planetf1.com

Rain can add some spice.

Hamilton should walk this, possibly in the wet too, but at least a wet race gives more of a chance of a battle for the lead.

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

Depends on the exit out of Radillon.

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:35 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

Depends on the exit out of Radillon.

I can't see beyond Hamilton having to defend his position.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:39 pm

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:35 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

Depends on the exit out of Radillon.

I can't see beyond Hamilton having to defend his position.

It has been done twice by Vettel on Hamilton!

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Yeah as others have said, Bottas might not be too disappointed with P2. I’m sure Verstappen will fancy his chances and even Ricciardo if he can get down to La Source quickly.

It's all about lap 1 because Bottas wont get close after that. If I was Hamilton I would be making sure I am pushing Bottas right out at turn 1 so he doesn't get good traction otherwise he is danger.

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:40 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:39 pm

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:35 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

Depends on the exit out of Radillon.

I can't see beyond Hamilton having to defend his position.

It has been done twice by Vettel on Hamilton!

Yea Vettel got by and Perez (or Ocon?) very nearly did too. With the slipstream i think it is entirely possibly Bottas could get by if he gets off the line well and is a little bit more aggressive than normal.

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:40 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:39 pm

Rockie wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:35 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm

Trying to keep position at the end of Kemmel straight is always fraught.

Depends on the exit out of Radillon.

I can't see beyond Hamilton having to defend his position.

It has been done twice by Vettel on Hamilton!

I know that would be my point, it's one track were leading out of the first corner doesn't guarantee you will be leading by the end of the lap.

I would prefer it if the start of the race was dry and then the rain gradually increases in intensity as the race goes on.

Those are the most exciting types of races.

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:00 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

I watched every single lap. My point is that during the opening two laps, there were cars getting enough of a tow without DRS. DRS at Spa is often especially bad in F1 as cars have passed with a couple of hundred metres to go before braking.

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:04 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:00 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

I watched every single lap. My point is that during the opening two laps, there were cars getting enough of a tow without DRS. DRS at Spa is often especially bad in F1 as cars have passed with a couple of hundred metres to go before braking.

Well Tsunoda wouldn't have had a chance without DRS.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:00 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

This appeared to be largely down to the dirty air effect through sector 2 and Mazepin's straight-line speed relative to Tsunoda. As stated, the opening lap (or maybe two) will be of most interest. Beyond that, I'd expect the leading car to have the benefit of clean air through the lap.
Edit: meaning that DRS is still a viable option until the aero regs are sorted!

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:07 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:04 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:00 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

I watched every single lap. My point is that during the opening two laps, there were cars getting enough of a tow without DRS. DRS at Spa is often especially bad in F1 as cars have passed with a couple of hundred metres to go before braking.

Well Tsunoda wouldn't have had a chance without DRS.

Actually, we don't know that. The fact DRS exists means that drivers plan for it. They can choose to stay a little further behind entering Eau Rouge, safe in the knowledge that the DRS will enable them to have a damn good stab at passing. Without DRS, like on the first two laps, you will often see cars running far far closer through that corner as they know they need to be that much closer due to lack of DRS. Staying a little further back through the corners prior to DRS saves the tyres and gives you less chance of having a problem running in the draft of the car in front. DRS removes so much from racing.

This happens at lots of circuits and I've listened to commentators talk about it.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:07 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:04 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:00 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:46 pm

I'll be watching slip streaming on the Kemmel straight with interest on the opening couple of laps. F2 showed that passing was a real possibility without DRS which makes me wonder if the FIA should rule it out at certain circuit.

Did you watch the race, what chance would Tsunoda have had of challenging Mazepin for the lead without DRS?

I watched every single lap. My point is that during the opening two laps, there were cars getting enough of a tow without DRS. DRS at Spa is often especially bad in F1 as cars have passed with a couple of hundred metres to go before braking.

Well Tsunoda wouldn't have had a chance without DRS.

That's because he was relying on DRS alone instead of positioning himself to get a better exit out of Radillon.

The starting grid without penalties:


Source - Imgur

1 reason which could be for Racing Points not qualifying higher is if they have gone for a wet weather setup. This is Spa, notorious for unpredictable weather & it has rained during the weekend at different times.

This team has always paid more attention to Sunday than a Saturday so won't be surprised if they did this. It's a gamble worth taking.

Tyre sets available for the race:


Source - Imgur

Can somebody please explain to me why they enforce track limits at say Silverstone, but at Spa they can drive as far off the track as they like? It bugs the hell out of me. If they say it's to stop a driver gaining an 'advantage', but its the same for everyone then that makes no sense. So either enforce the bloody track limits everywhere or don't bother.

ALESI wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:06 am

Can somebody please explain to me why they enforce track limits at say Silverstone, but at Spa they can drive as far off the track as they like? It bugs the hell out of me. If they say it's to stop a driver gaining an 'advantage', but its the same for everyone then that makes no sense. So either enforce the bloody track limits everywhere or don't bother.

There are certain corners where they do enforce it, but clearly not enough. The F3 race has just finished and a driver got a 5 seconds penalty for running wide and then going on to pass the car in front at the end of the Kemmel straight. Different stewards for F3 though!

I don't get why though? Why is it a problem to run wide at Copse, but yesterday there were 3 or 4 corners where every single lap every car was over the white line and it's apparently 'fine'. It used to be the same at Magny Cours, the last corner every single car was over the line before the straight. I know 'consistency' isn't F1's strong point, but it must be confusing for casual viewers... imagine if the lines in tennis or football were only enforced randomly.

ALESI wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:38 am

I don't get why though? Why is it a problem to run wide at Copse, but yesterday there were 3 or 4 corners where every single lap every car was over the white line and it's apparently 'fine'. It used to be the same at Magny Cours, the last corner every single car was over the line before the straight. I know 'consistency' isn't F1's strong point, but it must be confusing for casual viewers... imagine if the lines in tennis or football were only enforced randomly.

That's because you gain an advantage running wide at some corners and you dont at some corners.

ALESI wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:38 am

I don't get why though? Why is it a problem to run wide at Copse, but yesterday there were 3 or 4 corners where every single lap every car was over the white line and it's apparently 'fine'. It used to be the same at Magny Cours, the last corner every single car was over the line before the straight. I know 'consistency' isn't F1's strong point, but it must be confusing for casual viewers... imagine if the lines in tennis or football were only enforced randomly.

I think they're using actual sensors on the track to detect whether the cars have gone off? Then maybe they don't want to have to fit them at every corner, so they pick a few key ones where the time advantage for running wide is greatest.

ALESI wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:38 am

I don't get why though? Why is it a problem to run wide at Copse, but yesterday there were 3 or 4 corners where every single lap every car was over the white line and it's apparently 'fine'. It used to be the same at Magny Cours, the last corner every single car was over the line before the straight. I know 'consistency' isn't F1's strong point, but it must be confusing for casual viewers... imagine if the lines in tennis or football were only enforced randomly.

It ain't the "white" line here at Spa - it's the Red/Yellow line that denotes the track limit.

Sainz out already with exhaust failure......

Sad lack of rain.....

I cant see Hamilton being 1st at the end of the Kemmel straight

F1_Ernie wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:54 pm

I cant see Hamilton being 1st at the end of the Kemmel straight

Bottas is 8/1 to win with SkyBet which I think are very very good odds considering he’s likely to get Hamilton’s slipstream there.

F1_Ernie wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:54 pm

I cant see Hamilton being 1st at the end of the Kemmel straight

He could be in 4th at the end of the Kemmel straight and I'd still back him to win.

YMMV, but the only way Mercedes don't finish 1st and 2nd here at Spa given the lack of rain, is if they take each other out, are taken out by another or suffer a rare Mercedes failure.

I'm expecting another boring race, unless the crap Pirelli tires spice things up.

Oh well. Is that it for the lead?...............

Bottas did nothing at the start, right behind Hamilton but made no impression.

Stroll and Magnussen both getting far better starts than their team mates.

Looked to me before eau rouge Hamilton lifted?

F1_Ernie wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:16 pm

Bottas did nothing at the start, right behind Hamilton but made no impression.

What did you expect him to do. He was following as close as he possibly could and didn't quite have enough speed advantage. He can't give his car more power than it has got... If he had taken a tighter line in the first corner, it will have effected how close to Hamilton he will have got down the straight.

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:18 pm

Stroll and Magnussen both getting far better starts than their team mates.

Stroll moved from right behind his team mate to right in front of him.

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:22 pm

F1_Ernie wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 30, 2020 1:16 pm

Bottas did nothing at the start, right behind Hamilton but made no impression.

What did you expect him to do. He was following as close as he possibly could and didn't quite have enough speed advantage. He can't give his car more power than it has got... If he had taken a tighter line in the first corner, it will have effected how close to Hamilton he will have got down the straight.

He made a mistake through Eau Rouge/Radillion