Official 2024 Belgian Grand Prix Race Thread - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - Race 14/24

[Mr Jack]

The team ordered them not to race after the mid 40's which effectively gifted Piastri the win. If Piastri wasn't his team mate then Norris would've been allowed to undercut him or go long, and with the pace he showed in the final stint he likely would've won. Piastri is a good driver but he's just not on the same level as Norris yet.

Piastri was ahead because he was faster than Norris right up to the last stint. Norris was only ahead because McLaren gave it to him rather than look after Piastri's race. Norris was apparently faster in the last stint but then Piastri was obeying team instructions to nurse the tyres and Norris was ignoring them so I think it foolish to read anything into that.

If Norris won that really would have been gifted.

And the WDC is over. Norris is not going to get close to Max.

 

[Stumble Bum]

And the WDC is over. Norris is not going to get close to Max.

Not sure why people make statements like this.

The gap is not that big, McLaren clearly have the best car now. There are still 11 races to go plus 3 sprint races. Max is taking a 10-place grid penalty this weekend. And Lando could have been given another 7 points. There are a lot of teams capable of taking points off Max as well.

How is the WDC over?

Max I'm sure is still a nice favourite but to say Norris is not even going to get close seems naive.

 

[Mr Jack]

The gap is not that big, McLaren clearly have the best car now. There are still 11 races to go plus 3 sprint races. Max is taking a 10-place grid penalty this weekend. And Lando could have been given another 7 points. There are a lot of teams capable of taking points off Max as well.

Over the last six races, where McLaren have looked like they have the better car more often than not, Max has increased his lead over Norris (and, no, those seven points don't change that). The best car varies race to race, with Merc - and even Ferrari occasionally - being able to beat McLaren as well as Max. Norris and McLaren simply don't have the consistency to mount a challenge sufficient to close the gap that Max has built up.

Norris isn't going to get close to Max, the seven points don't change that. The fight for the WCC, however, is on (because Pérez) and for that McLaren need team unity more than they Norris to scrap out extra points.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

You could argue now that Redbull have to run the car full tilt and behind other cars it could stress it more and risk reliability. Along with Max's approach to stress and competition it could get interesting, of course, Max is a favourite - certainly not over though!