[Official] Belgian Grand Prix 2015 - Weekend Thread

[Born Racer]

Formula 1 reawakens from its summer break and is back in the best possible way with a circuit most people relish – Spa-Francorchamps. The Belgian Grand Prix 2015 marks the eleventh round of this nineteen race championship.

‘Spa’, as it is commonly shortened to, despite being much closer to the town of Francorchamps, is set in the Ardennes Forest and its first Grand Prix was held in 1924. Until 1970, it was run on a fearsome, much longer incarnation of the circuit (14.9km at its maximum length) than the contemporary one, which at 7km, is still the longest. It used to consist of many fast public roads which stretched down to the villages of Malmedy and Stavelot before eventually rejoining what we have today and had monster fast straights. The notorious Masta Kink straddled two straights between Malmedy and Stavelot.

In 2015, Spa still features many glorious corners which follow the natural order of the land. It is a track that delights in having Formula 1 cars driven on it. Because of the topography, the majority of the corners just feel right, like that is the way the track is supposed to go. It doesn’t feel designed by anyone but by Spa-Francorchamps itself. This sense of a natural track is compounded by the forces of nature. The element of the weather can add a total twist in the ark of the race by means of rain showers which come out of the blue. The microclimate of this part of the Ardennes means that one moment it is sunny and the next, ominous clouds have swept in and they are pouring, sometimes in only one area. A vital decision to pit or to not pit on a seven-kilometre layout can turn a race here on its head.

Turns here are not merely numbers, but have names, evocative ones, such that they call to mind images of the cars and drivers taking on the challenge.
Turn 1 is La Source. A tricky hairpin, it opens quite wide on the exit and allows for plenty of jostling on the opening lap (and DRS Detection Zone 1 on later ones) as the drivers set themselves up for Turns 2 to 4, the Eau-Rouge – Raidillon combination. Eau Rouge is actually the brief left at the bottom of the hill before the slight right, Raidillon, which climbs to the top and goes further than the eye can see from when you are entering the curve. There is a left as the drivers go over the brow and try to tame the car, gently balancing out any danger and keeping forward motion for the Kemmel Straight. These corners are spectacular to watch in person, where the steepness becomes apparent in a way that is not always the case on television.

The Kemmel Straight is the longest one and features DRS Activation Zone 1. It leads drivers to the magnificent right-left-right Les Combes complex (Turns 5 to 7). Whilst Eau Rouge and Raidillon are a pure thrill, it is these corners that begin to remind you that much of the joy of this track is in just how good the more conventional corners are. It’s a right-left chicane followed by ninety-right with a less angled entry and looks superb to drive. This is where the drivers will really be starting to enjoy the flow. Overtaking opportunities also abound into Turn 5.

The drivers plunge downhill into Bruxelles, which is Turn 8. Perhaps because of the relatively short distance between Les Combes and Bruxelles, it somehow invites drivers to dare to brake late, but it’s a risky thing, easy to put a wheel off and in any event, not so easy to gather traction on the exit.
A quick left takes the drivers 90 degrees through Turn 9 before they approach Pouhon (Turns 10 and 11). A relentless left-hander, this is many drivers’ favourite section. Whereas Raidillon is easier to take flat than it once was, Pouhon is more of a case of fine throttle feathering, a lift usually necessary. The track is so fun by this point that it is difficult for drivers to want to remove any speed, instead seeking to be really fast and ready to barrel through Turn 12 and then slow it down a bit more for 13, Campus.

Turn 14 is Stavelot, a right-hander which sets up the drivers for 15, The Courbe Paul-Frère. It’s crucial to carry as much as speed as possible through here, because they’re now not braking again until the final corners. The left-hand sweeper of Blanchimont (Turn 16) is followed by a slightly tighter one at 17.

Hard braking is called for into the right-left Bus Stop Chicane (Turns 18 and 19), just before which there is the second DRS Detection Zone (activation is on the start-finish straight). It is easy to fumble it through here.

Of the 2015 field, freshly re-signed Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen has the best winning record here with four victories (one fifth of his total number of wins) and one other podium. Last year he was fourth, which is the only time he has made it to the chequered flag and not recorded a podium finish. Raikkonen’s team-mate Vettel has taken the spoils twice and of the other drivers and in chronological order, Massa, Hamilton, Button and Ricciardo have all won once.

It was Massa who took the win after the rather controversial finish to the 2008 race, which staged an epic tussle between Hamilton and Raikkonen when the rain began to fall. The race had not been particularly exciting until that point, but their scrap for victory was enthralling. Lewis was given a post-race penalty which dropped him down the order when after having been edged to the limit of the track at the Bus Stop, he drove over the run-off on the inside and passed Kimi before immediately ceding the place. Because he then passed again into La Source, he was deemed to have gained an unfair advantage in his pass (having gained in the Bus Stop).

1998 was also a hugely rain-affected race, a deluge and soaked track causing an enormous pile-up out of La Source which eliminated many cars and caused a red flag. Michael Schumac her was dominating the re-started race when he drove into the back of David Coulthard, who had slowed but stayed on-line to let him lap him. Damon Hill took his final win and Jordan’s first, with a one-two, Michael Schumacher’s brother Ralf following him home and Jean Alesi completing the podium for Sauber.

Another relatively recent piece of drama was 2000, when Hakkinen, angered by Schumacher’s blocking in 2000, bided his time and used the lapped car of Ricardo Zonta on the Kemmel Straight in the middle of the track to send one down the inside of Schumacher forcing the Ferrari to go to the left while sandwiching the BAR.

Last year witnessed the collision between the Mercedes drivers which left Hamilton out of the race and led Mercedes to disciplinary action on Rosberg, a public telling off and a fine the result. Daniel Ricciardo won the race with Red Bull from Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas in the Williams.

It was Ricciardo who was one of a number of drivers to star last time out in Hungary in a race which also included an excellent performance from his team-mate Daniil Kvyat, a 2nd-place finish his result and victory for Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari. The Mercedes drivers messed it up.

This year’s drivers’ and constructors’ championships so far can be viewed here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...p/drivers.html
http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...hip/teams.html

Circuit length: 7.004km
Number of laps: 44
Race distance: 308.052km
Dry weather tyre compounds: Soft and Medium
DRS Detection Zone 1: between Turn 1 and Turn 2 (La Source and Eau Rouge)
DRS Activation Zone 1: between Turn 4 and Turn 5 (on the Kemmel Straight before Les Combes)
DRS Detection Zone 2: just before Turn 18 (Bus Stop Chicane)
DRS Activation Zone 2: Start-finish straight
Lap Record: 1:47.263 (2009 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault)
First World Championship Grand Prix: 1950



I will be attending this year’s meeting with my girlfriend so we’re looking forward to witnessing the action from there!

[dsg]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I will be attending this year’s meeting with my girlfriend so we’re looking forward to witnessing the action from there!

Thanks for the great summary, and have an enjoyable weekend.

[chillibowl]

agreed, great intro!

where will you be sitting and looking forward to some live reporting plus a post race report!

[chillibowl]

bit of a surprise to find this on the official f1 web site, but a nice little article (with pictures) of eau rouge through the years.

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...eau-rouge.html

[chunterer]

Let's hope for another classic. Weather mixed, elbows out....

If Hungary could provide a better think what a proper track could give us!

[bravo]

Originally Posted by dsg

Thanks for the great summary, and have an enjoyable weekend.

Fellow tether heading to Spa this weekend. First GP visit ever. So excited.

Also have clothing for everything from blistering sun to blizzards of snow. Maybe not too much rain eh?

[Born Racer]

Thanks dsg and chillibowl. Unfortunately I don't have my 'feel at home' internet deal in Belgium, so I might only be using wifi at the hotel near Liege.

Chunterer, absolutely re: a proper track! I probably should have listed some more classic moments and races in my preview but I felt it was a place that's so much about the pure quality of driving the circuit that it wasn't too necessary.

Bravo, enjoy! I think you can't be too well-covered for different ways to cover yourself at this place. Weather forecasts I've seen are showing the rain that had been forecast for Sunday due on Monday instead and dry and fairly sunny most the weekend, but you never know. Where are you watching from.

We'll be walking around a bit for the first few days. Definitely Pouhon at some point, possibly for qualifying but near the end of the Kemmel Straight for the race. There has been a TV screen when I've been previously and a good view of Les Combes.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Thanks dsg and chillibowl. Unfortunately I don't have my 'feel at home' internet deal in Belgium, so I might only be using wifi at the hotel near Liege.

Chunterer, absolutely re: a proper track! I probably should have listed some more classic moments and races in my preview but I felt it was a place that's so much about the pure quality of driving the circuit that it wasn't too necessary.

Bravo, enjoy! I think you can't be too well-covered for different ways to cover yourself at this place. Weather forecasts I've seen are showing the rain that had been forecast for Sunday due on Monday instead and dry and fairly sunny most the weekend, but you never know. Where are you watching from.

We'll be walking around a bit for the first few days. Definitely Pouhon at some point, possibly for qualifying but near the end of the Kemmel Straight for the race. There has been a TV screen when I've been previously and a good view of Les Combes.

Thank you for a great intro Born Racer.

Enjoy your weekend to, I am currently british racing green with envy.

You will be lucky enough to see the might of McLaren Honda humble Ferrari for the first time! According to Arai!
If they don't its all McLaren's fault! According to Arai!

Anyway have a great week end!

[bauble]

In 1925, the first Belgian Grand Prix was held at the very fast, 9-mile Spa-Francorchamps circuit located in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium, about half an hour from Liege. This race was won by the Italian works Alfa driver Antonio Ascari, whose son Alberto would win the race in 1952 and 1953. Sadly, after winning the Belgian race, Antonio Ascari was killed in his next race at the 1925 French Grand Prix. The Grand Prix did not come back until 1930, and the circuit had been modified, bypassing the Malmedy chicane. The race was won by Louis Chiron, and in 1931, the Grand Prix had become something of an endurance race, with Briton William Grover-Williams and Caberto Conelli winning. 1933 was won by Tazio Nuvolari, and 1935 was won by Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes, by which time the circuit had re-installed the Malmedy Chicane. The 1939 race saw the birth of the Raidillon corner; it was a bypass to the Ancienne Douane section. In contrast to popular belief, the corner to the left at the bottom of the drop is named Eau Rouge, which directly leads into Radillion, a very long right uphill corner. The tricky left blind corner at the top has no name. The conditions were dreadful, and the race was marred by the death of British driver Richard "Dick" Seaman while leading the race. Going into Clubhouse corner, Seaman was pushing hard; he skidded off the rain-soaked road, hit a tree and his Mercedes caught fire. Seaman received life-threatening burns, and he succumbed to his injures later in hospital. The race was won by Seaman's teammate Hermann Lang. World War II broke out, and the Belgian Grand Prix did not return until June 1946, when the 2 to 4.5 litres race at Bois de la Cambre was won by Frenchman Eugène Chaboud in a Delage.

Quote from Wikipedia.

Just emphasises how things have changed over the years.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by bauble

t. The race was won by Seaman's teammate Hermann Lang.
Quote from Wikipedia.

Just emphasises how things have changed over the years.

Last year's had a partial repeat an Englishman leading in a Mercedes and crashes out however his German team mate did not quite win but was in second place.

[Lancsbreaker]

Fantastic footage of the tyre disintegration over about half the lap......

What's the thoughts - one-off structural failure or caused by external damage?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Thanks for the intro . I always look forward to Spa. I took a screen shot of this weather map from the Met Office and it shows a cold front at 13:00 pm, Sunday, just about where the Ardennes is.



I think this means rain.

[bravo]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Bravo, enjoy! I think you can't be too well-covered for different ways to cover yourself at this place. Weather forecasts I've seen are showing the rain that had been forecast for Sunday due on Monday instead and dry and fairly sunny most the weekend, but you never know. Where are you watching from.

This is my very first attended GP, and as a real treat we have seats in gold 2. Not too extravagant once in 22 years of following F1 I think. Currently enjoying a beer at our base for the weekend about 8km outside Liege. How has the action been so far? How early should we be setting off?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Mercedes certainly haven't been slacking during the summer break and despite all the talk, McLaren/Hondas woes continue. Not too sure what happened with the Ferraris.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Not too sure what happened with the Ferraris.

"Sudden loss of oil pressure." (Acccompanied by some pretty horrible mechanical noises.)

Reminiscent of Martin Brundle blowing up the McLaren-Peugeot before the first corner of the British GP one year.
Peugeot: "It was an oil leak onto the exhaust."
MB: "That would be the oil leaking through the hole in the block where the conrod came out."

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by bravo

This is my very first attended GP, and as a real treat we have seats in gold 2. Not too extravagant once in 22 years of following F1 I think. Currently enjoying a beer at our base for the weekend about 8km outside Liege. How has the action been so far? How early should we be setting off?

I have no advice except to say "You lucky, lucky *******"

[bravo]

Well setting off early was a good idea. The directions for our parking were not exactly clear, and the local police were not really helping. The public access all the way around la source was only open to certain tickets meaning our walk around turned into a there and back and we missed the GP2 start. Getting in or out the stand required your card to be scanned, this was leaving big queues between sessions.

Ok got the negatives out the way first so I could give my attention wholly to the positives. The view from the stand was excellent. We were able to see battles on the big screen as they came out la source, and see as they developed into numerous side by side entries into eau rouge. I've heard people say it's not a challenge with modern aero and tyres. Well it caught a few cars out today. The VSC was deployed a few times in the lower formula, and seemed to work well for a big track like Spa. So far really enjoying it. Looking forward to the racing tomorrow.

[Adam43]

Great stuff

Let us know how tomorrow goes. The cars are very impressive aren't they?

[Born Racer]

Another negative to get out of the way is the bad transport connections. If you're not coming by car, nobody makes it easy for you. The supposed 'F1 Shuttle' bus as the local bus company TEC brand it is actually just the normal 294 or 395 local service. There are not even extra buses laid on after the normal times so while the GP3 race is still on, the last bus is leaving at just the 18:44 before there's even the Porsche Supercup. They ought to at least publicise the final times before selling you the special 3-day return ticket. Telling you they don't return after quarter to seven in the evening would be right. Has anyone else experienced the bus difficulties?

It can end up taking you up to 3 hours to get back to where you are in Liege regardless of the lack of buses after the early evening. You might think the organisers would put on some extra buses since it's one of the most established races on the calendar, but it would seem they haven't learned to. This aspect hasn't improved since I last went to Spa five years ago.


That aside, a fine circuit to watch from with great spectator access all round the circuit and lovely locals in Belgium.

I have to say the V6s don't do it for me in the sound stakes in person. It's not that the sounds bad but it really is quiet and add in that low pitch and the GP2s are more impressive. On the plus side you can, however, tell the Honda from the rest. I miss the old sound, though. It isn't as impressive in person.

[chillibowl]

surprised/not surprised that the Mercs were still faster on the medium compound compared to all the others running the softs in Q1.

LH almost half a second faster then NR...looking forward to see how they handle the new start rules. might not be much to see at the front but very close between p3 to p9.

should be fun...make sure you guys leave early tomorrow morning

[Peter Mallett]

The circuit was looking fantastic on the TV yesterday. Made me wish I was there. However Adam the cars are tedious.

[Airhead]

Of cause you are right Peter. I went to Spa at the beginning of June this year which was a bit of a trek for an Aussie. You can feel the history and the grandeur of the place. Am loving every minute of watching the coverage from the other side of the globe.

[djinvicta]

The first time I saw Eau Rouge, I couldn't believe how steep it was. Fans broke the fence down when Damon Hill won in the rain (after the DC mistake huge accident on the first bend,) and it was a struggle to walk down Eau Rouge trying to stay upright!

[djinvicta]

Did I just hear Martin Brundle say the Lotus cars are impounded over a debt, but allowed to race?

[pirenzo]

Yes, some kind of contractual dispute with Charles Pic (who was their reserve driver last season). Apparently he didn't get the seat time he'd hoped (paid?) for. I believe it actually prevents the cars and equipment leaving the circuit, but it doesn't prevent them participating.