Belgium Grand Prix 2011, Spa Circuit - Race 12/19

Duke · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:09

Belgium Grand Prix 2011, Spa-Francorchamps - Race 12/19

Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit is among the most historic on the Formula One calendar, having hosted a (non-championship) Grand Prix as long ago as 1924, and remains one of the most popular venues with drivers and fans alike.

Run on narrow public roads, the original Spa layout was an amazing 14.9 kilometres long and notoriously dangerous. The lap distance was reduced slightly over the years, with some corners eased, but when the 'old' circuit staged its final Grand Prix in 1970 it still measured just over 14 kilometres and remained staggeringly quick - Chris Amon set that year's fastest lap at an average speed of just under 245 km/h.

Spa did not return to the calendar until 1983 and then in drastically revised form, with lap distance cut to just under seven kilometres. Somehow, though, the circuit's magic was retained. Around two thirds of the lap used the original layout and the legendary Eau Rouge corner remained intact. Only the new Bus Stop chicane on the run down to La Source drew criticism.

More than twenty years on Spa remains the longest circuit on the calendar. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners, coupled with its picturesque setting, means that most drivers still rank it among their favourite tracks. The weather is still notoriously changeable (it can often be simultaneously raining on one part of the track and dry on another) and Eau Rouge, with its high speed and sudden elevation change, maintains its reputation as one of Formula One racing's most technically demanding corners.

Such is the challenge of Spa that only the truly great drivers can really claim to have mastered it. In fact just six men have won the race more than twice - Juan Manuel Fangio (three times), Damon Hill (three times), Kimi Raikkonen (three times), Jim Clark (four times), Ayrton Senna (five times) and Michael Schumacher (six times).

Session & TV Times

Friday 26 August
First practice: 9am - 10.30am
Second practice: 1pm - 2.30pm

Saturday 27 August
Third practice: 10am - 11am
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday 28 August
Grand Prix live: 1pm start

Standings

Track

Track Diagram

Track DRS
epic fail

Circuit information
Length: 7.004 km
Race distance: 44 laps / 308.052 km

Car performance
Tyre wear:
Brake wear:
Downforce level:
Gear changes per lap:

2010 tyres: Medium (prime, no stripe) and Super-Soft (option, green stripe)
2009 tyres: Soft (prime, no stripe) and Super-Soft (option, green stripe)

Team Preview
Mclaren - http://pitpass.com/44469-Belgian-GP-Preview-McLaren
Force India - http://pitpass.com/44486-Belgian-GP-Preview-Force-India
Virgin - http://pitpass.com/44485-Belgian-GP-Preview-Virgin
Mercedes - http://pitpass.com/44476-Belgian-GP-Preview-Mercedes
Williams - http://pitpass.com/44475-Belgian-GP-Preview-Williams
HRT - http://pitpass.com/44474-Belgian-GP-Preview-HRT
Lotus - http://pitpass.com/44471-Belgian-GP-Preview-Lotus
Pirelli - http://pitpass.com/44477-Belgian-GP-Preview-Pirelli

Technical Changes from Hungary

http://www.formula1.com/news/technical

Hungary Race Edit

http://www.formula1.com/video/race_edits

Weather Forecast

News

Heidfeld dropped for Senna at Spa - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/14624084.stm
No DRS at Eau Rouge at all - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/14615926.stm
Mclaren think they can beat Red Bull at Spa - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/14592442.stm
Schumacher will celebrate 20 years in F1 this weekend - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93882
Further Silverstone circuit plans announced - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-14529329
Chandhok to drive in Practice 1 for Lotus - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93931

Driver Changes

Heidfeld dropped for Senna (see above news).

FIA Press Conferences

Thursday - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/8/12434.html

Friday - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/8/12447.html

Post-qualifying - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/8/12455.html

Practice 1

Code:

[b]Pos  Driver              Team/Car              Time       Gap        Laps[/b]
 1.  Michael Schumacher  Mercedes              1m54.355s             13
 2.  Nico Rosberg        Mercedes              1m54.829s  + 0.474s   15
 3.  Jenson Button       McLaren-Mercedes      2m02.740s  + 8.385s   8
 4.  Sebastian Vettel    Red Bull-Renault      2m03.752s  + 9.397s   10
 5.  Lewis Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      2m04.301s  + 9.946s   7
 6.  Adrian Sutil        Force India-Mercedes  2m04.663s  + 10.308s  18
 7.  Felipe Massa        Ferrari               2m04.728s  + 10.373s  10
 8.  Rubens Barrichello  Williams-Cosworth     2m05.391s  + 11.036s  12
 9.  Jaime Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari    2m06.583s  + 12.228s  16
10.  Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari        2m06.886s  + 12.531s  15
11.  Fernando Alonso     Ferrari               2m07.055s  + 12.700s  12
12.  Sergio Perez        Sauber-Ferrari        2m07.481s  + 13.126s  15
13.  Jarno Trulli        Lotus-Renault         2m08.233s  + 13.878s  14
14.  Sebastien Buemi     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    2m08.239s  + 13.884s  14
15.  Pastor Maldonado    Williams-Cosworth     2m08.918s  + 14.563s  10
16.  Mark Webber         Red Bull-Renault      2m09.792s  + 15.437s  8
17.  Timo Glock          Virgin-Cosworth       2m12.278s  + 17.923s  13
18.  Tonio Liuzzi        HRT-Cosworth          2m12.389s  + 18.034s  10
19.  Jerome D'Ambrosio   Virgin-Cosworth       2m12.772s  + 18.417s  13
20.  Paul di Resta       Force India-Mercedes  2m13.058s  + 18.703s  8
21.  Karun Chandhok      Lotus-Renault         2m13.090s  + 18.735s  11
22.  Vitaly Petrov       Renault               2m13.601s  + 19.246s  10
23.  Bruno Senna         Renault               2m14.340s  + 19.985s  7
24.  Daniel Ricciardo    HRT-Cosworth          2m14.933s  + 20.578s  11

Practice 2

Code:

[b]Pos  Driver              Team/Car              Time       Gap       Laps[/b]
 1.  Mark Webber         Red Bull-Renault      1m50.321s            22
 2.  Fernando Alonso     Ferrari               1m50.461s  + 0.140s  18
 3.  Jenson Button       McLaren-Mercedes      1m50.770s  + 0.449s  9
 4.  Lewis Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      1m50.838s  + 0.517s  9
 5.  Felipe Massa        Ferrari               1m51.218s  + 0.897s  14
 6.  Nico Rosberg        Mercedes              1m51.242s  + 0.921s  22
 7.  Sergio Perez        Sauber-Ferrari        1m51.655s  + 1.334s  20
 8.  Nico Hulkenberg     Force India-Mercedes  1m51.725s  + 1.404s  17
 9.  Paul di Resta       Force India-Mercedes  1m51.751s  + 1.430s  8
10.  Sebastian Vettel    Red Bull-Renault      1m51.790s  + 1.469s  13
11.  Michael Schumacher  Mercedes              1m51.922s  + 1.601s  22
12.  Pastor Maldonado    Williams-Cosworth     1m52.750s  + 2.429s  20
13.  Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari        1m52.780s  + 2.459s  25
14.  Jaime Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m52.911s  + 2.59 s  24
15.  Sébastien Buemi     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m53.009s  + 2.688s  24
16.  Rubens Barrichello  Williams-Cosworth     1m53.156s  + 2.835s  17
17.  Bruno Senna         Renault               1m53.835s  + 3.514s  20
18.  Jarno Trulli        Lotus-Renault         1m55.051s  + 4.730s  20
19.  Timo Glock          Virgin-Cosworth       1m55.494s  + 5.173s  22
20.  Heikki Kovalainen   Lotus-Renault         1m56.202s  + 5.881s  15
21.  Jerome D'Ambrosio   Virgin-Cosworth       1m56.816s  + 6.495s  20
22.  Tonio Liuzzi        HRT-Cosworth          1m57.450s  + 7.129s  19
23.  Daniel Ricciardo    HRT-Cosworth          1m57.612s  + 7.291s  24
24.  Vitaly Petrov       Renault               2m02.234s  + 11.913s 12

Practice 3

Code:

[b]Pos  Driver              Team/Car              Time       Gap        Laps[/b]
 1.  Mark Webber         Red Bull-Renault      2m08.988s             7
 2.  Lewis Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      2m09.046s  + 0.058s   8
 3.  Jaime Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari    2m09.931s  + 0.943s   16
 4.  Jenson Button       McLaren-Mercedes      2m10.257s  + 1.269s   7
 5.  Sebastian Vettel    Red Bull-Renault      2m10.402s  + 1.414s   9
 6.  Sebastien Buemi     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    2m10.580s  + 1.592s   15
 7.  Nico Rosberg        Mercedes              1m10.837s  + 1.849s   12
 8.  Adrian Sutil        Force India-Mercedes  2m11.437s  + 2.449s   13
 9.  Bruno Senna         Renault               2m11.664s  + 2.676s   14
10.  Michael Schumacher  Mercedes              1m11.667s  + 2.679s   10
11.  Paul di Resta       Force India-Mercedes  2m11.874s  + 2.886s   13
12.  Heikki Kovalainen   Lotus-Renault         2m13.036s  + 4.048s   15
13.  Pastor Maldonado    Williams-Cosworth     2m13.074s  + 4.086s   12
14.  Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari        2m13.182s  + 4.194s   12
15.  Vitaly Petrov       Renault               2m13.290s  + 4.302s   15
16.  Rubens Barrichello  Williams-Cosworth     2m13.778s  + 4.790s   12
17.  Sergio Perez        Sauber-Ferrari        2m14.334s  + 5.346s   14
18.  Jarno Trulli        Lotus-Renault         2m14.682s  + 5.694s   11
19.  Jerome D'Ambrosio   Virgin-Cosworth       2m17.159s  + 8.171s   12
20.  Timo Glock          Virgin-Cosworth       2m18.039s  + 9.051s   10
21.  Daniel Ricciardo    HRT-Cosworth          2m19.001s  + 10.013s  12
22.  Tonio Liuzzi        HRT-Cosworth          2m19.001s  + 10.609s  14
23.  Felipe Massa        Ferrari               2m19.597s  + 13.466s  7
24.  Fernando Alonso     Ferrari               no time               5

Qualifying

Code:

[b]Pos  Driver                Team                 Time          Gap[/b]   
 1.  Sebastian Vettel      Red Bull-Renault     1m48.298s
 2.  Lewis Hamilton        McLaren-Mercedes     1m48.730s   + 0.432
 3.  Mark Webber           Red Bull-Renault     1m49.376s   + 1.078
 4.  Felipe Massa          Ferrari              1m50.256s   + 1.958
 5.  Nico Rosberg          Mercedes             1m50.552s   + 2.254
 6.  Jaime Alguersuari     Toro Rosso-Ferrari   1m50.773s   + 2.475 
 7.  Bruno Senna           Renault              1m51.121s   + 2.823
 8.  Fernando Alonso       Ferrari              1m51.251s   + 2.953
 9.  Sergio Perez          Sauber-Ferrari       1m51.374s   + 3.076
10.  Vitaly Petrov         Renault              1m52.303s   + 4.005
Q2 cut-off time: 2m04.625s                                    Gap **
11.  Sebastien Buemi       Toro Rosso-Ferrari   2m04.692s   + 1.924
12.  Kamui Kobayashi       Sauber-Ferrari       2m04.757s   + 1.989
13.  Jenson Button         McLaren-Mercedes     2m05.150s   + 2.382
14.  Rubens Barrichello    Williams-Cosworth    2m07.349s   + 4.581
15.  Adrian Sutil          Force India-Mercedes 2m07.777s   + 5.009
16.  Pastor Maldonado      Williams-Cosworth    2m08.106s   + 5.338
17.  Heikki Kovalainen     Lotus-Renault        2m08.354s   + 5.586
Q1 cut-off time: 2m07.194s                                    Gap *
18.  Paul di Resta         Force India-Mercedes 2m07.758s   + 5.945
19.  Jarno Trulli          Lotus-Renault        2m07.773s   + 5.960
20.  Timo Glock            Virgin-Cosworth      2m09.566s   + 7.753
21.  Jerome D'Ambrosio     Virgin-Cosworth      2m11.601s   + 9.788
22.  Tonio Liuzzi          HRT-Cosworth         2m11.616s   + 9.803
23.  Daniel Ricciardo      HRT-Cosworth         2m13.077s  + 11.264
24.  Michael Schumacher    Mercedes             no time

Race

Code:

[b]Pos  Driver        Team                       Time[/b]
 1.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault           1h26.44.893
 2.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault           +     3.741
 3.  Button        McLaren-Mercedes           +     9.669
 4.  Alonso        Ferrari                    +    13.022
 5.  Schumacher    Mercedes                   +    47.464
 6.  Rosberg       Mercedes                   +    48.674
 7.  Sutil         Force India-Mercedes       +    59.713
 8.  Massa         Ferrari                    +  1m06.076
 9.  Petrov        Renault                    +  1m11.917
10.  Maldonado     Williams-Cosworth          +  1m17.615
11.  Di Resta      Force India-Mercedes       +  1m23.994
12.  Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari             +  1m31.976
13.  Senna         Renault                    +  1m32.985
14.  Trulli        Lotus-Renault              +     1 lap
15.  Kovalainen    Lotus-Renault              +     1 lap
16.  Barrichello   Williams-Cosworth          +     1 lap
17.  D'Ambrosio    Virgin-Cosworth            +     1 lap
18.  Glock         Virgin-Cosworth            +     1 lap
19.  Liuzzi        HRT-Cosworth               +     1 lap

[b]Not classified/retirements:[/b]

Driver        Team                         On lap
Perez         Sauber-Ferrari               27
Ricciardo     HRT-Cosworth                 13 
Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes             12
Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari           6     
Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari           1

[b]Fastest lap:[/b] Massa, 1:23.415

Epic fails: Maldonado

Code:

[b]World Championship standings, round 11:                

Drivers:                    Constructors: [/b]            
 1.  Vettel       259        1.  Red Bull-Renault          426
 2.  Webber       167        2.  McLaren-Mercedes          295
 3.  Alonso       157        3.  Ferrari                   231
 4.  Button       149        4.  Mercedes                   88
 5.  Hamilton     146        5.  Renault                    68
 6.  Massa         74        6.  Sauber-Ferrari             35
 7.  Rosberg       56        7.  Force India-Mercedes       32
 8.  Schumacher    42        8.  Toro Rosso-Ferrari         22
 9.  Petrov        34        9.  Williams-Cosworth           5
10.  Heidfeld      34       
11.  Kobayashi     27       
12.  Sutil         24       
13.  Buemi         12       
14.  Alguersuari   10       
15.  Di Resta       8       
16.  Perez          8       
17.  Barrichello    4
18.  Maldonado      1

Duke · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:09

Adding info to opening post as I find it, please bare with me

Glaucus · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:11

Duke said:
Adding info to opening post as I find it, please bare with me

Nein Nein Nein

DRS zone
Epic fail

love it.

Should be back just when qauly finishes, assuming planes aren't delayed.

Skeeter · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:20

Excellent, many thanks Duke!

Make sure to look out for me on TV! I'll be the one with this flag:

NathanE · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:35

Interesting rumours flooding the F1 sites that McLaren has made a big breakthrough with the Pirelli tyres. They hired the Bridgestone chief engineer and he is now starting to bear fruit, it would seem. Something to do with more aggressive brake ducts and brake disc/pad materials help to transfer less heat into the tyres.

Duke · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:44

You better get on TV with that flag

Skeeter · 23 Aug 2011 at 15:27

NathanE said:
Interesting rumours flooding the F1 sites that McLaren has made a big breakthrough with the Pirelli tyres. They hired the Bridgestone chief engineer and he is now starting to bear fruit, it would seem. Something to do with more aggressive brake ducts and brake disc/pad materials help to transfer less heat into the tyres.

Yeah, they hinted at it last race. It seems they have realised they can manage the temperatures better, and if they do they can get much more performance out of the tyres. It was shown by Lewis getting through P2 on the harder tyre.

Duke said:
You better get on TV with that flag

Thats the plan. I was on TV last time I went to Spa.

EDIT: That photo makes the whole place look very flat... It lies....!

Guerrilla · 23 Aug 2011 at 15:54

Thanks for the post Duke

It's been a long break! Glad it's back and glad it's Spa, love this track!

Skeeter said:
Make sure to look out for me on TV! I'll be the one with this flag:

I'll be sure to keep my eyes open.

arknor · 23 Aug 2011 at 16:37

Kevin Clark · 23 Aug 2011 at 17:13

DRS zone

arknor · 23 Aug 2011 at 17:34

i can see the car with DRS beeing well past before they reach turn 5.

they should have stuck another DRS activation point between 10-11 and then another after turn 15 and then another after 19

smr · 23 Aug 2011 at 18:06

Skeeter said:
Excellent, many thanks Duke!

Make sure to look out for me on TV! I'll be the one with this flag:

Wait till you see my flag

Weebull · 23 Aug 2011 at 18:17

Only the new Bus Stop chicane on the run down to La Source drew criticism.

Yeah, and it's still rubbish.

arknor · 23 Aug 2011 at 18:39

smr said:
Wait till you see my flag

alonso you left your 6 tenths at mclaren on a hamilton flag

TaKeN · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:06

Spa

My favorite circuit of the Calendar

Deleted member 651465 · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:14

TaKeN said:
Spa

My favorite circuit of the Calendar

This!

Rybo89 · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:16

Didn't realise it was this weekend

Fave track to.

Duke · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:33

Rybo89 said:
Didn't realise it was this weekend

Fave track to.

Why the

?

Skeeter · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:55

I want to draw a massive monobrow Troll Face on a flag with "WaaaaaaaaaAlonso!" on it, but I couldn't be bothered with the effort. Maybe next year.

I fear the DRS may prove overkill here and ruin the possibility of Les Combes to offer up some great overtaking. They are going to be past half way down the Kemmel straight

smr · 23 Aug 2011 at 20:56

Skeeter said:
I want to draw a massive monobrow Troll Face on a flag with "WaaaaaaaaaAlonso!" on it, but I couldn't be bothered with the effort. Maybe next year.

I fear the DRS may prove overkill here and ruin the possibility of Les Combes to offer up some great overtaking. They are going to be past half way down the Kemmel straight

Hmfp I left it a bit late trying to procur a union jack flag although I do have an English one, do you think I'll be ok using that or would I look like a chav? lol

Belgium Grand Prix 2011, Spa Circuit - Race 12/19

Deleted member 651465

Deleted member 651465