The Belgian GP thread (WITH SPOILERS)

[plg101]

OK.... it's countdown to Belgian GP time.

Will Badoer take a step forwards? Are the silver arrows on a charge? Has Button lost his fizz?

Weather for the weekend?

Number of Laps: 44
Circuit Length: 7.004 km
Race Distance: 308.052 km
Lap Record: 1:45.108 - K Raikkonen (2004)

Fri 28 August 2009
Friday Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Friday Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30

Sat 29 August 2009
Saturday Practice 11:00 - 12:00
Qualifying 14:00

Sun 30 August 2009
Race 14:00

Edited by plg101 on Monday 24th August 07:55

[BoRED S2upid]

Badoer taking a step forward still won't get him past the force indias. I used to think anyone could just step into these cars obviously not, Badoer has proved that.

Anyway, so glad were back to a proper old school track with Spa, its likely to be a wet race it always rains in Spa so possibly not great news for Button, could play into the hands of Mclaren although if its a mixed weather race that means they will have intermediate and slick tyres, god knows what they will bring out, they will be under pressure after this weekends cock up.

[DeadMeat_UK]

Fingers crossed for a wet race, I'm in a covered grandstand at Eau rouge

[AlpineWhite]

DeadMeat_UK said:

I'm in a covered grandstand at Eau rouge

Git!

I'm hoping for midrace showers to shake things up a bit.

[plg101]

DeadMeat_UK said:

Fingers crossed for a wet race, I'm in a covered grandstand at Eau rouge

Nice!

I'm off to Monza for the first time this year; and haven't thought about the weather; what will be will be. No snow would be good.

My predictions:
I'm guessing Badoer will run better at Spa - at least he has raced there before (?) - P15 in qualy is my guess.
Kers must be handy up the hill.
Webber to run well; Vettel will be engine compromised so P5/P6/P7 on an old engine. Save the new one for Monza,
Rubens to out qualify Button.

Any driver announcements due? I'm guessing Ferrari will announce at Monza? Followed by a week if everyone slotting in around that move.

[Wanta996Gotta]

Redbull and Mclaren in the top 6. Not sure how the improvements to the Brawn will play out on a cooler track?

As others have commented on, Spa is one of the great tracks so really looking forward to it. Rain could make it a lottery.

[eps]

DeadMeat_UK said:

Fingers crossed for a wet race, I'm in a covered grandstand at Eau rouge

Ideally you want to be at Raidillion not Eau Rouge..

[VladD]

I think KERS is going to be interesting, especially at the start. Rather than using it off the start line, I can see it being used coming out of Eau Rouge and used to pass a car or two up the hill. I think the weather will be crucial.

[F355GTS]

plg101 said:

I'm off to Monza for the first time this year; and haven't thought about the weather; what will be will be. No snow would be good.

Normally very hot, 30+ degrees

[plg101]

F355GTS said:

plg101 said:

I'm off to Monza for the first time this year; and haven't thought about the weather; what will be will be. No snow would be good.

Normally very hot, 30+ degrees

Except last year...

[Jungles]

VladD said:

I think KERS is going to be interesting, especially at the start. Rather than using it off the start line, I can see it being used coming out of Eau Rouge and used to pass a car or two up the hill. I think the weather will be crucial.

I suspect that it will be too late for KERS by the time they come out of Eau Rouge, as the cars will be in 6th gear and getting into 7th as they pass Raidillon. Rather, the ideal place would be the beginning of the downhill run after La Source, approaching the pit exit. The cars will be around 4th or 5th gear there, which will provide plenty of room for KERS to have effect all the way down the hill and through Eau Rouge.

Then they can charge it up until Curve Paul Frere, and then use it from there to Blanchimont.

Definitely a weekend for KERS cars.

Edited by Jungles on Monday 24th August 13:21

[MiniMan64]

Lets pray for rain after the borefest that was Valencia.

I'm starting to think that we should run the F1 season through the winter to encourage more wet races and give them all the summer off.

[arrishort555]

i see hamilton winning, vettel 6th, webber retires, barri 3rd, button 7th, rosberg podium and sutil in the points

[El Guapo]

Jungles said:

Definitely a weekend for KERS cars.

I don´t think it´ll give much advantage at Spa. It might help a bit on the run down to Eau Rouge, but not enough to enable a pass. I can´t see significant gains to be had elsewhere on the lap.
1. Webber
2. Button
3. Hamilton

[toomuchbeer]

MiniMan64 said:

Lets pray for rain after the borefest that was Valencia.

Weather forcast by weather.com....

FRIDAY
Partly Cloudy
High 21C

SATURDAY
Partly Cloudy
High 19C

SUNDAY
Mostly Sunny
High 19C
Chance of rain 0%

Obviously subject to change, as weather forecasts are usually rubbish.

[He Skunk]

"Chance of rain 0 % ". . . in Belgium ? ! you are joking right, and at Spa, you are really joking.
That place has it's own microclimate, more 4 seasons in one lap rather than 4 seasons in one day.

[DeadMeat_UK]

El Guapo said:

Jungles said:

Definitely a weekend for KERS cars.

I don´t think it´ll give much advantage at Spa. It might help a bit on the run down to Eau Rouge, but not enough to enable a pass. I can´t see significant gains to be had elsewhere on the lap.

What about coming out of Eau Rouge climbing the hill ?

[DeadMeat_UK]

So, with Buttons announcement he's going to be more aggressive. His first DNF of the season is coming up ...

Who's he going to have a coming together with ?

I reckon Webber, Sutil (everyone has to hit him, right) , Raikkonen, Vettel, Bazza in order of likelyhood.

[arrishort555]

tyre options if anyones intrested are...
soft, medium
rest of the season=
Bridgestone tyre allocations for the 2009 season:
Belgium - soft, medium
Italy - soft, medium
Singapore - super soft, soft
Japan - soft, hard
Brazil - super soft, medium
Abu Dhabi - soft, medium

[Bob Fossil]

DeadMeat_UK said:

Fingers crossed for a wet race, I'm in a covered grandstand at Eau rouge

I'm in the uncovered one at Eau Rouge, but still hoping for a wet race... not sure the wife is!