2021 Race 12 - Belgian GP - Spa Francorchamps

[rentspel]

Down here on Conspiracy corner , near Sandbag street , sits the Mercedes , running low downforce in practice with heavy rains predicted .

hehehe

[Nitrodaze]

I think Bottas has to win this race if he wants to keep his seat next season. He can if he put his head down and let his speed come out. If he finishes outside the podium, he would lose the momentum for keeping his seat.

[truefan72]

Big crash for Lando in Q3. Thankfully he is ok. Race control should have red flagged that session. Smh. They delayed Q1 they should have done the same for Q3. This one is on Masi

[truefan72]

I think Bottas has to win this race if he wants to keep his seat next season. He can if he put his head down and let his speed come out. If he finishes outside the podium, he would lose the momentum for keeping his seat.

He has a 5 place grid penalty so his chances are not looking good for the win…unless strange things occur. Besides he has probably lost that seat already.

[truefan72]

Well well well. Russell with a stunner. P2 and the mercedes seat methinks!

[truefan72]

Ricciardo p4
Vettel p5
What a grid!!

[Zico]

Interesting qualy.
Well if the wet is truly the great leveller, Totto would be a bit of a fool not to go with Russell after that performance.
Shame for Lando but great to see Danny finally get right up there... oh and congrats to Seb too.

[airshifter]

It's always great to see a session like that, except for Lando having the off. Glad he is ok.

Changing conditions always shake up the field, but that was a fairly crazy qually session. I still don't see why Merc bothered with the full wets at first, but they have had some strange calls all year with strategy and qual as well. It well could have been the way the car is with the tires, and just a preservation strategy. But they used up a lot of tires, and if it's wet tomorrow they could be on the back foot in a big way. Having to go to fresh tires to make Q3 isn't a great sign, but hopefully with the expected drier weather they will be in decent shape to fight on Sunday.

Both Perez and Bottas will have a lot of traffic to deal with, so the tail gunner positions will be tricky. I'm not sure where Bottas lost his time, but I thought it was strange that Perez put himself so close behind Hamilton on his last lap. That seemed way too close to any decent visibility.

I guess we will find out what Lando can do from the back. If the conditions are changing, I suspect he will get up into the points at least, but in the dry that might be tough even for him. Either way, good to see that the car took a lot of that energy.


As for George... just Wow! The Williams team has to be through the roof with excitement over that. And I'll admit, even though I really enjoy the current fight at the top, once I saw that Lewis didn't post a faster time I was almost hoping Max made an error and George got the pole.


ETA: Great to see Vettel and Ricciardo up in the top 5 as well, and a bit surprised to see Ocon do well while Alonso struggled. It goes to show that being a rain master in a certain period might still depend a lot on the car.


Does anyone want to take bets on where George punches a hole for Lewis to let him by? That Williams had a lot of wing on it, so it should provide a good tow. But still, well played by Williams as a way to get the car up near the front. Unless it's wet they will probably drop quickly, but it's still better than starting near the back.

[F1nKS]

I think Bottas has to win this race if he wants to keep his seat next season.

Toto has already said the decision has already been made. Based on qualifying today I think it clear who they chose. One raced with heart and the other was just there.

[Nitrodaze]

Toto has already said the decision has already been made. Based on qualifying today I think it clear who they chose. One raced with heart and the other was just there.

I have to agree. Bottas did not do himself any favours here. Qualifying eight when the man gunning for his seat is on the front row in a backmarker car. I think Russell has made the decision to pick him an easier decision certainly. Toto's body language during that Sky interview suggests the deal has already been done anyway if not about to be done.