[Official] Team of the Grand Prix: Belgian Grand Prix 2022

[Born Racer]

Who gets your vote on F1's return?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Red Bull. They've obviously been working on the car during the break and Max's pace and the over all result, with Perez now 2nd in the WDC reflected that.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Red Bull. They've obviously been working on the car during the break and Max's pace and the over all result, with Perez now 2nd in the WDC reflected that.

I appreciate the spirit of the idea they have been working on the car over the break, but that would be contrary to the regulations and purpose of the summer break. There are only a few team/factory activities permitted during the summer break.

Richard

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I appreciate the spirit of the idea they have been working on the car over the break, but that would be contrary to the regulations and purpose of the summer break. There are only a few team/factory activities permitted during the summer break.

Richard

Article 21.8 of the FIA F1 sporting regulations says: "All competitors must observe a shutdown period of fourteen (14) consecutive days during the months of July and / or August." So that's anytime between the end of the Hungarian GP and the start of the Belgian GP and that was more than 14 days.

[GT6]

Only red bull in that race really

[Aysedasi]

No contest.....

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Article 21.8 of the FIA F1 sporting regulations says: "All competitors must observe a shutdown period of fourteen (14) consecutive days during the months of July and / or August." So that's anytime between the end of the Hungarian GP and the start of the Belgian GP and that was more than 14 days.

I would say we are both right on this.

There was a four week break of which two don't allow any significant activity. So yes, there was two weeks in which they were free to do as they wish, but this also included ramp down from Hungary and ramp back up for Spa. I think Williams did a nice video last year showing how this works (at least for them). No doubt everyone squeezed in "work" as much as they could before the two week period. But they may have also had updates in the works that were expected to be timed to be delivered sometime after the break (some for Spa, some maybe after Spa). My point was the reiterate/remind that there is a shutdown period during the break.

I think I have read elsewhere that RBR struggles with weight. I may have read they were overweight at start of the season. I have read that they have (or are) bringing a new lighter weight chassis. I believe that before an event, teams have to declare any new components (defined in a list) they have not previously run. For Red Bull at Spa, this list included sidepod changes (optimize cooling) and rear suspension changes (optimize aero). Reports are they did not bring the new chassis to Spa.

Richard

[Neil22]

RBR, excellent pace.

[bathurst77]

Yet Again I give team of the weekend to Ferrari for their consistency at not knowing what they are doing and costing their drivers points.
Not great for the championships, but makes for great entertainment.

I swear some of their tacticians are mysteriously finding envelopes of redbull or mercedes cash in their lockers.

I really dont think Ferrari pit wall should be asking the driver what tyres and strategy would he like mid race. Would you like to go with hard and come out behind alonso, or soft and then pit again. "Question?"
They have all the numbers and info on the other cars. Maybe just ask, can you go another couple of laps before box?
They should decide the best tyres and strategy and let the driver concentrate on going fast, not asking him to do math and strategy mid race. He drives, you calculate and plan.

Then the last lap "fastest lap" pit stuff up. Again their number crunchers should have seen he wouldnt come out in clear air so be baulked.

And on Saturday, they put the wrong tyres on the car, only realizing when the driver asked "why am i on these tyres?"
"sorry, mistake"

If merc and Mclaren had not produced such disappointing cars this year they would be nowhere, they made a great car and are doing their very best to stop it winning
Ferrari are in 2nd place in WCC DESPITE the efforts of the team management, not because of them

In the words of Roger Waters "youre nearly a laugh, but youre really a cry"
#KeystoneRacing.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Reports are they did not bring the new chassis to Spa.

Probably just as well. Max would have lapped the entire field.

[GTRMagic]

McLaren
Broke the Spa-specific rear wing on #3 and replaced it with the regular one from other races.
Handed both pilots papaya bags of warm offal that not only couldn’t keep the tyres under them but also had no pace..

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I would say we are both right on this.

There was a four week break of which two don't allow any significant activity. So yes, there was two weeks in which they were free to do as they wish, but this also included ramp down from Hungary and ramp back up for Spa. I think Williams did a nice video last year showing how this works (at least for them). No doubt everyone squeezed in "work" as much as they could before the two week period. But they may have also had updates in the works that were expected to be timed to be delivered sometime after the break (some for Spa, some maybe after Spa). My point was the reiterate/remind that there is a shutdown period during the break.

I think I have read elsewhere that RBR struggles with weight. I may have read they were overweight at start of the season. I have read that they have (or are) bringing a new lighter weight chassis. I believe that before an event, teams have to declare any new components (defined in a list) they have not previously run. For Red Bull at Spa, this list included sidepod changes (optimize cooling) and rear suspension changes (optimize aero). Reports are they did not bring the new chassis to Spa.

Richard

Autosport have this article on the summer break and it explains what teams can and cannot do, during the 14 day shutdown.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wh...s-it/10345377/

[AndreasDavour]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

McLaren
Broke the Spa-specific rear wing on #3 and replaced it with the regular one from other races.
Handed both pilots papaya bags of warm offal that not only couldn’t keep the tyres under them but also had no pace..

Yeah, season can not end soon enough for a McLaren fan. The car is seriously bad, and don't even have the grace to mysteriously turn up good once in a while like the Mercedes one.


Ricciardo lost the team their place in the Constructor's last year, but this year the team have lost it, regardless of their drivers.

[AndreasDavour]

I voted RBR as the ones that did not fail in some way, from car design and down.

[BertMk2]

Red Bull. They got a 1-2 finish and Max has got himself some new powertrain components to use. Will they do the same at Monza to get a load more bits into the pool?

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Red Bull. They got a 1-2 finish and Max has got himself some new powertrain components to use. Will they do the same at Monza to get a load more bits into the pool?

why not right?

with Max' and the car's ability to claw back any starting place grid penalty in short order combined with Ferrari's inability to take advantage of it (certainly their inability to manage two cars at once) there is little risk to RB in building up a little stockpile.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

why not right?

with Max' and the car's ability to claw back any starting place grid penalty in short order combined with Ferrari's inability to take advantage of it (certainly their inability to manage two cars at once) there is little risk to RB in building up a little stockpile.

Exactly - and Monza seems like the ideal place to do it, the straight line speed of the Red Bull should allow them to breeze past everyone else. They don't even need to win from here on in - just collecting points would be enough. A succession of Max and Checo DNF's is needed for LeClerc to have any hope at all - get some spare PU components into the pool and cruise to the titles.

[TrapezeArtist]

You don't get a 1-2 with the winner coming from 14th on the grid by luck. So....

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

You don't get a 1-2 with the winner coming from 14th on the grid by luck. So....

You don't, it's true, but if you have a car that is clearly superior and massively favourable DRS zones, it's pretty close to a breeze.....