The Official 2016 Belgian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
It is the kiss of death, I know, but I got a good feeling about tomorrow.
If I was NR I'd be worried about fluffing the start or merely getting a good one as MV is going to challenge. The run up to Les Combes needs to be good as MV might feel it is his corner if he doesn't make La Source. NR is going to have to push in the early stages and whilst I don't think MV's tyres will last too long, nor will NR's. If that puts the other RB and the two Ferraris in front then all sorts of exciting possibilities emerge.
It is a very difficult race to predict. There are three different makes in the top three and a another one at fifth.
It should be NR's race but . . .
Rain will just make things silly.
A pace car will, most likely, shake things up as there will be someone who has just had new tyres and another who needs to change.
LH coming through the field should be exciting but I wonder how much time the director will give to cars other than MV's? But the tyre problems will give him problems as well, perhaps more so as he'll be following cars quite closely.
Anything is possible but a McLaren win.
It might, of course, end up with the first six as they appeared on the grid. But I hope not.
If I was NR I'd be worried about fluffing the start or merely getting a good one as MV is going to challenge. The run up to Les Combes needs to be good as MV might feel it is his corner if he doesn't make La Source. NR is going to have to push in the early stages and whilst I don't think MV's tyres will last too long, nor will NR's. If that puts the other RB and the two Ferraris in front then all sorts of exciting possibilities emerge.
It is a very difficult race to predict. There are three different makes in the top three and a another one at fifth.
It should be NR's race but . . .
Rain will just make things silly.
A pace car will, most likely, shake things up as there will be someone who has just had new tyres and another who needs to change.
LH coming through the field should be exciting but I wonder how much time the director will give to cars other than MV's? But the tyre problems will give him problems as well, perhaps more so as he'll be following cars quite closely.
Anything is possible but a McLaren win.
It might, of course, end up with the first six as they appeared on the grid. But I hope not.
Would love to see Verstappen capitalise on his super softs at the start, if anyone will have a go around the outside at La Source it's him. Then just behind we have the fast starting Ferraris. If Rosberg doesn't lead into Les Combes on the first lap it's great news for most of us and especially Hamilton
vonuber said:
Clever use of the rules by Merc. The car is so much faster than the others over the race I expect Hamilton to be on the podium as a minimum; if Rosberg hits trouble then a Hamilton win.
Thats just the point, with the current temperatures and tyre pressures the car doesn't have much of an advantage at all. That may change a bit of temperatures drop significantly tomorrow.Merc starts have been iffy at the start of this year and on average I'd suggest that Nico has started worse than Lewis. The RBRs tend to start quite well and Max loves an overtake, if he gets a sniff of an inside line at La Source he'll be off. Ferraris seem to get good launches too, I can see the top 4 arriving at La Source all together and it all getting a bit fighty. Lets not forget Perez is also wanting to impress Renault, so if he gets a sniff of something he'll give it a go.
If it rains I think the RBRs will drive away from Rosberg. I'm curious to see how the Ferraris handle wet weather.
If Lewis gets a top 6 I think he can consider it a good day, anything more is a bonus. Unless he clashes with a backmarker somewhere I think he's going to leave here still in the WDC lead.
Dr Z said:
Realistically, I think Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Vettel and Rosberg have a better chance of winning the race as they're starting on the more durable tyre, unless Verstappen can get into the lead and control the race from the front. It will be tough for him, but RB have played a great strategy with both their drivers. Rain should further mix things up, but the timing will be very important--if rain arrives after Verstappen has pitted and everyone around him is still going along in the 1st stint, that'll be his race done. Should be a fascinating race, and if the field is close at the sharp end in Spa, it bodes well for the rest of the year.
Even putting the rain aside maxs strat looks weak, early stopping will put him right back in the pack, unless its a bit cooler tomorrow?Could be interesting to see how maturely rosberg handles a punchy max at the start though
Crafty_ said:
Thats just the point, with the current temperatures and tyre pressures the car doesn't have much of an advantage at all. That may change a bit of temperatures drop significantly tomorrow.
Merc starts have been iffy at the start of this year and on average I'd suggest that Nico has started worse than Lewis. The RBRs tend to start quite well and Max loves an overtake, if he gets a sniff of an inside line at La Source he'll be off. Ferraris seem to get good launches too, I can see the top 4 arriving at La Source all together and it all getting a bit fighty. Lets not forget Perez is also wanting to impress Renault, so if he gets a sniff of something he'll give it a go.
If it rains I think the RBRs will drive away from Rosberg. I'm curious to see how the Ferraris handle wet weather.
If Lewis gets a top 6 I think he can consider it a good day, anything more is a bonus. Unless he clashes with a backmarker somewhere I think he's going to leave here still in the WDC lead.
A good point about Perez. He must have impressed a bit already. Ferrari have started well just about everywhere, especially KR. Even if NR does cruise off into the lead, the fight for second place should be a classic. Merc starts have been iffy at the start of this year and on average I'd suggest that Nico has started worse than Lewis. The RBRs tend to start quite well and Max loves an overtake, if he gets a sniff of an inside line at La Source he'll be off. Ferraris seem to get good launches too, I can see the top 4 arriving at La Source all together and it all getting a bit fighty. Lets not forget Perez is also wanting to impress Renault, so if he gets a sniff of something he'll give it a go.
If it rains I think the RBRs will drive away from Rosberg. I'm curious to see how the Ferraris handle wet weather.
If Lewis gets a top 6 I think he can consider it a good day, anything more is a bonus. Unless he clashes with a backmarker somewhere I think he's going to leave here still in the WDC lead.
Bad form from Pirelli though. The tyres should be able to cope with circuits. Wouldn't that be a basic requirement?
Derek Smith said:
A good point about Perez. He must have impressed a bit already. Ferrari have started well just about everywhere, especially KR. Even if NR does cruise off into the lead, the fight for second place should be a classic.
Bad form from Pirelli though. The tyres should be able to cope with circuits. Wouldn't that be a basic requirement?
The weather has been uncharacteristically warm this year, had they known on the temperatures they would have gone hard/medium/soft I think, but the tyre compounds are released months ahead of the race, based on previous years. Too late to change it given the teams will have picked the tyres, Pirelli made the requisite number of each compound and then shipped them.Bad form from Pirelli though. The tyres should be able to cope with circuits. Wouldn't that be a basic requirement?
Apparently they are recommending a maximum of 9 laps on the super soft,from what I've seen you'd have to be driving miss daisy to get them that far.
Dr Z said:
Realistically, I think Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Vettel and Rosberg have a better chance of winning the race as they're starting on the more durable tyre, unless Verstappen can get into the lead and control the race from the front. It will be tough for him, but RB have played a great strategy with both their drivers. Rain should further mix things up, but the timing will be very important--if rain arrives after Verstappen has pitted and everyone around him is still going along in the 1st stint, that'll be his race done. Should be a fascinating race, and if the field is close at the sharp end in Spa, it bodes well for the rest of the year.
I'm thinking rain Doc.. 
Derek Smith said:
A good point about Perez. He must have impressed a bit already. Ferrari have started well just about everywhere, especially KR. Even if NR does cruise off into the lead, the fight for second place should be a classic.
Bad form from Pirelli though. The tyres should be able to cope with circuits. Wouldn't that be a basic requirement?
Perez @ 125 to 1 for the win, as someone who makes tyres last worth a cheeky punt?Bad form from Pirelli though. The tyres should be able to cope with circuits. Wouldn't that be a basic requirement?
I actually found it made for an interesting strategy gamble - brave it out on the softs a la ricardo or take the safe but compromised supers. Reminds me of race start fuel qually in a way.
I'd say Rosberg will be just as spooked by Max in a battle as he would Hamilton, particularly as Max has given him a masterclass in how to pass in three races in different conditions recently.
Rosberg feeling he has to desperately prove a point vs young Max in front of his home crowd starting on the front row - I'll be amazed if there are not fireworks on the first lap.
Also remember that Max last year pulled probably his best career overtake at Spa (even though he's made many great ones this year).
Rosberg feeling he has to desperately prove a point vs young Max in front of his home crowd starting on the front row - I'll be amazed if there are not fireworks on the first lap.
Also remember that Max last year pulled probably his best career overtake at Spa (even though he's made many great ones this year).
cgt2 said:
Dr Z said:
Realistically, I think Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Vettel and Rosberg have a better chance of winning the race as they're starting on the more durable tyre, unless Verstappen can get into the lead and control the race from the front. It will be tough for him, but RB have played a great strategy with both their drivers. Rain should further mix things up, but the timing will be very important--if rain arrives after Verstappen has pitted and everyone around him is still going along in the 1st stint, that'll be his race done. Should be a fascinating race, and if the field is close at the sharp end in Spa, it bodes well for the rest of the year.
I'm thinking rain Doc.. All sorts of possibilities.
cgt2 said:
Four words:
IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE
Er.... That's five....IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE
Either way, you're correct, but the engine token system and the penalty system for exceeding them is not working and needs an overhaul.
Having said that, the entire engine legislation (which if you remember, was introduced to reduce costs) has failed spectacularly.
On another topic - Mark mentioned on C4 that he could see Jenson in Sports Cars. If this turned out to be the case, it would reverse my decision not to go to LeMans in 2017
Leroy902 said:
Whatever happens, I hope Mclaren drop JB and get some new blood into the team, he's had his time in the spotlight, time to retire.
I think he's still got a lot to offer an F1 team, if McLaren DO drop him then i'd like to see him get Massa's place at Williams for a season or two before JB calls it a day on his F1 career. Trabi601 said:
Crafty_ said:
Just dock WCC points instead and abolish grid penalties.
WCC isn't as high profile as WDC, so you'd still get tactical use of penalties by teams - especially if you have the kind of lead Mercedes have over the rest.Even if you set a sacrifice of one race of max. points per component, Mercedes could still replace a whole load of stuff without concern.
So what do you do, punish the engine manufacturers? Or their customers?
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