This is going to be Mercedes vs Ferrari....Ferrari will be stronger.Quote:
Originally Posted by "
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This is going to be Mercedes vs Ferrari....Ferrari will be stronger.Quote:
Originally Posted by "
Not if Ferrari is in the same shape as the last two races, they won't. And don't count out the RB's. Vettel came from 11th on the grid to second last year. I'd say Nico and Lewis are the favourites (Nico was generally quite good in Spa), but they'll get a run for their money from Vettel and Kimi. Nothing short of blatant cheating would get Ferrari into contention again. Since Barcelona, where they won due to a clever strategy on clown-tyres that have by now been fixed, they haven't shown nuff anything and I can't see them salvaging this season, else they'll start 2014 on the defense as well.
Ferrari is overrated and out of the running for WC. That is why the reply to what he would want for birthday from Alonso (another car), he knows it well. Ferrari has been greatly overrated this year. They had a couple of good races, but their pace has never been a match to Red Bull, only due to some incredible driving from Alonso did they get good results. But even he can't make up the distance compared to better cars now. Mercedes will be quick I am sure, but might have problems in S2 with tyres overheating over a race distance. Lotus will probably struggle with tyre temperatures, as it usually is not very hot at Spa. Red Bull will once again most likely be the quickest car, just as they were in Hungary.
That's why they won with such a great margin ;) Being quick in practice, when you're on your own and can use a setup optimized for lap time is one thing. In race trimj they've usually been a lot less dominant, especially as they can't get to the pole with Merc's freakish qualifying pace. I'd say on the revised tyres, the Merc is slightly ahead of the RB and even the Lotus is not that far behind in race trim.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Red Bull messed up the qualy for Webber and their other driver did not get the perfect lap in qualy (made mistakes), whereas Hamilton did. From then on it was complicated for them, because it is hard to overtake at Hungary. Even Red Bull themselves admitted to Ted Kravitz they thought they had the fastest car of the weekend. There is no way Mercedes was faster than Red Bull on race pace at Hungary.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
They might not be faster on raw numbers, but what they're lacking is the huge honking achilles heel of the Red Bull. the RB is designed for optimizing lap times - truck loads of downforce traded for straightline speed. That's a lethal combination if they start from pole, but if not they're out of the running. That's what the Merc doesn't have. Due to the straightline deficit Vettel got stuck behind a dawdling old man in a Volvo (aka J. Button) and that ruined his race.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
The RB might be fastest on paper in the same way as Achilles was stronger than Patroklos, but like Achilles, the RB has a huge honking weakness, which makes it possible to defeat them easily if you have a lightning quick qualifier like Heartbroken!Lewis and a bit of luck (Button in the way). It worked out often enough in the past for RB, but if the Mercs keep up to steal poles, Seb could still lose this years championship to Lewis.
Dawdling old man in a Volvo :laugh: :laugh: . Good one.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
On other tracks, where overtaking is easier, Red Bull will not have problems overtaking slower cars. Hungary was a just a special case. Besides that, Mercedes will still have races where they will have tyre troubles. Red Bull is always there, always very fast.Quote:
The RB might be fastest on paper in the same way as Achilles was stronger than Patroklos, but like Achilles, the RB has a huge honking weakness, which makes it possible to defeat them easily if you have a lightning quick qualifier like Heartbroken!Lewis and a bit of luck (Button in the way). It worked out often enough in the past for RB, but if the Mercs keep up to steal poles, Seb could still lose this years championship to Lewis.
Exactly!Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
If one were to look at the speed traps, they would see this clearly.
Yes, Red Bull and Lotus had the lowest top speed. Which is Vettel and Grosjean struggled so much behind Button - both were on the limiter.Code:18 1 Sebastian Vettel 14:53:56 298.7
19 12 Esteban Gutierrez 14:42:14 297.9
20 2 Mark Webber 14:17:31 297.7
21 8 Romain Grosjean 14:33:38 297.6
22 7 Kimi Räikkönen 14:42:38 294.1
This is why Grsojean couldn't get Fernando after hounding him for half of the race.
The overtaking conundrum is a constant for Red Bull. A straightline deficit is catastrophic news on a fast track like Spa or Monza. Especially with cars like McLaren and FI suffering a lack of downforce, which makes them faster on the straight. They'll probably still get past, but if they need 3 laps to pull it off, Lewis is off and away by then. They only had the McLarens to worry about last year and they could rely on McMerc either effing up a pitstop or blowing up some part or other. This year the Mercedes are in the mix and that wasn't in the script...Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Well, we'll see. I think the superior speed of Red Bull and the DRS will help them past their rivals, even if they have top-speed deficit.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
Lotus has the same problem, they're always slow on the straights, or if they aren't it's due to having taken downforce off.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
I hope Lotus PDRS works at Spa. Hope for another victory for Kimi there.
I hope they have shortened the DRS zone on the Kemmel straight this year. The last two seasons passing has been for too easy here due to an overpowered DRS.
A differentnt type of track than they have been running lately, and one Ferrari will do well at due to the stability of their braking. They will also excell at Monza! :bulb: Vettel of course should be the favorite especially if it rains and Lotus will be nowhere in that case. If it is dry It will be a toss-up. with Kimi getting all he can handle from Rogro.
Should be a good race for a change. :bulb:
Ahhhhhh.....SPA! The best circuit in the world after the ring :)
Kimi for the win.
Unless the Scuderia hit the upgrade jackpot, then they will outsiders for a podium.
And by using the word "jackpot" I am deliberately implying that there are elements of luck and coincidence required.
It is clear that intentional and planned improvement is beyond us.
Kimi is king of Spa ring. He needs this win very much and I hope that he can do it.
Kimi is traditionally strong around Spa for sure. I expect Red Bull to be stronger. Section 2 should show any lasting weakness of Mercedes in race trim. Hungaroring was too similar in setup to Monaco and possibly flattered Mercedes on race day.
I think you may not give Merc enough credit. Hungary was HOT and the tires held up. Merc did not "slow-down" the field like The Rosberg needed to do in Monaco.Quote:
Originally Posted by Parabolica
I think they'll be mighty.
I also hate to say this, but i see RoGro having a serious chance for his first win here. He's slowly but surely showing better pace than Kimi.
I think this years race will be won by one of the Mercedes cars, with either Kimi or Sebastian filling the podium. It all depends on how the Mercs tyres do during the race.
Not sure that I am ready to credit Mercedes, as I am not convinced that
the punishment of not attending a restricted test in exchange for an undisclosed race-driver test wasn't of substantial benefit over a longer term than first expected.
Just my feeling. I have no proof of it.
Spa will either strengthen or weaken my belief.
With nearly three weeks untill the race here is some viewing material to help pass the time. The 2001 Belgian G.P. was odd and interesting!
2001 Round 14 - Belgian Grand Prix
With nearly three weeks untill the race here is some viewing material to help pass the time. The 2001 Belgian G.P. was odd and interesting!
2001 Round 14 - Belgian Grand Prix
Why dude, why?
224 races?!
You've ruined my life. Happy?
Que pasa Pedro? :confused:
Great link. I had it a few years ago, then lost sight of it. They have great in-car video's. Wish i could navigate that site :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle
A fifth win for kimi, all that I ask for.
.....and a donut to go with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mia 01
Aaarrrggghhhh!!!!!! Darryl Eastlake!!!!!!! Nooooooooooooo.............. :arrowed:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle
Win for Renault (sorry I will always refuse to call them Lotus) but for Grosjean. He is due. He appears to have learnt how not to collide with anyone close enough at the start and he is looking seriously fast.
He has out qualified Kimi in 2 of the last three and was next to him on the grid in the other race, was 3 rd in Germany, 1 place behind Kimi (team orders to explain this) and was really unlucky to be penalised for his move on Massa in Hungary
Like taking an overweight diabetic kid of a candy store and uttering the words "all you can eat"... :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle
It's important not to forget that the rain can appear at any time in the Ardennes.
We haven't had a wet race yet, so predictions for a rain-soaked competition are just guess-estimates.
Given the Mercedes has good front grip, the rain should suit them.
For Ferrari, we need Mister Blue Sky
ELO? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Parabolica
Elo yourself, how are you? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SGWilko
Tactically, Ferrari need to keep their options open, to treat the race like a Living Thing, such a terrible thing to lose.
It is the driest year ever in Belgium this year, even in Spa.Quote:
Originally Posted by Parabolica
Having worked at Spa before, I know that the Ardennes region has a micro-climate weather system all of its own. It can be dry in the paddock, and have rain of biblical proportions at Blanchimont. I take your word for it that Belgium is drier than ever. I just think that Spa is Spa.
The weather forecast I looked at seemed to suggest there was at least a chance of some rain in the region on Sunday
Sent from North Korea using the dark network
You can never tell with SPA. Personally, I would love to see a dry race, but if it rains I won't complain :)