The Official 2018 Belgium Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Deesee]

Well its next week, hope you don't mind me posting this!!

Thanks DR Z for the template..


Date(s): Friday 24th August 2018 - Sunday 26 August 2018

Race Timings (UK -1 hr)

Fri 24 Aug – Sun 26 Aug 2018

Practice 1 Fri 11:00 – 12:30
Practice 2 Fri 15:00 – 16:30
Practice 3 Sat 12:00 – 13:00
Qualifying Sat 15:00 – 16:00
Race Sun 15:10 – 17:10

UK TV Time

Session	Day		Sky F1	C4
Drivers Press Conference	Thursday		17.30	n/a
Practice 1	Friday		09.45	09.55
Practice 2	Friday		13.45	13.55
Practice 3	Saturday		10.45	10.55
Qualifying	Saturday		13.00	12.55
Race	Sunday		12.30	13.00

Spa-Francorchamps





Live Timing

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Tyres



A reminder of the rules:

Each driver must save one set of the softest of the three nominated compounds for Q3. This set will then
be returned for those who qualify in the top 10, but the remaining drivers will keep it for the race.


Each driver must have both these sets available for the race.

Teams are free to choose the remaining 10 sets, making 13 sets in total for the weekend.

Selected




Weather (looking wet as I type)

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Belgium/Spa...

2017 Qualifying

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME8Xw6NYHwU

|https://thumbsnap.com/Edae7KME[/url]

2017 Race

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmGaCjpoBY

|https://thumbsnap.com/JUEw9mWZ[/url]

Hot Lap (Virtual) with Belgium's own Stoffel Vandoorne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWDNQJhKPG0

The Title Race so Far

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXBrctHv4Oo

Power Unit usage

|https://thumbsnap.com/qBEexDtZ[/url]

Belguim GP crazy onboards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW_TVWWJC7M

Intro, thanks to F1.com

Spa-Francorchamps

Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit is among the most historic on the Formula One calendar, having hosted a (non-championship) Grand Prix as long ago as 1924, and remains one of the most popular venues with drivers and fans alike.

Run on narrow public roads, the original Spa layout was an amazing 14.9 kilometres long and notoriously dangerous. The lap distance was reduced slightly over the years, with some corners eased, but when the 'old' circuit staged its final Grand Prix in 1970 it still measured just over 14 kilometres and remained staggeringly quick - Chris Amon set that year's fastest lap at an average speed of just under 245 km/h.

Spa did not return to the calendar until 1983 and then in drastically revised form, with lap distance cut to just under seven kilometres. Somehow, though, the circuit's magic was retained. Around two thirds of the lap used the original layout and the legendary Eau Rouge corner remained intact. Only the new Bus Stop chicane on the run down to La Source drew criticism.

More than twenty years on Spa remains the longest circuit on the calendar. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners, coupled with its picturesque setting, means that most drivers still rank it among their favourite tracks.

The weather is still notoriously changeable (it can often be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and dry on another) and Eau Rouge, with its high speed and sudden elevation change, maintains its reputation as one of Formula One racing's most technically demanding corners.

Such is the challenge of Spa that only the truly great drivers can really claim to have mastered it. In fact just six men have won the race more than twice - Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Kimi Raikkonen (four times), Jim Clark (four times), Ayrton Senna (five times) and Michael Schumacher (six times).[url][url]

Edited by Deesee on Wednesday 22 August 14:21

[The Moose]

This is my favorite circuit to drive and one of my favorites to watch the F1 at. Can not wait...especially after the never ending summer break!!

[sandman77]

Is this one live on channel 4?

[Blink982]

Yes, it's live on ch4.

[Derek Smith]

Thanks for taking up the burden, Deesee.

The WDC and WCC are nicely set up; Mercedes leading both yet Ferrari, many suggest, has the faster car. Hamilton ahead after a couple of poor results, one a disaster, for Vettel. This season could be the one 'they' talk about in years to come, and we saw it unfold.

Then again, one driver might walk it. Mind you, with the FIA refusing to act against the spirit of F1, the chances of that are lower than in the past.

It's been a great season so far, but I want more drama, and where better than Spa.

About time as well. This summer lay-off is a bit of a pain.

[Stants]

Cant wait !
And i'm going whoop ! Any hints and pointers as not been to spa before?

[HustleRussell]

Genuinely have no idea whether this is going to be a Ferrari weekend or a Mercedes weekend... The Ferrari is very powerful but the Mercedes is very slippery (and better in the wet!)

[paulyv]

Stants said:

Cant wait !
And i'm going whoop ! Any hints and pointers as not been to spa before?

Wasp spray.

Great circuit, but wasp spray.

[Deesee]

paulyv said:

Stants said:

Cant wait !
And i'm going whoop ! Any hints and pointers as not been to spa before?

Wasp spray.

Great circuit, but wasp spray.

Big waterproof jacket this yr!!

[Derek Smith]

HustleRussell said:

Genuinely have no idea whether this is going to be a Ferrari weekend or a Mercedes weekend... The Ferrari is very powerful but the Mercedes is very slippery (and better in the wet!)

I've always felt that Ferrari have always been more slippery than the rest of the grid.

The weather is predicted to be a bit wet. I know that such statements are about as trustworthy as 'I love you', but is it is even damp then it might ruin what could be a real dice between the top two teams and the top two drivers.

[Jasandjules]

Awesome track, still can't quite believe how fast an F1 car peddles up Eau Rogue and sticks to the track.....

[LaurasOtherHalf]

First race this season I won’t see live as driving to the ring on Sunday.

[Derek Smith]

I once walked down to the end of the pit road. That was the first time I realised just how steep it was. I was in awe of it just standing there. Then practice started and I watched the LMES cars go through. They were moving about all over the place, particularly the Porsches. It was scary looking at them.

[Deesee]

Here’s a young max Verstappen taking Eau Rouge in reverse... (how the circuit was designed I’m told)..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuJbIzDirE

[Mark-C]

Derek Smith said:

I once walked down to the end of the pit road. That was the first time I realised just how steep it was. I was in awe of it just standing there. Then practice started and I watched the LMES cars go through. They were moving about all over the place, particularly the Porsches. It was scary looking at them.

It’s my favourite F1 venue - you really get a sense of how poised the recent cars are at absolutely insane speeds and remember how scary it used to be to watch them on and over the edge. It’s interesting to compare to other cars there (love the 24h but also seen WEC, LMES etc) and see how fidgety everything else is still.

As for the steepness - I’ve done a half marathon which is basically 3 laps and it’s an absolute bd

[Derek Smith]

Mark-C said:

As for the steepness - I’ve done a half marathon which is basically 3 laps and it’s an absolute bd

I am in awe of you. During the 6-hour LMES I decided to take a walk to Les Combes. I was knackered by the start of the straight. Walking back down was more difficult.

[F1GTRUeno]

Deesee said:

Here’s a young max Verstappen taking Eau Rouge in reverse... (how the circuit was designed I’m told)..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuJbIzDirE

Would've been more fun if he didn't brake.

[Mark-C]

Derek Smith said:

Mark-C said:

As for the steepness - I’ve done a half marathon which is basically 3 laps and it’s an absolute bd

I am in awe of you. During the 6-hour LMES I decided to take a walk to Les Combes. I was knackered by the start of the straight. Walking back down was more difficult.

At least you could have a beer and Frites on the way

Completely off topic - I’ve run at Silverstone, Snetterton, Goodwood, the old TG track at Dunsfold, Le Mans (both full and Bugatti) and nothing is as up and down as Spa! The rest are all just flattish old aerodromes apart from the full Le Mans which grinds up and down a bit.

Back on topic I’m hoping for some rain in Qualifying to spice up the grid and some more (preferably just half the circuit) in the race later on. And I’d love to see Kimi and Nando sprinkle some magic into the day

[jm doc]

Deesee said:

Here’s a young max Verstappen taking Eau Rouge in reverse... (how the circuit was designed I’m told)..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuJbIzDirE

Well he certainly tip-toed through there!!

[Deesee]

Ive added a few F1 you tube links to the OP, as well as a power unit (engine) chart, ill try and keep on top of these through the sessions.

Also for those of you interested Sky are showing F2 (all sessions) through the weekend as well as the Porsche Super Cup (race) on Sunday morning, as well as 1998 Belguim GP (yep THAT one) in full at 9pm Friday big spoiler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUkTSzPkiq8

If I get any race links (f2) through ill post them on here.

Edited by Deesee on Tuesday 21st August 17:48