2013 Belgian GP - Spa

[raymondu999]

I've noticed this track over the last 4 years younger drivers have had above par qualifying. IIRC we had alguersauri qualify in the wet 6th or 7th and Bruno Senna in the top 10 also. Maybe Bottas can repeat his Canada quali in the wet. Either way soccer starts tomorrow something to ease the pain from my f1 withdrawals.

Sergio had a great quali here last year. Lol

Arguably outclassed by Kamui

[Racer X]

YES he was outclassed by Kamui but he mentioned Young drivers and while Kamui isnt a veteran one does not think of him as a young driver or atleast i dont. Nor Senna hes close to 30 then 20.

[godlameroso]

This year the RB9 has been a good qualifier on a drying track but not one that's wet, like Silverstone or Hockenheim last year. I don't know how it's going to play out I think we might have another drying track qualifying session this year, and the race will be like Brazil of last year.

[beelsebob]

Current forecast:


Still over a week out though.

[Mika1]

Good temps for Mercedes.

[turbof1]

No rain predicted either. Mercedes' race to loose as it looks like. Though it could just as well be that mercedes their unpredictable tyre issues pop up again.

[Mika1]

No rain predicted either. Mercedes' race to loose as it looks like. Though it could just as well be that mercedes their unpredictable tyre issues pop up again.

I think the kevlar-belted tyres won't be a problem, but we will see.

[turbof1]

Do not forget that in germany they had the kevlar belt too (just not the 2012 structure). They do look to get on top of it, but you can't rule it out.

[raymondu999]

On the face of it it looks like Mercedes has solved their issues, as per Hungary data. However, china 2012...

[Mika1]

On the face of it it looks like Mercedes has solved their issues, as per Hungary data. However, china 2012...

Different temperatures.

[turbof1]

It is a complete different situation now. In 2012 they started concerning tyre wear on equal foot like the others, but it went quickly downwards. The reverse is true for this year: worse tyre wear, but the trend is in general improving. Spa luckily isn't such a heavy lateral loaded circuit, and temperatures seems ok. Last year this was one of their best races in the second half of the season; being careful for unexpected suprises, optimism is key. Pole should go to them in any case; red bull simply cannot take the risk to set their gears short for max acceleration; it'll leave them too vulnerable in the race. It'll cost them though quit heavily during qualy.

Lotus gives DRD btw a good chance to be used during qualy and race. Mercedes might follow suit. Red bull will have that disadvantage too, though they might come up with the freak suprise running it themselves like they did with double drs last year.

[sennafan24]

Tell you what, Hungary has made the break before Spa even more painful for us fans.

It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, with Merc finding its feet with the tyres seemingly. Whilst the smart money is still with RB/Vettel, at least now there is a bit of doubt. Lotus/Kimi are also looking like they could give Seb a argument judged on the past 2 races. If Kimi or Lewis win at Spa it really is game on. The tyres will always make things a bit unpredictable this year, it all adds to the intrigue.

Anyway regardless of the weather, I think Jenson is a dark horse judging by how well he went last year. I think he could really surprise some people at Spa.

[Racer X]

You can't base anything off of last year. Last year we had the top cars taken out only reason Button had a good race.

[sennafan24]

You can't base anything off of last year. Last year we had the top cars taken out only reason Button had a good race.

I disagree. He was on pole last year and had decent pace all weekend. I do not expect him to win this year, but I think he could do well and sneak a top 5 place. He really dialed his car in last year and set it up really well.

[Juzh]

Good temps for Mercedes.

Less so for ferrari and lotus. If they struggled with getting tyres up to temp on 50c track in hungary then this will be a struggle for them indeed. Force india might also be in trouble with this new construction as seen in hungary. Red bull will seat somehwere in between I guess, as usual.