Tilke any where near it!!!

I hope we have a wet race this weekend, just to spice things up! Who will win - I have no idea. I still think that the Red Bulls are out in front, I don't know whether the McLarens can catch up with either the Red Bulls or Ferraris.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Wet race/on-off conditions would be nice.

Nice write up frostie, enjoyed it. Born Racer, where are you seated? Have a great time.

Selby

[Knowlesy]

Frostie, this thread is:

[strider]

Great intro, Frostie.

The non-World champion winners are, in chronological order, Peter Collins, Tony Brooks, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Pedro Rodriguez, David Coulthard and Felipe Massa (arguably by default), but all of them are considered to have been pretty damn good in their day.

[ECW Dan Selby]

I think in fairness, in most people's eyes, Massa did not win in 2008.

Selby

[strider]

I'm not going to disagree with that, but nor am I going to open old wounds.

So far as this year is concerned, I think it's more open than recent races. Red Bull will be the fastest through sector 2, but McLaren and Ferrari should have an advantage through sectors 1 and 3, so the set-up of the car will be all important. Ferrari just might be able to get closer to Red Bull than McLaren through sector 2, but it's all to play for.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Yeh totally. I don't mean to open a can of worms, it was just in response to the above comment

And I couldn't agree more - I think Red Bull with have the middle section down to a tee, but it's just a case of how much can the Ferrari/McLaren make up in sectors 1 and 3 in comparison?

Selby

[Sodemo]

This track isn't the challenge it used to be, which is a shame.

[E.B]

Not to take anything away from the great intro Frostie, (and thanks for that) but a minor anomaly...... Alonso has never won at Spa, and although the table shows Alonso having won in 2001 driving a Renault, he was in fact in a Minardi that year. (MS won in 2001)

[strider]

If there's going to be some editing done, it was Fangio who won in 1950, not 'Fantio'.

[Birddog07]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86088

Spa ruined alittle more by the Safety Nazis. What's next? Stop-go chicane before Eau Rouge?

[Bononi]

Finally ! Nice job Frostie.

[JeremySmith]

Brilliant work! Thank you so much frostie!...Spa!!!!!!!!!! ohhh my god..

[frostie]

Originally Posted by E.B

Not to take anything away from the great intro Frostie, (and thanks for that) but a minor anomaly...... Alonso has never won at Spa, and although the table shows Alonso having won in 2001 driving a Renault, he was in fact in a Minardi that year. (MS won in 2001)

Those damn tables are so hard to read when youre writing into them, I always have at least mistake....really should check them instead of just throwing them up!

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Birddog07

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86088

Spa ruined alittle more by the Safety Nazis. What's next? Stop-go chicane before Eau Rouge?

Yep, its no longer a great track in my eyes. Its merely a "quite good" one.

Lets face it, any track change is 99% of the time going to be for the worst, the only one which has been for the better in recent times is the Imola re-development.

[frostie]

Originally Posted by Birddog07

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86088

The article says that they did it to 'deter drivers from taking a short cut' but the punishment for going off in the past was that you lost a place and maybe damaged the front wing if the car bounced in the grass with it now being tarmac the only punishment will be losing time. Les Combes has seen every driver make a mistake and run over the grass, its a tough corner to get right and all this does is lessen the penalty for a driver making a mistake.

Originally Posted by Birddog07

Spa ruined alittle more by the Safety Nazis. What's next? Stop-go chicane before Eau Rouge?

Does anyone remember the Eau Rouge chicane of '94?

[Knowlesy]

Unforunately, yes.

[Birddog07]

Originally Posted by frostie

its a tough corner to get right and all this does is lessen the penalty for a driver making a mistake.

These are the best drivers in the world, if they can't make a corner than they shouldn't get off easy. I hate all this oarking lot paved runoff. Few meters of grass right next the the kerb followed by some gravel or just one of those abrasive tarmac strips.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by frostie

Does anyone remember the Eau Rouge chicane of '94?

Oh dear, really..?

Selby

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by frostie

Does anyone remember the Eau Rouge chicane of '94?

Yes!


Yuck!

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by frostie

Does anyone remember the Eau Rouge chicane of '94?

Yes, I love knee jerk reactions and double standards.

A driver dies in F1, we have to change everything...

A driver dies in Formula Ford, nothing is done...

[Mekola]

Alonso, Hamilton, Kubica fastest ones at the end of First Practice.

[Grandpa_Rob]

Heavy rain predicted for Sunday could make for dull race.