Please keep all discussion about 2010 rules, drivers, teams, fota vs fia argument and anything else 2010 related in this thread ***Official F1 2010***
TV times:
Friday 28 August
First practice: 0900-1030, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Second practice: 1300-1430, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Inside F1: 1830-1845, BBC News Channel, then repeated on the Red Button
Saturday 29 August
Third practice: 1000-1100, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Qualifying: 1210-1410, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online
Qualifying re-run: Times TBC, BBC Red Button
Sunday 30 August
Race: 1210-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online
Race re-run: Times TBC, BBC Red Button
Interactive Forum: 1500-1600, BBC Red Button/online
Highlights: 1900-1950, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online
Standings:
Track:
Track Diagram
1 – La Source
2/3 – Eau Rouge
4 – Radillion
(The kink between Radillion and Les Combes is called Kemmel)
5/6 – Les Combes
7 – Malmedy
8 – Rivage
9 – No name (sometimes referred to as ‘the corner with no name’)
10/11 – Pouhon
12/13 – Fagnes
14/15 – Stavelot*
16 – No name
17 – Blanchimont
18 – Chicane (formerly the Bus Stop Chicane)
BBC Formula 1 circuit guides - 2009
Circuit information
Length: 7.004km
Race distances: 44 laps / 308.176km
Full throttle: 70%
Top speed: 310kph
Longest flat-out section: 24s / 1.865km
Right/left-hand corners: 9/10
Tyre wear: Medium/low
Brake wear: Medium
Downforce level: Medium
Fuel use per lap: 3.151kg
Pit lane time loss: 19.8s (source: Williams)
2009 tyre compounds: Medium and Soft
2008 tyre compounds: Hard and Medium
Weather Forecast
Belgian - a Formula One set-up guide
Spa-Francorchamps is the most complete test of a Formula One car on the current calendar with every aspect of the vehicle's handling tested to the limit. It combines 200mph straights with 45mph hairpins, with several sixth-gear sweepers thrown in for good measure - and, of course, the unique challenge of Eau Rouge.
While this section of the circuit and the fast left-hander at Blanchimont may no longer be as testing as they once were, corners such as Pouhon, taken blind in sixth gear, still allow the drivers to make the difference.
And all of that is before you factor in the notoriously unpredictable weather in the Ardennes, which can see the circuit soaked at one end and bone dry at the other.
Chassis
The circuit features a high number of 'aero corners' - only six of the 19 turns are taken at less than 95mph - and this would normally push the teams towards relatively high levels of downforce in order to maximise grip in the corners, as is the case at a circuit like Silverstone.
However, Spa imposes a very different trade-off, because the two long flat-out straights on the circuit both provide genuine overtaking opportunities, particularly for teams with KERS.
This means that top speed is a critical factor in order to protect position, and downforce levels must be determined accordingly.
As a result, the teams run with a medium downforce set-up, aiming to achieve end of straight speeds of around 200mph. Aerodynamic efficiency - generating maximum downforce for minimum drag - is the key to success at this circuit.
Suspension
In terms of suspension settings, the overall compromise is relatively stiff in order to ensure good aerodynamic performance in the quicker corners, and a good change of direction in the quick chicanes.
However, good traction is also critical on the exit of the final chicane and La Source hairpin, as poor performance in either part of the circuit can leave a driver vulnerable to overtaking under braking for the next corner.
Ride heights
Our ride heights are limited by the high forces encountered through the compression in Eau Rouge. From the bottom to the top of the hill, the car's ride height can vary by as much as 25mm and if the car bottoms out too much, the drivers can lose control.
With the V8 engines and the current aerodynamic regulations, Eau Rouge is now taken easily flat out at around 185mph. The drivers will scrub off around 6mph through the sequence, but it is important to conserve as much speed as possible in order to maintain position along the long straight before Les Combes.
Brakes
Almost the only part of the car which has a relatively easy time is the braking system. The circuit features just three very heavy braking events, before turns one, five and 18. Overall, though, this is one of the easiest circuits for the brakes owing to the numerous high-speed corners that require little braking effort.
Engine
Along with Monza, Spa is the most demanding circuit of the season for the V8 engines. The duty cycle is particularly severe, with 72 per cent of the lap spent at full throttle - only Monza exceeds this figure, with 76 per cent. Furthermore, this includes two prolonged full throttle periods of over 20 seconds.
The most challenging of these is undoubtedly the run of approximately 23 seconds from La Source to Les Combes, which includes Eau Rouge. This sequence exposes the engine and its ancillaries to extreme positive and negative vertical 'G' forces through the compression and over the crest that follows. This is a factor we take into account when designing our lubrication systems, in order to avoid problems with oil feed under the extreme loadings.
Spa is also the longest lap of the season, and the circuit has a very high fuel mass penalty. Under the current qualifying regulations, this means that an engine with good fuel consumption can be a particular advantage.
Renault F1 Team
Classic Belgian Grand Prix
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 2008
Watch highlights from the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton claims a dramatic win in the final laps, before being docked 25 seconds by the stewards after the race.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1998
Watch highlights from the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher loses his cool with David Coulthard and Damon Hill wins for Jordan in the wet at Spa.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1995
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1995 extended highlights
Watch highlights from the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher does battle with Damon Hill to claim his sixth win of the season at Spa.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1992
Watch highlights from the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher wins his first ever F1 race in mixed conditions ahead of Nigel Mansell.
Technical Changes - European Grand Prix
Valencia Team Previews
Belgian Grand Prix - team and driver preview quotes
Formula One racing swaps Mediterranean glamour for the rugged countryside of the Ardennes next weekend, as the teams line up for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-
Francorchamps - just seven days after the European Grand Prix in Valencia. This ‘natural’ circuit is one of the most challenging on the F1 calendar, and almost universally loved…
News
The track and TV coverage starts
Inside F1 - Belgian Grand Prix preview
Francis Collings is joined by BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson to look ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
Technical changes Belgian
Practice 1
Replay - Belgian GP practice 1
A full replay of a rain-affected first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Practice 2
Replay - Belgian GP practice 2
A full replay of a second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Report - Hamilton fastest in second practice
BBC Sport's George Riley reports as Lewis Hamilton sets the pace in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix , while championship leader Jenson Button is only 17th fastest at Spa.
Practice 3
Qualifying
Fisichella on shock Belgium pole
Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella took a surprise pole position for the Belgian Grand prix as championship leader Jenson Button qualified 14th.
Fuel Loads
Race
Highlights - Belgian Grand Prix
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen holds off a strong challenge from Giancarlo Fisichella to win his first race of the 2009 season at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Belgian GP drivers' news conference
Kimi Raikkonen wins his and Ferrari's first Grand Prix of the season at Spa-Francorchamps ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella for Force India and championship-chasing Sebastien Vettel for Red Bull.
Raikkonen wins exciting Spa duel
Kimi Raikkonen managed to keep Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella at bay to clinch Ferrari's first win of 2009 at an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix.
We have proved a point - Mallya
Force India team principal Vijay Mallya says Giancarlo Fisichella's second place at Spa demonstrates what can be achieved on a small budget, and makes Formula 1 more interesting.
Standings
TV times:
Friday 28 August
First practice: 0900-1030, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Second practice: 1300-1430, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Inside F1: 1830-1845, BBC News Channel, then repeated on the Red Button
Saturday 29 August
Third practice: 1000-1100, BBC Red Button/online & BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online
Qualifying: 1210-1410, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online
Qualifying re-run: Times TBC, BBC Red Button
Sunday 30 August
Race: 1210-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online
Race re-run: Times TBC, BBC Red Button
Interactive Forum: 1500-1600, BBC Red Button/online
Highlights: 1900-1950, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online
Standings:
Track:
Track Diagram
1 – La Source
2/3 – Eau Rouge
4 – Radillion
(The kink between Radillion and Les Combes is called Kemmel)
5/6 – Les Combes
7 – Malmedy
8 – Rivage
9 – No name (sometimes referred to as ‘the corner with no name’)
10/11 – Pouhon
12/13 – Fagnes
14/15 – Stavelot*
16 – No name
17 – Blanchimont
18 – Chicane (formerly the Bus Stop Chicane)
BBC Formula 1 circuit guides - 2009
Circuit information
Length: 7.004km
Race distances: 44 laps / 308.176km
Full throttle: 70%
Top speed: 310kph
Longest flat-out section: 24s / 1.865km
Right/left-hand corners: 9/10
Tyre wear: Medium/low
Brake wear: Medium
Downforce level: Medium
Fuel use per lap: 3.151kg
Pit lane time loss: 19.8s (source: Williams)
2009 tyre compounds: Medium and Soft
2008 tyre compounds: Hard and Medium
Weather Forecast
Belgian - a Formula One set-up guide
Spa-Francorchamps is the most complete test of a Formula One car on the current calendar with every aspect of the vehicle's handling tested to the limit. It combines 200mph straights with 45mph hairpins, with several sixth-gear sweepers thrown in for good measure - and, of course, the unique challenge of Eau Rouge.
While this section of the circuit and the fast left-hander at Blanchimont may no longer be as testing as they once were, corners such as Pouhon, taken blind in sixth gear, still allow the drivers to make the difference.
And all of that is before you factor in the notoriously unpredictable weather in the Ardennes, which can see the circuit soaked at one end and bone dry at the other.
Chassis
The circuit features a high number of 'aero corners' - only six of the 19 turns are taken at less than 95mph - and this would normally push the teams towards relatively high levels of downforce in order to maximise grip in the corners, as is the case at a circuit like Silverstone.
However, Spa imposes a very different trade-off, because the two long flat-out straights on the circuit both provide genuine overtaking opportunities, particularly for teams with KERS.
This means that top speed is a critical factor in order to protect position, and downforce levels must be determined accordingly.
As a result, the teams run with a medium downforce set-up, aiming to achieve end of straight speeds of around 200mph. Aerodynamic efficiency - generating maximum downforce for minimum drag - is the key to success at this circuit.
Suspension
In terms of suspension settings, the overall compromise is relatively stiff in order to ensure good aerodynamic performance in the quicker corners, and a good change of direction in the quick chicanes.
However, good traction is also critical on the exit of the final chicane and La Source hairpin, as poor performance in either part of the circuit can leave a driver vulnerable to overtaking under braking for the next corner.
Ride heights
Our ride heights are limited by the high forces encountered through the compression in Eau Rouge. From the bottom to the top of the hill, the car's ride height can vary by as much as 25mm and if the car bottoms out too much, the drivers can lose control.
With the V8 engines and the current aerodynamic regulations, Eau Rouge is now taken easily flat out at around 185mph. The drivers will scrub off around 6mph through the sequence, but it is important to conserve as much speed as possible in order to maintain position along the long straight before Les Combes.
Brakes
Almost the only part of the car which has a relatively easy time is the braking system. The circuit features just three very heavy braking events, before turns one, five and 18. Overall, though, this is one of the easiest circuits for the brakes owing to the numerous high-speed corners that require little braking effort.
Engine
Along with Monza, Spa is the most demanding circuit of the season for the V8 engines. The duty cycle is particularly severe, with 72 per cent of the lap spent at full throttle - only Monza exceeds this figure, with 76 per cent. Furthermore, this includes two prolonged full throttle periods of over 20 seconds.
The most challenging of these is undoubtedly the run of approximately 23 seconds from La Source to Les Combes, which includes Eau Rouge. This sequence exposes the engine and its ancillaries to extreme positive and negative vertical 'G' forces through the compression and over the crest that follows. This is a factor we take into account when designing our lubrication systems, in order to avoid problems with oil feed under the extreme loadings.
Spa is also the longest lap of the season, and the circuit has a very high fuel mass penalty. Under the current qualifying regulations, this means that an engine with good fuel consumption can be a particular advantage.
Renault F1 Team
Classic Belgian Grand Prix
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 2008
Watch highlights from the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton claims a dramatic win in the final laps, before being docked 25 seconds by the stewards after the race.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1998
Watch highlights from the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher loses his cool with David Coulthard and Damon Hill wins for Jordan in the wet at Spa.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1995
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1995 extended highlights
Watch highlights from the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher does battle with Damon Hill to claim his sixth win of the season at Spa.
Classic F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 1992
Watch highlights from the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher wins his first ever F1 race in mixed conditions ahead of Nigel Mansell.
Technical Changes - European Grand Prix
Valencia Team Previews
- Williams
- Foce India
- Toyota
- Brawn
- McLaren
- BMW
- Ferrari
- Toro Rosso (not released yet)
- Red Bull Racing (not released yet)
- Renault (not released yet)
Belgian Grand Prix - team and driver preview quotes
Formula One racing swaps Mediterranean glamour for the rugged countryside of the Ardennes next weekend, as the teams line up for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-
Francorchamps - just seven days after the European Grand Prix in Valencia. This ‘natural’ circuit is one of the most challenging on the F1 calendar, and almost universally loved…
News
- Massa to head to Miami for more tests
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is to travel to the United States on Friday, where he is likely to have more examinations as he continues his recovery from his Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying crash. Massa will meet with Dr Steve Olvey, medical director of the US-based CART series, in Miami. - Bridgestone announce tyre compounds for remaining races
Bridgestone, the official tyre supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, have announced the tyre compound allocations for the last four rounds of 2009. - McLaren: Brawn, not pit stop error, cost us victory
When the tyres for Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren weren’t ready as he arrived for his second pit stop during Sunday’s European Grand Prix, it looked as if the error had cost the reigning world champion a win in Valencia. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh, however, believes that eventual victor Ruben Barrichello was too dominant and that, mistake or not, Hamilton’s best hope was second. - Red Bull face Vettel engine dilemma
Sebastian Vettel is set to become the first victim of F1’s new engine penalty rules. With six races left to run, only two of the eight units he started with are unused. As engines rarely complete more than two races, and his remaining Renaults will have to cope with the high-revving challenges of Spa and Monza, he looks certain to need a ninth. - McLaren says it's learned from pit error
McLaren is confident its pit wall will be more sharp in its decision-making process in Belgium this weekend after carrying out a thorough investigation into its Valencia pit-stop mix-up since Sunday. - Renault considering KERS for Monza
Renault is considering re-introducing its KERS system for next month’s Italian Grand Prix at high-speed Monza. - Eau Rouge will still be flat – Vasselon
Toyota’s chassis chief Pascal Vasselon expects Spa’s legendary Eau Rouge corner to be negotiated comfortably flat-out at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix despite the reduced downforce of the 2009 cars - Whitmarsh: Kovy still needs to do more
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has made it clear that Heikki Kovalainen needs to do more to improve his race pace if he is to retain his seat for next season. - Brawn unsure if tyre issues will return
Ross Brawn admits he is unsure whether or not the BGP 001 will experience the same tyre temperature struggle in Belgium that had began to derail its championship push before Valencia. - McLaren keeps wheelbase options open
McLaren is leaving its options open about whether or not it will use its new shorter wheelbase chassis at Spa-Francorchamps, ahead of a weekend in which the team aims to test its improved car’s performance in fast corners.
The track and TV coverage starts
Inside F1 - Belgian Grand Prix preview
Francis Collings is joined by BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson to look ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
Technical changes Belgian
Practice 1
Replay - Belgian GP practice 1
A full replay of a rain-affected first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Practice 2
Replay - Belgian GP practice 2
A full replay of a second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Report - Hamilton fastest in second practice
BBC Sport's George Riley reports as Lewis Hamilton sets the pace in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix , while championship leader Jenson Button is only 17th fastest at Spa.
Practice 3
Qualifying
Fisichella on shock Belgium pole
Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella took a surprise pole position for the Belgian Grand prix as championship leader Jenson Button qualified 14th.
Fuel Loads
Race
Highlights - Belgian Grand Prix
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen holds off a strong challenge from Giancarlo Fisichella to win his first race of the 2009 season at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Belgian GP drivers' news conference
Kimi Raikkonen wins his and Ferrari's first Grand Prix of the season at Spa-Francorchamps ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella for Force India and championship-chasing Sebastien Vettel for Red Bull.
Raikkonen wins exciting Spa duel
Kimi Raikkonen managed to keep Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella at bay to clinch Ferrari's first win of 2009 at an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix.
We have proved a point - Mallya
Force India team principal Vijay Mallya says Giancarlo Fisichella's second place at Spa demonstrates what can be achieved on a small budget, and makes Formula 1 more interesting.
Standings
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