Official Belgium GP thread 2019
Discussion
Norfolkit said:
Really, the start line is far too close to La Source to avoid problems, the field doesn't have time to stretch out, the cars are still too bunched to avoid problems. It might be better to move it to right after La Source, seem to remember from walking it the first part after La Source is flat although I'm not sure you'd get the whole grid on the flat part before it starts going downhill, also (I think) there's no grandstand there so it would p
s off the paddock club.
There are 19 rows of grid boxes on the start/finish straight. They could just go back 9 rows and put pole position there and give them a longer run to Le Sources off the paddock club.
g4ry13 said:
Look at 1:28 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE26FjROgB8 ) where he jiggles the steering and the car doesn't change direction and then continues to accelerate up to Eau Rouge. That's just stupid and not sure how he thought that was going to work out.
Yep, was clear his steering was broken yet he continues, and in the middle of the pack.The collision with Kimi was a racing incident. To continue with broken steering was mental.
Hungrymc said:
Yep, was clear his steering was broken yet he continues, and in the middle of the pack.
The collision with Kimi was a racing incident. To continue with broken steering was mental.
Probably a function of power steering - very little “feel” until you need to turn.The collision with Kimi was a racing incident. To continue with broken steering was mental.
I thought Max was pretty contrite when interviewed- he knew he had screwed up badly.
Hungrymc said:
To continue with broken steering was mental.
The car was still driveable as it hadn't fully broken at that point, all he'll have known was something wasn't right until it failed completely. No driver would pull over a car that is still driveable if there's a chance they can still get back to the pits. bobbo89 said:
Hungrymc said:
To continue with broken steering was mental.
The car was still driveable as it hadn't fully broken at that point, all he'll have known was something wasn't right until it failed completely. No driver would pull over a car that is still driveable if there's a chance they can still get back to the pits. bobbo89 said:
Hungrymc said:
To continue with broken steering was mental.
The car was still driveable as it hadn't fully broken at that point, all he'll have known was something wasn't right until it failed completely. No driver would pull over a car that is still driveable if there's a chance they can still get back to the pits. 
The way the steering wheel was turning with no movement from the front wheels makes it pretty obvious the car was f
ked.Norfolkit said:
Really, the start line is far too close to La Source to avoid problems, the field doesn't have time to stretch out, the cars are still too bunched to avoid problems. It might be better to move it to right after La Source, seem to remember from walking it the first part after La Source is flat although I'm not sure you'd get the whole grid on the flat part before it starts going downhill, also (I think) there's no grandstand there so it would ps off the paddock club.
It seems strange that such a long circuit hasn't got a spot for a cracking grid. Any run down to the hairpin, even after extending the current grid to double/treble the length, is going to give problems. They've widened the corner in effect of course but it's not much use if everyone wants to take the apex. s off the paddock club.Norris took La Source at the start impeccably. Went for it, saw possible problems, hung back a bit, then took advantage of the carnage when it was clear.
He deserved to finish. Felt sorry for him, and not only because I'm a McLaren fan.
SmoothCriminal said:
bobbo89 said:
Hungrymc said:
To continue with broken steering was mental.
The car was still driveable as it hadn't fully broken at that point, all he'll have known was something wasn't right until it failed completely. No driver would pull over a car that is still driveable if there's a chance they can still get back to the pits. The way the steering wheel was turning with no movement from the front wheels makes it pretty obvious the car was f
ked.Derek Smith said:
It seems strange that such a long circuit hasn't got a spot for a cracking grid. Any run down to the hairpin, even after extending the current grid to double/treble the length, is going to give problems. They've widened the corner in effect of course but it's not much use if everyone wants to take the apex.
Norris took La Source at the start impeccably. Went for it, saw possible problems, hung back a bit, then took advantage of the carnage when it was clear.
He deserved to finish. Felt sorry for him, and not only because I'm a McLaren fan.
The old start line was after La Source. I think they stopped using it for F1 because it was on a downhill slope.Norris took La Source at the start impeccably. Went for it, saw possible problems, hung back a bit, then took advantage of the carnage when it was clear.
He deserved to finish. Felt sorry for him, and not only because I'm a McLaren fan.
My first born & I ventured to our first F1 race this weekend, and it was sublime. Here's my weekend in summary...
We left home early on Saturday, and found ourselves at the Nurburgring by lunchtime. Plenty of carspotting there, a lap in my own car, followed by one of the high speed taxi rides - immense fun. We had a huge thunderstorm on Saturday night, and yesterday morning we were on the road by 7:30, and in Spa, parked up, by 9 - complete with a bargain set of winter tyres for my F11 picked up from a German Ebayer on the way! Bearing in mind we had never been to Spa (or any other F1 race) before, we found the Green parking easily. Local road closures meant it was pretty self-explanatory about where we had to go.
With the car parked, we headed to meet friends at Pouhon - and maybe luckily, the Green car parks were perfect for Pouhon - so we were there comfortably before the F3 race.
There were plenty of references and tributes to Anthoine Hubert throughout the events, which everyone - literally everyone - respected.
The F3 race was ok, and broadly without incident. The Porsche racing was superb, and a real battle for second place meant for some 'rubbing is racing' quips from the group. The drivers parade was great, and of course in a sea of orange, Max Verstappen got the biggest cheers.
Franky Zapatta, that mental guy on his hoverboard, was an unexpected surprise as he completed a lap of the circuit. It was like a real life Tony Stark!
The Belgian Air Force flypast was cool, then it was time for racing.
There were orange tears when Max crashed out, which killed the Dutch atmosphere. The orange flares were packed away for next time, and the fans just cracked out the Heineken instead and got pissed.
The rest of the race was great, and my boy was cheering for Norris - he's a big fan. The performance during the race was superb after that great start, and he was untouchable in 5th. Albon did well too, although a part of me wanted Gasely to do better to show Red Bull they'd made a mistake - but it looks like Red Bull know what they're doing. Just as we were getting ready to make a dash for it as the final lap went past, Gionvinazzi spun out & clouted the barrier opposite us - we were glad to see him walk away.
Quick walk back to the Green Car park, taking in a detour to walk across the track, as you do. We saw the post race interviews and podium on the various trackside screens, but hadn't realised Norris's fate at this stage.
The drive back was good. Sticky getting out of the car park of course, and sticky until the second village we went through, but great after that. We got back to Calais at 21:30 local time, not speeding, but not stopping either.
Things to remember for next time:
Something more comfortable to sit on - like an old cushion. Or chairs. Or camping stools... you get the idea.
A camping shovel to 'contour' the hillside for ourselves
More food. The trackside offering was a fixed '€35 for 10 tokens' - so you were spending a fixed €35 - or units of.
We left home early on Saturday, and found ourselves at the Nurburgring by lunchtime. Plenty of carspotting there, a lap in my own car, followed by one of the high speed taxi rides - immense fun. We had a huge thunderstorm on Saturday night, and yesterday morning we were on the road by 7:30, and in Spa, parked up, by 9 - complete with a bargain set of winter tyres for my F11 picked up from a German Ebayer on the way! Bearing in mind we had never been to Spa (or any other F1 race) before, we found the Green parking easily. Local road closures meant it was pretty self-explanatory about where we had to go.
With the car parked, we headed to meet friends at Pouhon - and maybe luckily, the Green car parks were perfect for Pouhon - so we were there comfortably before the F3 race.
There were plenty of references and tributes to Anthoine Hubert throughout the events, which everyone - literally everyone - respected.
The F3 race was ok, and broadly without incident. The Porsche racing was superb, and a real battle for second place meant for some 'rubbing is racing' quips from the group. The drivers parade was great, and of course in a sea of orange, Max Verstappen got the biggest cheers.
Franky Zapatta, that mental guy on his hoverboard, was an unexpected surprise as he completed a lap of the circuit. It was like a real life Tony Stark!
The Belgian Air Force flypast was cool, then it was time for racing.
There were orange tears when Max crashed out, which killed the Dutch atmosphere. The orange flares were packed away for next time, and the fans just cracked out the Heineken instead and got pissed.
The rest of the race was great, and my boy was cheering for Norris - he's a big fan. The performance during the race was superb after that great start, and he was untouchable in 5th. Albon did well too, although a part of me wanted Gasely to do better to show Red Bull they'd made a mistake - but it looks like Red Bull know what they're doing. Just as we were getting ready to make a dash for it as the final lap went past, Gionvinazzi spun out & clouted the barrier opposite us - we were glad to see him walk away.
Quick walk back to the Green Car park, taking in a detour to walk across the track, as you do. We saw the post race interviews and podium on the various trackside screens, but hadn't realised Norris's fate at this stage.
The drive back was good. Sticky getting out of the car park of course, and sticky until the second village we went through, but great after that. We got back to Calais at 21:30 local time, not speeding, but not stopping either.
Things to remember for next time:
Something more comfortable to sit on - like an old cushion. Or chairs. Or camping stools... you get the idea.
A camping shovel to 'contour' the hillside for ourselves
More food. The trackside offering was a fixed '€35 for 10 tokens' - so you were spending a fixed €35 - or units of.
Edited by BFleming on Monday 2nd September 10:45
ChevronB19 said:
I was there from Friday, yes. Saturday and the DJ plus the crowd dancing really made it for me! Real proper party rave with daft Dutch oompah music! I’m not normally into that, but it made it for me! My girlfriend is Dutch, so translated for me - the DJ was hired directly by Max, and after yesterday’s tragedy he asked him to dial it down. DJ passed that on to the crowd, and when he said it everyone clapped, they just understood.
I have raced at Spa, and it did bring things home to me. Good to see a lot of the marshals were brits, the best in the world!
Sounds like you had an amazing time.I have raced at Spa, and it did bring things home to me. Good to see a lot of the marshals were brits, the best in the world!
Unfortunately, the DJ was still banging out the tunes when the accident was being attended too. Clearly he didn't realise what was going on.
I wondered why music was being played but now it makes sense.
The clapping on lap 19 was just a class act.
Max, however, had a shocker so maybe the DJ was sacked
FourWheelDrift said:
There are 19 rows of grid boxes on the start/finish straight. They could just go back 9 rows and put pole position there and give them a longer run to Le Source
But that would make the cars entry speed even higher and even more dangerous.Some drivers just need to engage their brains when it comes to the start at Spa.
Happens every year.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
FourWheelDrift said:
There are 19 rows of grid boxes on the start/finish straight. They could just go back 9 rows and put pole position there and give them a longer run to Le Source
But that would make the cars entry speed even higher and even more dangerous.Some drivers just need to engage their brains when it comes to the start at Spa.
Happens every year.
Edited to add - Or bigger gaps between the rows.
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Monday 2nd September 11:32
FourWheelDrift said:
But they will not be so bunched up. They are professional drivers they know when to brake, it's just with short runs to a tight corner that their racing instinct takes over and they all look for gaps and that causes the issues.
They should know where to brake at the current starting positions. Hulkenberg, as shown below, should have known.Further back IMO would just add more danger with a limited runoff.
They use to start around the corner towards the old bus stop and even then they hit each other.
Could you imagine this at a higher speed?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuRRLkc4qUo&t=...
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