F1 2024: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (July 28)

[RichardInCA]

Lando threw it away at the start again - seems like he has a frequent problem with his race starts. Amazing race today.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

They worked enough to keep Lando at bay.
Lando staying out longer in the 1st stint was a mistake.
I think they focussed too much on his position in the race at that time and not enough on his position compared to Max' position.

This is something McLaren as a team need to work on if they want to make that next step in being a championship team. They don't have good race strategy awareness. We've heard many times on the radio where Mercedes/Hamilton and Red Bull/Verstappen always inquire about other drivers and positions. With McLaren it seems like everyone is unsure and everyone is just asking each other questions with no answer.

[CMW33]

Man, what a shocker. Nicely done by George and Lewis, very nicely done.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

For sure it now looks like an excellent decision to trade a MERC car for a Ferrari......not...




I wonder what is currently happening in Hammy's head

LEW if just thinking Ferrari and £$, wins don't really matter that much to him anymore now.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Excellent.
Lando's failing is now complete
Not being able to finish before Max despite a 10p grit penalty and the McLaren being the faster car in the dry....

Controlling McLaren I think rather than Lando himself, maybe he should have gone for that Hungary win after all.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Wolff looks extremely (too)! calm : Think he got stronger medication

Two things need to be asked in why the Mercs are suddenly quick again and as GuidoX mentioned why the DRS zone changed for no reason. FIA keeping quiet about wing flexing and having not enough wing cams for dot flex measurement frankly doesn't cut it.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Two things need to be asked in why the Mercs are suddenly quick again and as GuidoX mentioned why the DRS zone changed for no reason. FIA keeping quiet about wing flexing and having not enough wing cams for dot flex measurement frankly doesn't cut it.

They're quick relative to past cars but today's win came down to strategy and race luck, not necessarily being quicker than everyone else.

- NOR botching another race start
- LEC being able to stay in front of VER
- NOR falling behind VER
- PER dropping down the grid early and quickly
- RUS with one-stop strategy.
- DRS zone modified, not as easy to pass at SPA vs. prior track layout/setup.
- FER pit woes

The only real threat was PIA, but everything listed above contributed to how the race ended, not so much that the W15 is suddenly a champion-caliber car. But that's F1 for you, everyone does the best they can and hope other variables come in to play and help you sneak out a win.

[CMW33]

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...-check-failed/

FFS

[Blindside_137]

Would be a shame. He drove a great race

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by CMW33

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/george-russell-set-to-lose-belgian-gp-win-weight-check-failed/

FFS

[jamabdi]

Originally Posted by CMW33

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/george-russell-set-to-lose-belgian-gp-win-weight-check-failed/

FFS

Damn, this basically means an instant disqualification.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by CMW33

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/george-russell-set-to-lose-belgian-gp-win-weight-check-failed/

FFS

That would be really strange.
You'd think that with a 1 stop, one would drive more carefully, saving the tyres and also saving fuel.
Sure, very worn tyres are lighter than half worn ones, but still....

But I see multiple sources now saying the same thing....what a disappointment if true.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Wolff looks extremely (too)! calm : Think he got stronger medication

Could be it has something to do with RUS car being underweight when the fuel was drained, hope it's not true.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

They're quick relative to past cars but today's win came down to strategy and race luck, not necessarily being quicker than everyone else.

- NOR botching another race start
- LEC being able to stay in front of VER
- NOR falling behind VER
- PER dropping down the grid early and quickly
- RUS with one-stop strategy.
- DRS zone modified, not as easy to pass at SPA vs. prior track layout/setup.
- FER pit woes

The only real threat was PIA, but everything listed above contributed to how the race ended, not so much that the W15 is suddenly a champion-caliber car. But that's F1 for you, everyone does the best they can and hope other variables come in to play and help you sneak out a win.

On top of it the Merc strat was second to none but now Russell's car weight,,, hope it's a glitch.

[GuidoK]

[TheBingoBalls]

So not so much a fuel issue, the base car itself was lighter than the rules required. Is there a reason why cars need to be at a minimum weight in a sport where weight matters?

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Attachment 3513246

3.30693 lbs. for Mericans

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

So not so much a fuel issue, the base car itself was lighter than the rules required. Is there a reason why cars need to be at a minimum weight in a sport where weight matters?

That's right, the dry weight without fuel. Russell is for sure gutted and I'm waiting on Wolff's explanation.

[HeelToeShift]

Decent race today. Max I think would have won without the grid penalty or have been right there. Very good drive from him today. Despite the smaller DRS zones (obv done to disdvatage RB), Nor having the faster car and the better tire, Max was still the faster driver - it's amazing how Max can just pull 2-4 tenths at will and did so at the end to keep Nor at bay. I don't think the higher downforce wing helped him much either as that car was draggy and could not get past Lec.
Looks like another DSQ coming for MB...I will admit I wish more guys would push 1 stops when most are doing 2 stops. It was a bold move that paid off...almost. I hope they checked Ham's car too. We know he's certainly been DSQ'd before.
Ultimately, the day ended with Max scoring more than Nor which is all that matters.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

So not so much a fuel issue, the base car itself was lighter than the rules required. Is there a reason why cars need to be at a minimum weight in a sport where weight matters?

I wonder if the extra laps on those worn hards will be given as an explanation.
That would be sloppy, you'd think they would know how much tyres wear and how close their car is to the weight limit.
I don't know if that missing 1,5kg is plausible for tyre wear in F1, but if you change your worn tyres on your roadcar for new ones, the weight difference of that missing profile is very much noticeable if you pick up the tyres (never weighed it though, but I guess for 4 tyres it can very much be 1,5kg)

[RichardInCA]

That’d be an extra 375g/tire (obviously not evenly distributed)….but if the team had planned a two-stopper and he’d have presumably finished with more fresh rubber at the end of the race….seems a possible explanation?

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

….seems a possible explanation?

It's a possible explanation, but it would be very sloppy of all those engineers at the pit wall. They should know how much tyres wear and how much weight this looses.
Somewhere else I read that there was no real runout lap, so RUS couldn't pick up enough marbles after the race and that that possibly made the difference.