2025 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps, July 25 - 27

[Seerix]

The C1 did the same number of laps as the C3 with no major losses in laptime for the Mclaren drivers. The gap on reduced from 8 to 3.5, ignoring Lando's two mistakes. I feel like tyre strategy is dying for races with no safety car. It also feels like teams and the FIA are more risk averse leaving no room for excitement. It's become engineering with zero emphasis on racing.

I think C1 might not have been the best tyre for cold conditions, mediums were probably durable enough to make it to the end - as Osc did personal bests in last laps, so C1 was probably just too hard and might not have worked that well even considering McLaren's superb tyre temp management.
But it's much easier bashing Norris, so there is that

[erudite450]

Lewis and Max wanted to start the race sooner and some other driver who i will not name was asking for more laps. You know it gives you great understanding of the skill levels

Don't hold back, please name everyone who wanted more laps on a dry track.

The younger drivers do seem to expect a red flag rather than getting on and making the best of it. I suppose it’s becoming the new normal. Asking the drivers about visibility is new and could kill racing in the rain almost entirely, if the drivers say they can’t see then the RD will have to red flag. I can imagine drivers gaming this for advantage also.

It reminds me of the WRC and night stages. 20-30 years ago they were just normal as you couldn’t fit the number of stage miles into daylight hours on several events. Now with shorter events there’s gradually been less night stages. The younger drivers increasingly want no night stages at all seeing them as dangerous and unnecessary.

This!!!

[TwanV]

Well the whole weekend was a shambles really racing-wise, don’t blame the FIA for being cautious, it is by far the most dangerous track on the calendar in the wet. The only reason we race here is because it’s the best track for drivers, not spectators. Hope they had some fun. Softer tires might have spiced up the race a bit but artificial all the same, it’s the nature of the track.

Actually it was one of the best for viewers, especially in the rain. But F1 became so crap now it's as bad as any Tilke track.

Absolutely but when have we seen actual wet running since 2013 on proper wets? Brazil comes to mind but that is a very safe track. In the current era if it can’t be run on intermediates on fast tracks it’s not happening. I don’t blame race control, the spray is just a step up from where we were in the 90s early 00s. The only remedy is to shed 500kgs and move back to smaller tires.

[mzso]

Well the whole weekend was a shambles really racing-wise, don’t blame the FIA for being cautious, it is by far the most dangerous track on the calendar in the wet. The only reason we race here is because it’s the best track for drivers, not spectators. Hope they had some fun. Softer tires might have spiced up the race a bit but artificial all the same, it’s the nature of the track.

Actually it was one of the best for viewers, especially in the rain. But F1 became so crap now it's as bad as any Tilke track.

Absolutely but when have we seen actual wet running since 2013 on proper wets? Brazil comes to mind but that is a very safe track. In the current era if it can’t be run on intermediates on fast tracks it’s not happening. I don’t blame race control, the spray is just a step up from where we were in the 90s early 00s

You can blame race control. (as well)

[mwillems]

Well the whole weekend was a shambles really racing-wise, don’t blame the FIA for being cautious, it is by far the most dangerous track on the calendar in the wet. The only reason we race here is because it’s the best track for drivers, not spectators. Hope they had some fun. Softer tires might have spiced up the race a bit but artificial all the same, it’s the nature of the track.

Actually it was one of the best for viewers, especially in the rain. But F1 became so crap now it's as bad as any Tilke track.

Absolutely but when have we seen actual wet running since 2013 on proper wets? Brazil comes to mind but that is a very safe track. In the current era if it can’t be run on intermediates on fast tracks it’s not happening. I don’t blame race control, the spray is just a step up from where we were in the 90s early 00s. The only remedy is to shed 500kgs and move back to smaller tires.

Even next year the cars are too big.

This sport would be much better in many ways with smaller cars.

[CjC]

Come on….

More than likely back in the 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s all the drivers on the front row of any wet race didn’t want the race to start but the guys a bit further into the pack wanted to go racing because of the risk/ reward balance.

Niki lauda who was fighting for a WDC even parked it mid race when it was raining and said ‘fcuk that!’ (Is he a puff?)

The issue now is that we hear all the drivers radios, we can read the stewards decisions etc and there are pages and pages of warriors spouting on a forum working each other up into a frenzy.

If we don’t learn lessons from the past problems that have occurred then we might as well not bother at all.

To whom who were backing Max during the delay about not starting in the wet when it turned out that we had a near enough dry race. How would you feel if they did start the race on time, in the rain and your God Max Verstappen has a spin (like in Silverstone) gets T-boned by another driver from the midfield, race control then throw a red flag so they can air lift Max to hospital in a coma who is hanging on to life itself. No doubt you’ll be the first to bash your keyboards in anger on here saying it was too wet to race and heads need to roll in race control and the FIA.

[mzso]

If we don’t learn lessons from the past problems that have occurred then we might as well not bother at all.

Apparently nothing was learnt on how to provide good races...

Actually it was one of the best for viewers, especially in the rain. But F1 became so crap now it's as bad as any Tilke track.

Absolutely but when have we seen actual wet running since 2013 on proper wets? Brazil comes to mind but that is a very safe track. In the current era if it can’t be run on intermediates on fast tracks it’s not happening. I don’t blame race control, the spray is just a step up from where we were in the 90s early 00s. The only remedy is to shed 500kgs and move back to smaller tires.

Even next year the cars are too big.

This sport would be much better in many ways with smaller cars.

True, but. I see nothing whatsoever why it would help with wet races.

[Rinde]

The C1 did the same number of laps as the C3 with no major losses in laptime for the Mclaren drivers. The gap on reduced from 8 to 3.5, ignoring Lando's two mistakes. I feel like tyre strategy is dying for races with no safety car. It also feels like teams and the FIA are more risk averse leaving no room for excitement. It's become engineering with zero emphasis on racing.

I think C1 might not have been the best tyre for cold conditions, mediums were probably durable enough to make it to the end - as Osc did personal bests in last laps, so C1 was probably just too hard and might not have worked that well even considering McLaren's superb tyre temp management.
But it's much easier bashing Norris, so there is that

I wasn't bashing Lando. I was bashing tyres.

[Seerix]

The C1 did the same number of laps as the C3 with no major losses in laptime for the Mclaren drivers. The gap on reduced from 8 to 3.5, ignoring Lando's two mistakes. I feel like tyre strategy is dying for races with no safety car. It also feels like teams and the FIA are more risk averse leaving no room for excitement. It's become engineering with zero emphasis on racing.

I think C1 might not have been the best tyre for cold conditions, mediums were probably durable enough to make it to the end - as Osc did personal bests in last laps, so C1 was probably just too hard and might not have worked that well even considering McLaren's superb tyre temp management.
But it's much easier bashing Norris, so there is that

I wasn't bashing Lando. I was bashing tyres.

I know, sorry if I was not clear. The last remark was more in general, not meant as a reaction to you specifically. C1s were just not that good in cold conditions, the situation would have been different had it been dry and warmer I assume.

[basti313]

Well the whole weekend was a shambles really racing-wise, don’t blame the FIA for being cautious, it is by far the most dangerous track on the calendar in the wet. The only reason we race here is because it’s the best track for drivers, not spectators. Hope they had some fun. Softer tires might have spiced up the race a bit but artificial all the same, it’s the nature of the track.

Actually it was one of the best for viewers, especially in the rain. But F1 became so crap now it's as bad as any Tilke track.

It was never...at least not since 10 years, since they run flat through Eau rouge. Spa IS just crap since many years, I do not get this hype many pull up if we discuss tracks:
- If it rains you can not drive.
- If it is wet drivers die.
- Spectators are in the mud if it is wet.
- If it is not wet, it is boring.
- Super long track with one interesting grandstand.
- Even on TV it is dull. You either watch the Kemmel or you miss possible action on Kemmel...they missed many intersting things...Bearmann issue, pit exits that were close, Hulk in the end...

[mwillems]

If we don’t learn lessons from the past problems that have occurred then we might as well not bother at all.

Apparently nothing was learnt on how to provide good races...

Absolutely but when have we seen actual wet running since 2013 on proper wets? Brazil comes to mind but that is a very safe track. In the current era if it can’t be run on intermediates on fast tracks it’s not happening. I don’t blame race control, the spray is just a step up from where we were in the 90s early 00s. The only remedy is to shed 500kgs and move back to smaller tires.

Even next year the cars are too big.

This sport would be much better in many ways with smaller cars.

True, but. I see nothing whatsoever why it would help with wet races.

Wouldnt smaller tyres and cars = less spray.

[erudite450]

Come on….

More than likely back in the 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s all the drivers on the front row of any wet race didn’t want the race to start but the guys a bit further into the pack wanted to go racing because of the risk/ reward balance.

Niki lauda who was fighting for a WDC even parked it mid race when it was raining and said ‘fcuk that!’ (Is he a puff?)

The issue now is that we hear all the drivers radios, we can read the stewards decisions etc and there are pages and pages of warriors spouting on a forum working each other up into a frenzy.

If we don’t learn lessons from the past problems that have occurred then we might as well not bother at all.

To whom who were backing Max during the delay about not starting in the wet when it turned out that we had a near enough dry race. How would you feel if they did start the race on time, in the rain and your God Max Verstappen has a spin (like in Silverstone) gets T-boned by another driver from the midfield, race control then throw a red flag so they can air lift Max to hospital in a coma who is hanging on to life itself. No doubt you’ll be the first to bash your keyboards in anger on here saying it was too wet to race and heads need to roll in race control and the FIA.

It's a risky sport. It's meant to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. What exactly makes them heroes if we have to wait for a dry track to go racing?

[McLarenHonda]

I love how Charles battled with Max!

Their talents and skills are so close (yet their achievements arent) and Max looks so different when battling him…like he’s taking extra care of where he’ll place the car! Today the Red Bull was much faster in the damp conditions but somehow Charles managed to stay ahead! Max managed his tires a bit better and was faster at the end but still Leclerc managed to stay ahead!

I’m still waiting for a proper championship battle between these two like 2022 was at the start! It’s so nice to watch…

[AR3-GP]

Why wasn't Leclerc investigated for an unsafe release at the first pit stops?

[Juzh]

Come on….

More than likely back in the 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s all the drivers on the front row of any wet race didn’t want the race to start but the guys a bit further into the pack wanted to go racing because of the risk/ reward balance.

Niki lauda who was fighting for a WDC even parked it mid race when it was raining and said ‘fcuk that!’ (Is he a puff?)

The issue now is that we hear all the drivers radios, we can read the stewards decisions etc and there are pages and pages of warriors spouting on a forum working each other up into a frenzy.

If we don’t learn lessons from the past problems that have occurred then we might as well not bother at all.

To whom who were backing Max during the delay about not starting in the wet when it turned out that we had a near enough dry race. How would you feel if they did start the race on time, in the rain and your God Max Verstappen has a spin (like in Silverstone) gets T-boned by another driver from the midfield, race control then throw a red flag so they can air lift Max to hospital in a coma who is hanging on to life itself. No doubt you’ll be the first to bash your keyboards in anger on here saying it was too wet to race and heads need to roll in race control and the FIA.

Yes, let them just do sim racing, why even bother with real cars. Please stop with the fear mongering.