Grand Prix 2024 Belgian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

After a hectic 5 races in 6 weeks, we Finish the 1st half of the season at 1 of the great wonders of the F1 world: Spa Francorchamps. Liberty Media has done a good job, as we are in the Currently of 1 of the most unexpected classic seasons. However, the uncertainty of Spa's place beyond 2025 is a travesty. The mere consideration of removing Spa indicates that Liberty Media has much to learn. i Understand their profit-driven motives, but they also must understand it's essential to protect the classics; this would lead to a more graceful acceptance of new races. They wouldn't dare remove Monza from the calendar, and the same should apply to Spa, as well as Silverstone, Monaco, Suzuka, and Interlagos. As I often say in sports, tampering with history can be risky because it papers over the cracks very well, and a poor race is more easily forgiven at Spa than in Qatar.

i was thinking is their circuit in the world with more Iconic places than at Spa Francorchamps. La Source, Eau Rouge, Kemmel straight, Les Combes, Pouhon, Stavelot , Blanchimont & Bus Stop Chicane. thats Just the modern 4.5 mile circuit & not the historic 9.3 mile circuit & spa 1966 incredibly was a big part of F1 history because it was where Jackie Stewart started his relentless pursuit on safety
"I had a big shunt at Spa, because the race track was ridiculously unprotected, I knocked down a telegraph pole and went into a woodcutter's hut. I ended up trapped in a farmyard. Graham Hill and Bob Bondurant got me out of the car and it took them 30 minutes – there were no marshals at all. I was soaked in fuel. I got Graham to take all my clothes off because I was going in and out of consciousness and I was burning. It was a much higher octane fuel than today. Then, I was lying naked on the floor while they tried to get some marshals, ambulances and there was nothing. They had to get tools from spectators' cars to get me out, The medical centre was ridiculous, cigarette ends on the floor. After that, I had a specialist who was good at resuscitation as well as everything else. He came to every race I went to."

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This weekend, we find ourselves in the midst of an incredibly tight season with seven different winners already, and I can guarantee nobody anticipated this. Ironically, I thought F11 was in danger & on the verge of decline with Verstappen's growing dominance. Yet here we are, witnessing this level of variety for the first time in 12 years, and it's only the 4th time weve seen this since 1986, following 2003, 2008, & 2012, all of which led to a title decider. So, perhaps there is still hope ;) Moreover, only the seasons of 1975, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2003, & 2012 have seen more different winners in a season. therefore who knows what we will see, another race where the podium could any 1 of the big 7. Mclaren are the big favourites after their recent form but they are fragile, Mercedes had great Pace in Silverstone a similarly very high speed circuit & never count out Max Verstappen

also is this Perez's Final race for a while or ever. because its heavily rumoured by the summer Break he had to either be 100pts behind Verstappen or in the top 5 if verstappen was top. & with just 26pts to play for he is 142 behind Max & in 7th, 25pts behind Piastri in 5th. so to be safe Perez has to win his 1st race for 15 months & hope Piastri doesnt score
 
I don't understand this, everyone has said the cars are too heavy and yet there is a minimum weight, next years regulations the minimum weight is reduced. Providing the car complies with all the safety construction why is there a minimum weight?
 
Dartman i think its a historic thing when thing would be lighter for performance but not safety. as less weight is such a huge thing. 15-20kg & you find half a second. thats the difference between sainz finishing 6th & winning the race. we all know that

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gutted for Russell, it was a fantastic drive, his best drive & what a strategic decision if it was from him. to keep the tyres fresh & to hold hamilton off. was brilliant racecraft. but he over a race i guessing he gained 2.2-2.5secs, thats very big in this race. wouldve likely had him 3rd

before worrying about any of fuss about hungary, Lando again launches cost him today. they cost him in spain, cost him in hungary & cost him today. he was 4th today & ended up 7th. never recovered
 
gutted for Russell, it was a fantastic drive, his best drive & what a strategic decision if it was from him. to keep the tyres fresh & to hold hamilton off. was brilliant racecraft. but he over a race i guessing he gained 2.2-2.5secs, thats very big in this race. wouldve likely had him 3rd

before worrying about any of fuss about hungary, Lando again launches cost him today. they cost him in spain, cost him in hungary & cost him today. he was 4th today & ended up 7th. never recovered
I felt it was another missed opportunity and to be harsh the slim hope he had berig world champion gone. It was 25% before its probably 10% now. The pace of Mclaren was not there and it was surprisingly hard to pass.
 
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gutted for Russell, it was a fantastic drive, his best drive & what a strategic decision if it was from him. to keep the tyres fresh & to hold hamilton off. was brilliant racecraft. but he over a race i guessing he gained 2.2-2.5secs, thats very big in this race. wouldve likely had him 3rd

before worrying about any of fuss about hungary, Lando again launches cost him today. they cost him in spain, cost him in hungary & cost him today. he was 4th today & ended up 7th. never recovered
Sorry F1Brits_90 your calculations are wrong, he would have only gained time with a lighter car from when he would have pitted for tyres i.e within 4 or 5 laps from Lewis's pitting, then Lewis would still have to overtake which looking at overtaking of all the close cars racing in the race still wouldn't have been possible. Perez's Red Bull being the exception
 
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Could be the end of Checo for this season?

im assuming reading between the lines of what sky have been saying. that we have just seen final races of Logan & Sergio. as Aron engine blowing up in F2. giving hadjar a 44pt lead. which mean an RB seat is all but nailed on for 2025 if he wins the title is bad news as You have 4 drivers going for 2 seats & the juniors from what you read will take precedent

Sorry F1Brits_90 your calculations are wrong, he would have only gained time with a lighter car from when he would have pitted for tyres i.e within 4 or 5 laps from Lewis's pitting, then Lewis would still have to overtake which looking at overtaking of all the close cars racing in the race still wouldn't have been possible. Perez's Red Bull being the exception
i was having a guess, Brundle usually quotes that 10kg costs you 0.3 a lap. so i guessed 1.5kg would be 0.045 a lap
 


Could be the end of Checo for this season?

im assuming reading between the lines of what sky have been saying. that we have just seen final races of Logan & Sergio. as Aron engine blowing up in F2. giving hadjar a 44pt lead. which mean an RB seat is all but nailed on for 2025 if he wins the title is bad news as You have 4 drivers going for 2 seats & the juniors from what you read will take precedent

Sorry F1Brits_90 your calculations are wrong, he would have only gained time with a lighter car from when he would have pitted for tyres i.e within 4 or 5 laps from Lewis's pitting, then Lewis would still have to overtake which looking at overtaking of all the close cars racing in the race still wouldn't have been possible. Perez's Red Bull being the exception
i was having a guess, Brundle usually quotes that 10kg costs you 0.3 a lap. so i guessed 1.5kg would be 0.045 a lap
 
Pretty sure Lawson has a seat now

Hadjar might have to sit out one season till.they boot Tsunoda out

Ricciardo vs Lawson shoot out test if Lawson is faster I can see Ricciardo finished as well
 
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They were speculating on R5 that a combination of him running the tyres for so many laps and not doing a slowing down lap to pick up rubber was the likely cause.

Shame for the lad, but win 105 for Lewis Hamilton :-O
I've never understood why:
  1. The minimum weight is measured with fuel pumped out
  2. The minimum weight is measured with the (finishing) tyres attached.
The fact that teams can pick up several kg of tyre debris on a cool down lap, and that the weight of tyres decreases during the stint means that teams can deliberately run their cars underweight. Personally, I would have a standard set of wheels that are attached to cars for the weighing process. Unless they systematically weigh every set of wheels that are taken off the cars during the race, then there is always the risk that a car might be running underweight.
 
The fuel has to be pumped out because every car will finish the race with different levels of fuel in the car. What happens for example if the car in 10th finishes a lap down for example?

As for weighing the whole car, it should always be weighed with everything that was on the car the minute it finishes the race and returns to the pits. Putting control tyres on for example could lead to teams being more likely to run under weight if they know those underweight hubs and would be taken off and not weighed as part of the cars total.

Back in the early 80's teams would add all sorts of parts to add weight to the car. Brabham used a heavier front wing. Tyrell a sed lead pellets in their fuel tank. Not forgetting the water cooled brakes comedy.
 
People should read 1982 Water bottle weight row how the British teams tried to get away with a water bottle that dispersed water during the race but was topped up to make the weight. This was the infamous Imola 82 boycott and possibly the catalyst to get back at Tyrell in 1984
 
They were speculating on R5 that a combination of him running the tyres for so many laps and not doing a slowing down lap to pick up rubber was the likely cause.

Shame for the lad, but win 105 for Lewis Hamilton :-O
And 4 races since Verstappen won so long that may continue
 
If I was a team owner I'd train monkeys to fling shit all over the car on the in lap, which would add several kilos.

Easy win.
 
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