2014 Belgian GP Thread

[steveaki13]

Hoooooooorahh the summer break is coming to an end at last and this weekend see's the Belgium GP mark Round 12 of the season and gets us bored F1 fans going again.

It will be interesting to see the lay of the land after the break.

First things first though

1	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	202
2	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	191
3	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull	131
4	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	115
5	Valterri Bottas	Williams	95
6	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	88
7	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India	69
8	Jenson Button	Mclaren	60
9	Felipe Massa	Williams	40
10	Kevin Magnussen	Mclaren	37
11	Sergio Perez	Force India	29
12	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	27
13	Jean Eric Vergne	Toro Rosso	11
14	Romain Grosjean	Lotus	8
15	Danii Kyvat	Toro Rosso	6
16	Jules Bianchi	Marussia	2
17	Adrian Sutil	Sauber	0
18	Marcus Ericcson	Caterham	0
19	Pastor Maldonado	Lotus	0
20	Esteban Gutierrez	Sauber	0
21	Max Chilton	Marussia	0
22	Kamui Kobayshi	Caterham	0

1	Mercedes	393
2	Red Bull	219
3	Ferrari	142
4	Williams	135
5	Force India	98
6	Mclaren	97
7	Toro Rosso	17
8	Lotus	8
9	Marussia	2
10	Sauber	0
11	Caterham	0

2014 Belgian GP



44 Laps

Lap Record: 1:47:263 - Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull

Session Times - Local & (Uk -Sorry )

FP1: 10:00am-11:30 am - (9:00am - 10:30am)
FP 2: 14:00pm-15:30pm -(13:00pm-14:30pm)

FP3: 11:00am-12:00pm - (10:00am-11:00am)
Quali: 14:00pm - (13:00pm)

Race: 14:00pm - (13:00pm)

Previous Winners since 1990
1990: Ayrton Senna - Mclaren
1991: Ayrton Senna - Mclaren
1992: Michael Schumacher - Benetton
1993: Damon Hill - Williams
1994: Damon Hill - Williams
1995: Michael Schumacher - Benetton
1996: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
1997: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
1998: Damon Hill - Jordan
1999: David Coulthard - Mclaren
2000: Mika Hakkinen - Mclaren
2001: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2002: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2004: Kimi Raikkonen - Mclaren
2005: Kimi Raikkonen - Mclaren
2007: Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2008: Felipe Massa - Ferrari
2009: Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2010: Lewis Hamilton - Mclaren
2011: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
2012: Jenson Button - Mclaren
2013: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull

Multiple Winners

Michael Schumacher - 6 wins
Ayrton Senna - 5 wins
Jim Clark - 4 wins
Kimi Raikkonen - 4 wins
Juan Manuel Fangio - 3 wins
Damon Hill - 3 wins
Alberto Ascari - 2 wins
Emerson Fittipaldi - 2 wins
Niki Lauda - 2 wins
Alain Prost - 2 wins
Sebastian Vettel - 2 wins

* So Kimi is the legend around here of drivers still driving, but hard to see much coming his way this year. IMO Schumi, Senna, Clark and Kimi are the true greats around here.

Ferrari - 16 wins
Mclaren - 14 wins
Lotus - 8 wins
Alfa Romeo - 4 wins * 2 pre F1
Williams - 4 wins
Mercedes - 3 wins
Bugatti - 3 wins * Pre F1
Benetton - 2 wins
Red Bull - 2 wins
Maserati - 2 wins * 1 pre F1

What price on anyone stopping Mercedes making it number 4 round here.

Anyway there we have it guys. 4 days until Practice begins and lets have some F1 chat which has been missing the last 2 weeks.

A classic circuit, albeit I still miss the old Bus stop. Lets hope the race lives up to the circuit.

[Storm]

Classic circuit indeed (Incidentaly I have been watching a Kimi lap from 2004/5 quite a few times in the last couple of weeks)

[henners88]

As this race is on TV for a change I will record it and watch on the Sunday evening. Never has F1 been this exciting.

[journeyman racer]

I think the circuit has slightly lost an edge. I remember watching Schumacher's first win.

[steveaki13]

I think the circuit has slightly lost an edge. I remember watching Schumacher's first win.

I would agree, for me its the lack of gravel now. It is safer I know, but zooming through Eau Rouge flat/nearly flat with gravel either side was scary, inspiring, exciting and brilliant.

Now is just some white lines on a vast piece of tarmac. Same goes with Pouhon and Blancimont

[Storm]

Lack of gravel on most circuits has dumbed them down.

Safer? yes, but aren't these guys supposed to use their skill and judgement when going through a corner which has gravel traps? tarmac = mistakes are no longer punished...I can understand a bit of tarmac if there is a concrete wall or something really dangerous on an exit..

[Mia 01]

I like Spa, you know why.

[steveaki13]

I like Spa, you know why.

Kimi is the only true modern day legend around here. 4 wins. Great stuff. Lets hope he does well this weekend

[steveaki13]

Lack of gravel on most circuits has dumbed them down.

Safer? yes, but aren't these guys supposed to use their skill and judgement when going through a corner which has gravel traps? tarmac = mistakes are no longer punished...I can understand a bit of tarmac if there is a concrete wall or something really dangerous on an exit..

I agree Storm

The gravel and grass was a true test of courage and skill. I suppose they push hard now, but know if they make a mistake it will be OK.

Back a while you pushed 99% knowing they needed to use skill and judgement and couldn't make a mistake.

[GravettFan99]

Hungary saw Kimi achieve his best finish of the season, so I'm hoping his result there is the start of a redemption. I think he has a chance of outrunning Alonso at Spa.