2017 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix

[Monstro]

Lewis Hamilton is a damn Alien among the aliens.

Annnnnd......DRRIIINNNNGGG!
this is 7 o'clock am !
you just wake up and your erotic dream with Lewis is over .

more seriously now, before being among all the others, he should not loose against drivers like rosberg to begin with.
if you see what i mean,noticed that the guy was not a legend and by far...

in a single Grand Prix i can understand, in a whole season, for an alien among the gods....
it's not very good job.
and after mid season, his teammate is clearly still in the game.
so excuse me if i'm not very impressed

 

[Isaac Chavira]

F1 2017 pre-loading now and it unlocks in 1 hour!

 

[Monstro]

a little mistake with Ricciardo nickname @Paul Jeffrey

 

[Boby Kim]

My best guess for the race is after 5 laps

 

[Frietpan]

I think raikonen has a chance to win this one. (if not being held up by all sorts of actions)

But i hope verstappen wins.

 

[vee10]

Even with the new paint job, the Hass still looks like Ass.

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

FREE PRACTICE ONE - FRIDAY

Experience to the Fore as Raikkonen Fastest in FP1

Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari lay down early marker as F1 returns from summer break in Spa.

Edging out championship challenger Lewis Hamilton by just over half a tenth on Friday morning, Kimi Raikkonen celebrated his new Ferrari contract in Spa with a strong performance in the Ferrari to lead the running order at Spa as opening practice came to an end this morning.

Unfortunately it would not be a pleasant return to racing action for Williams driver Felipe Massa, with the formally retired Brazilian crashing heavily at the beginning of his session and ending his morning, and potentially day, early.

Despite an encouraging 1 - 3 for Ferrari, the advantage still looks firmly in the hands Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Both Silver Arrows would opt to concentrate on the hardest Soft compound tyre available today, whist Ferrari bolted on the SuperSoft for their respective quickest laps.

Bottas would join Massa in the wars in his Mercedes, having a clumsy brush with the barriers resulting in minor front wing damage.


Provisional FP1 Results

1. Kimi Räikkönen RAI Ferrari 1:45.502 13
2. Lewis Hamilton HAM Mercedes 1:45.555 +0.053s 19
3. Sebastian Vettel VET Ferrari 1:45.647 +0.145s 13
4. Max Verstappen VER Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:46.302 +0.800s 18
5. Daniel Ricciardo RIC Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:46.352 +0.850s 22
6. Valtteri Bottas BOT Mercedes 1:46.424 +0.922s 20
7. Carlos Sainz SAI Toro Rosso 1:47.446 +1.944s 22
8. Esteban Ocon OCO Force India Mercedes 1:47.670 +2.168s 27
9. Daniil Kvyat KVY Toro Rosso 1:47.851 +2.349s 20
10. Stoffel Vandoorne VAN McLaren Honda 1:47.865 +2.363s 18
11. Jolyon Palmer PAL Renault 1:47.930 +2.428s 14
12. Nico Hulkenberg HUL Renault 1:48.037 +2.535s 15
13. Fernando Alonso ALO McLaren Honda 1:48.252 +2.750s 18
14. Sergio Perez PER Force India Mercedes 1:48.452 +2.950s 19
15. Lance Stroll STR Williams Mercedes 1:48.541 +3.039s 24
16. Kevin Magnussen MAG Haas Ferrari 1:48.615 +3.113s 20
17. Romain Grosjean GRO Haas Ferrari 1:48.626 +3.124s 20
18. Marcus Ericsson ERI Sauber Ferrari 1:50.160 +4.658s 21
19. Pascal Wehrlein WEH Sauber Ferrari 1:51.263 +5.761s 13
20. Felipe Massa MAS Williams Mercedes 3

 

[vee10]

Nearly 5 seconds quicker in FP2 than last year, impressive.

 

[M-Bimmer]

FP2 is the most interesting session (for me) because of the race simulation stints they always run. Still it does not give a clear picture of who will be the fastest in Q on Saturday but that's why there is FP3 session right

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

FREE PRACTICE TWO - FRIDAY

Hamilton Back in Command as Things Get Wet in Spa

Lewis Hamilton returned to the top of the times in the Belgian Grand Prix FP2 on Friday, rounding out the day quickest of all as the rain begins to fall.

Kimi Räikkönen would again be the form man for Ferrari, beating his morning time by half a second to finish runner up for the day, again ahead of an out of sorts Vettel in the sister car.

Despite the onus on straight line speed at Spa, both Red Bull drivers would look more competitive in the afternoon as both Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo fought with the Ferrari and Mercedes teams to finish P4 and 6 respectively, keeping the team in with a shout come race day on Sunday should the anticipated rain introduce another variable to the event.

Sadly for Williams Felipe Massa would sit out the session while repairs were made to his car, although both team and driver confirmed the accident from this morning had not relation to the recent spell of dizziness that caused the driver to sit out the Hungarian Grand Prix last month.

Provisional FP2 Results:

1. Lewis Hamilton HAM Mercedes 1:44.753 17
2. Kimi Räikkönen RAI Ferrari 1:45.015 +0.262s 21
3. Valtteri Bottas BOT Mercedes 1:45.180 +0.427s 17
4. Max Verstappen VER Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:45.225 +0.472s 16
5. Sebastian Vettel VET Ferrari 1:45.235 +0.482s 20
6. Daniel Ricciardo RIC Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:46.072 +1.319s 15
7. Nico Hulkenberg HUL Renault 1:46.441 +1.688s 24
8. Esteban Ocon OCO Force India Mercedes 1:46.473 +1.720s 19
9. Carlos Sainz SAI Toro Rosso 1:46.561 +1.808s 19
10. Jolyon Palmer PAL Renault 1:46.670 +1.917s 23
11. Fernando Alonso ALO McLaren Honda 1:46.743 +1.990s 20
12. Sergio Perez PER Force India Mercedes 1:46.984 +2.231s 18
13. Romain Grosjean GRO Haas Ferrari 1:47.285 +2.532s 15
14. Stoffel Vandoorne VAN McLaren Honda 1:47.303 +2.550s 17
15. Daniil Kvyat KVY Toro Rosso 1:47.450 +2.697s 12
16. Kevin Magnussen MAG Haas Ferrari 1:47.556 +2.803s 15
17. Lance Stroll STR Williams Mercedes 1:47.861 +3.108s 13
18. Marcus Ericsson ERI Sauber Ferrari 1:49.214 +4.461s 12
19. Pascal Wehrlein WEH Sauber Ferrari 1:49.725 +4.972s 18

 

[BenCollins]

Some great guides to Spa here

and historic Spa here

I would love if they brought back the bus stop chicane. The last turn is the worst turn in formula one. Still, the best circuit on the calendar.

And note, when they cut the massive historic track to this one, they actually retained most of the best bits. The masta kink was the only casualty, and holy ****, that was one scary turn.

 

[BenCollins]

Drove so many virtual laps around Spa in my life, several thousand, from F1GP on the Amiga to GPL on the PC to Assetto Corsa today. I have never been to Spa, not even Belgium, but I feel I know that track like the back of my hand!!! When I eventually get there, it will be like a dream coming true.

 

[Vincent.C]

Just a post to say « thank you @Paul Jeffrey ».

Each F1 Grand Prix, you are in this place. Thx again and thx RD team.

 

[Tobiman]

Hammertime!

 

[Paul Jeffrey]

Quali report will be late guys, sorry. The sun is out and I'm drinking beer at a BBQ Will catch up tonight...

 

[gamer19]

Good God...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alonso-qualifying-spa-honda-mclaren-945396/

will they ever run out of ideas ...to ruin Alonso weekend ?

 

[PfzFantaribo]

I think Verstappen will have a good chance of winning... as long as his car keeps running!

Seems like Verstappen can not get some luck this year

 

[JayOTT]

Raikkonen's penalty gave me Grand Prix World flavoured PTSD. What the heck stewards...

 

[PfzFantaribo]

Raikkonen's penalty gave me Grand Prix World flavoured PTSD. What the heck stewards...

The penalty might be harsh but it is clear he did not slow down under the yellow flag

 

[JayOTT]

They're giving him the same penalty they gave Vettel for intentionally crashing into Hamilton though and that is a BIG problem if they think mild negligence is equal to major recklessness.

Speaking of recklessness, not a good race for Perez today, he just seems to be trying too hard.