Belgian Grand Prix 2012, Spa-Francorchamps - Race 12/20

[Duke]

Maldonado dropped 3 places due to impeding Nico Hulkenberg.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/09/01/maldonado-relegated-sixth-grid-penalty/

 

[Duke]

Alonso is well overdue for some bad luck. A DNF would definitely add a little excitement.

A DNF caused by Maldonado thats stupid enough for him to finally loose his super license would be ideal.

Hmmmm

 

[Duke]

That's what I think happened.

The usual Mclaren error

 

[Duke]

So OCUK instead of hoping to win races there is 10 of them left are now praying for others to take out Alonso, says it all no faith in your own drivers to win on track?

If you actually read what people said, it would keep the WDC tighter. No-one "really" thinks/wants that.

 

[Duke]

Updated starting grid for tomorrow -

Pos  Driver              Car
 1.  Jenson Button       McLaren-Mercedes
 2.  Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari
 3.  Kimi Raikkonen      Lotus-Renault
 4.  Sergio Perez        Sauber-Ferrari
 5.  Fernando Alonso     Ferrari
 6.  Pastor Maldonado    Williams-Renault
 7.  Lewis Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes
 8.  Romain Grosjean     Lotus-Renault
 9.  Paul di Resta       Force India-Mercedes
10.  Sebastian Vettel    Red Bull-Renault
11.  Nico Hulkenberg     Force India-Mercedes
12.  Mark Webber         Red Bull-Renault
13.  Michael Schumacher  Mercedes
14.  Felipe Massa        Ferrari
15.  Jean-Eric Vergne    Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16.  Daniel Ricciardo    Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17.  Bruno Senna         Williams-Renault
18.  Heikki Kovalainen   Caterham-Renault
19.  Vitaly Petrov       Caterham-Renault
20.  Timo Glock          Marussia-Cosworth
21.  Pedro de la Rosa    HRT-Cosworth
22.  Charles Pic         Marussia-Cosworth
23.  Nico Rosberg        Mercedes
24.  Narain Karthikeyan  HRT-Cosworth

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102150

 

[Duke]

Some tech updates posted yesterday - http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/

& Scarbs on Lotus DRS/f-duct type device - http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/2012/09/01/lotus-drs-device-analysis/

 

[Duke]

But
Rai
Alo
Gro
Ham

My prediction

 

[Duke]

What a great race that was! Action from the very first corner, so lucky with Alonso as it could have been much worse.

Lots of overtaking, different strategies and of course Button keeping his nose clean at the front gave him a clean run with Brawn like domination Looking good for Mclaren at Monza.

Just saw the penalties. Although I like Grosjean when he doesn't make the silly mistakes, I can see why the FIA did it. Maldonado once again made a **** of himself, cant be far off the ban either really.

Bad luck for Hamilton and Alonso being taken out. Just shows how quickly things can change.

 

[Duke]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102202

d'Ambrosio looks likely to be taking the seat for the next race. Would be great to see Barrichello back for one race, or someone like that. Guest appearance

 

[Duke]

Good to see Massa actually doing his job today for Ferrari. I get the feeling they will still keep him for next season.

 

[Duke]

Depends who wants to play second fiddle to Alonso. I can't see a driver like Di Resta or Rosberg wanting to do that for example.

 

[Duke]

Oh and Duke, you and Taggart are gits!

Haha, thats what you get for being on delayed TV

 

[Duke]

That's what I think, too.
In all my time watching F1, with the exception of MSc, I really can't say that I have seen a better driver than Alonso.

In 2010, the guy almost won the title against the all-conquering RedBull.
In 2012, in the 3rd best car on the grid, he is leading the title race. NOBODY is supposed to be able to do this...but Alonso IS doing it. And its not like the RBR and McLaren cars are being driven by bad drivers - 3 of those drivers are World Champions, including the reigning World Champion!

I remember when Senna (who many rate as the best driver, ever) had the 2nd best car in F1 (in 92 and 93) - even he was unable to lead the Williams cars in the title race.

IMO, MSc in his absolute prime is the only driver who is directly comparable with Alonso.

If you are young driver, you may be able to learn a thing or 2 by being in the same team as Alonso, but if that young driver gets humiliated, it could effectively end his career as a front runner.

Alonso is the best driver at the moment, but don't forget this season that there have been loads of different winners so although he is out driving the car, it is being consistent that is getting him ahead in the WDC rather than winning every race for example.

 

[Duke]

Maldonando season of fail..

[b]Race 	  	Penalty 	 	 	Infringement[/b]
Bahrain	 	5 place grid drop 	 	Gearbox change
Monaco 	 	10 place grid drop 	 	Collision with Perez in practice
Monaco	 	5 place grid drop 	 	Gearbox change
Canadian 	5 place grid drop 	 	Gearbox change
European 	20-seconds added to race time 	Collision with Hamilton
Hungarian 	Drive-through 	 	 	Collision with Di Resta
Belgian 	3 place grid drop 	 	Impending Hulkenberg in qually
Belgian 	5 place grid drop for next GP	Jump start
Belgian 	5 place grid drop for next GP	Causing a collision with Glock

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/09/03/2012-belgian-grand-prix-stats-facts/

 

[Duke]

But Grosjean isn't racing and Maldonado is going to be well back down the grid with his penalties. Who else is there to punt Alonso off?

Begins with a K

 

[Duke]

Did Maldonardo get away with his start??

He will drop 10 places - 5 for the jump and 5 for accident with Glock on the restart. I think he would have had a drive through for jumping the start, if he hadn't retired from the race.

 

[Duke]

/waves to DecoySA, don't think you've posted in F1 threads before? If not, Welcome, if so, sorry I've not noticed before lol

 

[Duke]

Massa did quite well

 

[Duke]

Not sure who is more irritating - Stewart or Lauder.

 

[Duke]

Was his GFs one as he forgot his lol