Belgian G.P. Spa

I think the car setup made the biggest difference on Sunday. It seems like RBR set up its cars for a dry race while Alonso's Ferrari was running a high downforce setup that's more appropriate for a wet race. I really want to believe this theory. Otherwise, it will be a pretty boring second half of season.

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Originally Posted by kfzmeister

I liked some of your original contributions on this forum, but that comment dropped you way down the list. Poor.

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I respect your opinion.

Nothing I have seen so far suggests that Mercedes did not gain a huge advantage from that test. Comparing their tyre management now to pre-test does nothing but suggest they benefited, and also shows that the YTD was not a satisfactory compensation for their rivals.

I cannot get to enthused by Mercedes on-track improvements because of this.

I'm sorry if that view offends, but so does ignoring it and hyping up current performance.

Were Hamilton to win the championship (very unlikely, though it excites the press) then it would be tarnished.

Ferrari top speed without DRS didn't seem to be a wet set-up.

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Originally Posted by Parabolica

Forgive me if I missed it, but does anyone else consider that the Mercedes had a more rain-orientated set-up?

It seemed that it was a mistake in Eau Rouge by Hamilton that gave Vettel the speed advantage to pass on the straight, but after this I am suspecting that the downforce settings were in the hope of rain.

This would also explain the sudden speed increase in the wet qualifying session compared to dry FP2 .& FP3.

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I feel the same. The Mercs are normally quick on the straights but they were nowhere yesterday. They definitely look like they setup for a wet race. Cost them the win in my books.

Merc GP finishing 3rd and 4th look like somewhere to me.

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Originally Posted by N. Jones

Merc GP finishing 3rd and 4th look like somewhere to me.

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I said they were nowhere on the straights yesterday ;)

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Originally Posted by zako85

I think the car setup made the biggest difference on Sunday. It seems like RBR set up its cars for a dry race while Alonso's Ferrari was running a high downforce setup that's more appropriate for a wet race. I really want to believe this theory. Otherwise, it will be a pretty boring second half of season.

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Alonso was running a dry weather low downforce setup, too. Hamilton reported on team-radio that the Ferrari was 'ridiculously fast' on the straights. It were the Mercs who were running too much wing and had gambled on a rainy race as they had the upper hand on RB in all wet parts of qualifying.

I think Ferrari were running a medium down force setup, hedging their bets on the weather, but with a really tall 7th gear.

Perhaps Webber's lackluster performance at Spa was due to distractions :confused: :p :

http://img4.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...da0-713045.jpg

:s ailor:

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Originally Posted by Tizzie

I think Ferrari were running a medium down force setup,

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Or not! :confused:
Domencali seems to imply that the car was in a low downforce configuration, but it sure seemed to have more rear wing than RB.

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Domencali said the improvement in form was not just down to upgrades introduced for low downforce Spa: “Some of them will carry through for the next races, some others were obviously focussed with the package for this race, but at least I’m pleased to see that the car was back to a normal improvement, in terms of performance, that was the most important thing for us.”

Meanwhile Domenicali confirmed that the gap between Alonso and leader Vettel opened up in the final stint because the Spaniard backed off to save the car.

“At a certain point, because the gap was always there around 10-11 seconds, and in our view there was nothing to gain and there was nothing to protect from behind we just considered not to destroy the rhythm and preserve car in order to avoid any possible damages. We saw that Vettel was still pushing, and it was a little bit strange from our perspective, but we were let’s say just managing the position.

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I wonder how much of that last part I emboldened is really true or just meant to keep hopes up through the home race (Monza)? I know their is no quit in that guy Fred.
Perhaps all is not lost. :dog: