Belgian Grand Prix 2014, Spa-Francorchamps - Race 12/19

[Vertigo]

Lotterer ahead of his teammate first quali out in F1. Impressive.

I wonder if his Audi LMP experience would help with the torque-heavy characteristics of the new F1 engines?

 

[MooMoo444]

Not sure if Gutierrez is awful or Lotterer is a prodigy

 

[Guerrilla]

Bianchi made it through!

 

[smr]

K mag lucky to scrapeil into q2. Thought hulk would pip him.

 

[smr]

Bianchi made it through!

I hope he replaces kimi soon in that ferrari.

 

[smr]

Lotto penalty inbound. That was some severe holding up.

 

[Flibster]

Everyone out on Inters in Q2.

Raikkonen and Bianchi on used Inters. Everyone else on new

 

[Flibster]

Grosjean radioing in "There's something wrong"

 

[MooMoo444]

You keep your time if you leave the track in the wet?

 

[Flibster]

You keep your time if you leave the track in the wet?

As far as I'm aware, there's no specific instructions to the drivers about track limits here.

Which is utterly stupid. But hey...it's the FIA so who knows what they'll decide to do after the race. Probably retrospectively penalise someone for driving over the line in FP1 in Australia...

 

[drunkenmaster]

You keep your time if you leave the track in the wet?

If it's not gaining an advantage it's not an issue in general. It's when you cut corners or run wide allowing you to go faster or push harder overall. It's pretty much known where you can go off and gain time and they are finally cutting times off for doing so. Where Rosberg has gone off isn't even close to gaining time.

 

[MooMoo444]

If it's not gaining an advantage

Arguably it is, it's grippy on the run off.

Though inconsistency in the FIA is not a shocker.

 

[Merlin5]

There seems to be two painted start grids either side of the tight hairpin. Do they start the race leading into the hairpin, or on the eau rouge side?

edit: seeing the chequered flag, it looks like before the hairpin.

 

[drunkenmaster]

Come on Perez.......

nope, oh well.

 

[smr]

Vettel out

 

[Finners]

There seems to be two painted start grids either side of the tight hairpin. Do they start the race leading into the hairpin, or on the eau rouge side?

Going into the hairpin,

Squeaky bum time for button there

 

[Flibster]

La Source hairpin is the first corner.

 

[smr]

Come on Perez.......

nope, oh well.

Chin up

 

[Flibster]

Loving Spa in the wet with these new turbo engines.

They're just all over the place.

 

[drunkenmaster]

Arguably it is, it's grippy on the run off.

Though inconsistency in the FIA is not a shocker.

It's possible in the rain it might be more grippy, but you're ultimately going further, taking a much longer line and turning in a tighter line at some point to get back on track likely have to slow further. It's not a clear advantage, I think in the dry it would be a certain and fairly large time drop doing that, in the rain it's a little more, question marky.

It's not about inconsistency in the FIA though, they don't punish and have never punished going off the track everywhere and at all places. There are known(to drivers, teams, pundits, fans) places on various tracks where going wide can gain an advantage that you aren't supposed to have. Elsewhere going wide usually loses you time.

FIA have been pretty consistent this year with the big known advantage spots having times wiped off and warnings given in race. But for the majority of the track going off track is the slower option, it's simply not an advantage on 99.8% of corners throughout the season. Curbs, astroturf and gravel don't have as much grip or available speed and put more dirt on tires.