Belgian Grand Prix 2015, Spa-Francorchamps - Race 11/19

Danthus · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:09

Button, as close to the Manor as he is a Lotus.

Mr Jack · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:11

I'm surprised we've not seen any times taken off for leaving the circuit yet. Sainz was pretty clear cut to my eye.

drunkenmaster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:12

Honda certainly looks like it's just about on par with Ferrari now. Arai... lol. He was down to about 17% creditability level before this race then he comes out and says the engine is ahead of Renault and they'll be close to Ferrari with this update... -48% credibility rating now.

Skeeter · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:17

Mr Jack said:
I'm surprised we've not seen any times taken off for leaving the circuit yet. Sainz was pretty clear cut to my eye.

The 'penalty for going off the track' setting is on 'maybe' this weekend.

Flibster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:19

Skeeter said:
The 'penalty for going off the track' setting is on 'maybe' this weekend.

Always has been. See 2008 and 2009 for the utter ridiculousness of it.

muon · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:21

drunkenmaster said:
Honda certainly looks like it's just about on par with Ferrari now. Arai... lol. He was down to about 17% creditability level before this race then he comes out and says the engine is ahead of Renault and they'll be close to Ferrari with this update... -48% credibility rating now.

Maybe aa completely race setup?

Joe! · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:25

Bottas was my surprise for Q1. Spa is a very fast track that should suit the Williams.

Flibster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:25

Brand new engines and a whole second slower than Nasr in the Sauber.
Alonso another half second behind that.

Damn.

drunkenmaster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:27

muon said:
Maybe aa completely race setup?

Basically nope you're talking about maybe a few tenths either way depending on setup. Hamilton I believe was on race setup last year with Rosberg on qualifying. Rosberg marginally stronger in races this year with a race setup and dropped 2-3th's in qualifying and being spanked as a result. The engine just isn't there Honda, chassis probably not either. Both sides are running PR campaigns of how it's the other guy's fault. Most reporters just regurgitate what they are told like for 6 months Sky/everyone else regurgitating that Honda/Mclaren believe that engine is great once it's unlocked and everyone believes they'll get there. Well they are saying it's run at 100% now and it was nowhere and now Honda are flinging mud back in Mclaren's direction.

Mclaren spent 6 months saying their chassis is great(while drivers say no downforce, scary to drive, etc) but engine sucks, now HOnda are saying engine is great, chassis sucks. This relationship is only going downhill.

I mean everyone into Q2 was within a second of Merc, 16th was 44/1000th's over 1 second, Mclaren were another full second down. The gap between 1-16th was SMALLER than the gap between 16-17th, utter joke.

Housey · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:29

McLaren has taken a bath this year, really terrible performance.

Danthus · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:29

And Mclaren used a tyre that was one second faster.

garak112 · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:30

Not that I believe what Honda have said about the engine but it strikes me that if I know my two cars are going to be at the back of the grid regardless then why waste engine life and tires on a fruitless attempt at qualifying?

Having said that if that was their plan I would have thought that they wouldn't send them out in the first place.

Joe! · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:31

drunkenmaster said:
Mclaren spent 6 months saying their chassis is great(while drivers say no downforce, scary to drive, etc) but engine sucks, now HOnda are saying engine is great, chassis sucks. This relationship is only going downhill

I was always happy when Button was coming out with statements such as "We are McLaren Honda, not McLaren AND Honda", but as you've said, it's going downhill quite fast.

I have always liked Button's ability to just get on with whatever he is given, though.

Flibster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:31

That's a red flag.

Glaucus · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:33

Wow that sounds like a bag of mails.
And why did McLaren even go out, they're starting at the back anyway.

Flibster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:33

Joe! said:
I was always happy when Button was coming out with statements such as "We are McLaren Honda, not McLaren AND Honda", but as you've said, it's going downhill quite fast.

I have always liked Button's ability to just get on with whatever he is given, though.

McLaren Mercedes shared a motorhome. Now McLaren have a motorhome and Honda have a motorhome. Not always next to each other either.

Wow... that was a nasty noise coming from Raikkonen's Ferrari there. I'm not so sure that was gearbox though. Sounded like half the V was not working.

Joe! · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:33

garak112 said:
Not that I believe what Honda have said about the engine but it strikes me that if I know my two cars are going to be at the back of the grid regardless then why waste engine life and tires on a fruitless attempt at qualifying?

If you don't make an attempt at qualifying you can be told that you cannot start the race.

You have to make an attempt at qualifying, 107% or not, unless you are stopped for a technical reason such as damage, etc.

Tyres aren't the issue, you get plenty of sets, it's mainly engine life.

drunkenmaster · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:33

That engine doesn't sound happy at all, he's driving a freaking steam engine... damn it, Brundle said it as I was typing it.

MooMoo444 · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:33

Man, Kimi gets so much bad luck.

englishpremier · 22 Aug 2015 at 13:34

Looks like Kimi has got some of Webber's luck this season.