Belgian GP Thread - Contains Spoilers of Race/Qualifying & Practice - Sponsored by UnpredictableWeather.co.uk

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

It's been a long month but the 2013 Formula 1 season finally recommences this weekend and what a place for the defining second half of the year to begin: Spa-Francorchamps.

The fast, flowing circuit that pierces through the Ardennes forest may not possess the obvious glamour of a Monaco or Singapore but for many reasons Belgium is one of the most eagerly anticipated stops on the calendar for both drivers and fans.

The composition of corners around what is the longest lap of the season - Eau Rouge, Pouhon, Blachimont... - remains a truly spectacular concoction and this year's race could be a classic with Lewis Hamilton's pre-summer break victory having breathed new life and expectation into the title race.

So read on below, and watch Anthony Davidson's expert track guide above, as Sky Sports Online gives you the lowdown on this weekend's event...
The 2013 Belgian GP in a nutshell

Track: Spa-Francorchamps. Permanent track.

Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).

Track length: 7.004 km.

Tyre allocation: Medium (white) and hard (orange).

DRS Zones: Two - Half-way down Kemmel Straight between turns four and five and on the pit straight, with separate detection points.

Driver steward: TBA.

Lap record: Sebastian Vettel - 1:47.263 - (Red Bull; 2009).

2012 pole: Jenson Button - 1:47.573 (McLaren).

Form guide

Perhaps even more than is the case at Monaco, the roll of honour at Spa-Francorchamps is a real who's who of F1's greatest exponents.

Since the race returned permanently to the new-look Spa in 1985 only twice (by David Coulthard in 1999 and Felipe Massa in 2008) has the race not been won by a World Champion. Indeed of the five title winners on the current grid, four of them have triumphed in Belgium - with a victory apiece in each of the last four years in fact.

Curiously it's the most experienced of them all, Fernando Alonso, who has yet to add his name to the glittering winners' list. By the Spaniard's sky-high standards Spa is not traditionally one of his strongest events, with second and third places in 2006 and 2007 respectively his only two podium finishes in eight previous starts. Furthermore, Alonso has only once finished the race in the last four years, with last year's exit particularly frightening - as well as being damaging for his title chances - as Romain Grosjean's out-of-control Lotus came hurtling over the front of his Ferrari.

It's Kimi Raikkonen then who boasts the most impressive record here. Up until his return to F1 after a two-year sabbatical last year, the fearless Finn had a very straightforward record at Spa - he either won (which he did four times) or didn't make the finish. Third place with Lotus in 2012 was therefore not in keeping with that trend and so, on the back of yet another runner-up finish in Hungary, Raikkonen will be eyeing a fifth victory around the famous old circuit this weekend which would draw him level with Ayrton Senna and one behind ultimate Spa master Michael Schumacher in the all-time victory standings.

2012 result: 1. Jenson Button (McLaren); 2. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus); 4. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India); 5. Felipe Massa (Ferrari); 6. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 7. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes); 8. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso); 9. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso); 10. Paul Di Resta (Force India).

Last five winners: 2012: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2010: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren); 2009: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari); 2008: Felipe Massa (Ferrari).

Tyre allocation

Spa-Francorchamps' array of fast corners and resultant loading demands necessitate that Pirelli bring the hardest two tyres in their range to the race weekend, the medium and the hard.

Indeed, F1's tyre manufacturer states that the 7km circuit places the "highest vertical load on the front tyres all season, mainly due to Eau Rouge corner".

Of course, as any veteran watchers of the Belgian GP will know, the circuit has something of its own micro-climate and therefore it's rare that there is not some rain during the three-day race weekend irrespective of its traditional summer slot. The sheer length of the circuit also means that it can be raining hard on one part of the track but bone dry at another, making strategic calls on if and when to switch to intermediate or wet tyres particularly challenging.

Weather Forecast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6296499

Source: Sky Sports

[CaledonianCraig]

Rosberg has the advantage of familiarity in the car and also had like a 20 point swing when Hamiltons tyre exploded and Vettels gearbox failed

Rosberg has had two retirements to Hamilton's none so he is doing better in races he has completed compared to his team-mate than Webber. Mark has begun to bug me with his whingeing which started last year remember. Surely, if he felt mistreated he should have left at the end of last season and look elsewhere for another Fi drive. He never though, he remained so if he feels miscarriages of justice are continuing then he only has himself to blame.

[SteveG]

Surely, if he felt mistreated he should have left at the end of last season and look elsewhere for another Fi drive. He never though, he remained so if he feels miscarriages of justice are continuing then he only has himself to blame.

Two things - firstly he probably knew that this season would be his last so no point in joining a new team who would want him there for the long haul - and secondly teams below the front of the midfield now need cash over experience - so stepping down to help a struggling team is no longer a formality for an aging driver - as Massa is about to find out.

[CaledonianCraig]

I am sure a team like Force India would have been accomodating as they are striving to hit the big time and don't sign drivers on sponsorship deals.

[SteveG]

Maybe but like I say if he's had one eye on racing in a different series for some time then he wouldn't have wanted to commit elsewhere long term.

[CaledonianCraig]

Yes I understand that SteveG. I do feel that the Red Bull situation and how he feels he has been treated has caused him to become disenchanted with Formula One. I don't really feel he had that World Champion air about him in his career, very good but not the best - a bit like drivers such as David Coulthard, Juan Montoya, Felipe Massa etc.

[Guest]

Playing second fiddle to Vettel for so long was obviously going to test him and his resolve. Add in being treated badly by his team for various reasons and then clearly showing favouritism to Vettel would of irked him even more and made him feel isolated within the group. Throw in the fact Webber wants `racing` and doesn't like the direction f1 is heading, it is no surprise hes called it quits. No point dropping down to a midfield team next season, struggling, conserving fuel like no tomorrow and more importantly not being financially rewarded as much. That's why massa has said, `its Ferrari or nothing for me`. I think quite a bit of the passion has gone out of the sport from quite a few drivers under this RB/Vettel dominance. The sport desperately needs a new WC, unfortunately it does not look that way and RB have even made the possibility of Vettel being challenged in 2014, even more unlikely, with the choice of Ricciardo.

[CaledonianCraig]

As is the nature in F1, or any sport for that matter, it is up to others to challenge this Red Bull/Seb Vettel domination. They have the best package with a fast hungry young driver, a well-funded team and a maestro car designer in Adrian Newey. It is up to the other long-standing teams to break the stranglehold - the sort of stranglehold that Ferrari and McLaren have had on the sport in recent times it has to be said.

[SteveG]

Red Bull have dominated since the middle of the 2009 season and why no other team especially Ferrari/Mclaren given their resources have not caught them is plain ludicrous. And its not just the car, its also the operational side with pitstops and strategy - RB never seem to get much wrong whereas Mclaren - who probably had the best car for much of last year were an operational disaster whilst down at Ferrari its the opposite.

The only thing can put my finger on as to why RB have managed to protect their lead for so long is that as a relatively new team they managed to perfect early on their simulator and wind tunnel wheras the dinosaurs (for want of a better word) relied heavily on in season testing and have been playing catch up ever since.

[CaledonianCraig]

SteveG you are overlooking one important factor - car designer Adrian Newey. As F1 car designer go he is The Beatles of pop music, the Roger Federer of tennis, the Muhammed Ali of boxing or in other words the greatest. Other teams don't have a designer to match him but as you said Red Bull are also top on strategies and maximising any situation. Perhaps as well Ferrari and McLaren lost something when Jean Todt and Ron Dennis moved on as they were wily old dogs and don't feel Domenicali or Whitmarsh have filled their shoes yet.

[Guest]

Whitmarsh...you can say that again. I think if Vettel wins a fourth straight, something controversial is going to unfold next year. Everytime Vettel wins, there's a resignation amongst the paddock & the fans and that's why I think a team will attempt to push the boundaries of the regs or find a loophole. It may come through the engines, we don't know, however, there is no way the sport can continue with this one man dominating and its agreed, with the impending appointment of Ricciardo, this painful, predictability could continue at RB and the sport in general.

I'm fully expecting some kind of scandal next year, in an attempt to end this RB stranglehold. Its typical F1.

[SteveG]

TBH Craig I didnt overlook Newey - its more the fact that the other top teams with huge and telented resources have failed to close the gap. It normally woudn't take these teams 4 years or more to catch on to what another team is doing so for me its more the in-season development processes (led by Newey of course) that RB have in place that keeps them ahead throughout each season.

[CaledonianCraig]

A huge part of speed in F1 is car design and aerodynamics and Red Bull have the king in that field. Christian Horner also is wily and experienced Principal (more so than those at Ferrari and McLaren) and of course throw in a young, fast and hungry driver and you are sure to have a winning formula.

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