2012 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa

[andrewf1]

can anyone explain how LH could suddenly lost it all to his team mate at SPA? Could this be Mclaren way of bringing LH back down to earth in the contract/business negotiation?

well it's been explained in the interviews what happened and where the performance difference comes from + he made a little mistake on his last lap. but do you really think mclaren would sabbotage their own championship points and chances just because they cant solve a contract?

[CHT]

Just couldn't get the set-up right. They took a gamble changing back to the old-spec rear wing on the off chance LH could get better balance/handling and thus a better quali time. Hopefully Lewis can get past Pastor cleanly during the first lap and let good tire strategy/management advance him up the field. Talk of the team trying to bring LH "back down to earth" is silly.

can anyone explain how LH could suddenly lost it all to his team mate at SPA? Could this be Mclaren way of bringing LH back down to earth in the contract/business negotiation?

thats the official explanation of course, but I am just curious why LH who have been able to set his car well throughout this season could suddenly lose it. and losing it by such a huge margin is unthinkable.

perhaps mclaren is trying to remind LH that the car matters more than the driver?

[Paul]

Interesting that after Jenson's first really fast lap he said to the team that he had had much better front grip on that lap than the previous one and that he seemed to know why. I wonder what's that all about, tyre preparation or slightly different lines in corners, or something else...

[raymondu999]

Perhaps it was like Nico's China qualifying? A sudden temperature change causing his tyres to fall in the perfect working range?

[CHT]

Interesting that after Jenson's first really fast lap he said to the team that he had had much better front grip on that lap than the previous one and that he seemed to know why. I wonder what's that all about, tyre preparation or slightly different lines in corners, or something else...

JB was already way ahead of LH in Q2, I am sure LH didnt just lost it in Q3 due to some driving error.

[Shrieker]

Actually both Button and Hamilton locked their inside front wheels going into la source. Hamilton was way wide though. Must've cost him about 2 tenths alone.

After the penalties/demotions LH now ends up directly behind Alonso and sandwiched between Maldonado and Grosjean - ouch ! That's written 'incident' all over. I hope I'm proven wrong.

[Chuckjr]

Ferrari need to drop Massa right now. He's a boat anchor on that team. It's over. He's been given chance after chance after chance after chance and he's absolutely not delivering. There are no more excuses and Alonso needs help right now. Im so sick of hearing how Massa will bounce back. He's not going to bounce back. Luca, do your team a favor and cut him. There's a championship at stake here and Alonso needs every help available and Massa is not helping.

Secondly, how could an empire like Macca not see after just a few laps how much slower down the straight LH car was? 4 tenths on one straight?? Ronald McDonald could gave made a better call. How can such a poor decision be made with that many smart people looking at every possible minute detail? I mean come on. Give your driver the best opportunity to succeed. If it really was a decision that LH agreed too, I am starting to agree with folks that LH just does not understand how to set up a car. He's fast as hell but man, this was an inexcusable group error. This team is really hurting his career.

Great job Jensen. Wow. Very very impressive. 3 almost identical laps. Impeccable.

Sauber, well done and very deserved. Shame they don't have better drivers. Maybe Lewis should go there. He'd be a king on that team and I believe we all know how much LH likes to be seen as a king.

[Paul]

And who would replace Massa, Badoer?

JB was already way ahead of LH in Q2, I am sure LH didnt just lost it in Q3 due to some driving error.

You must've misunderstood me, I was talking about what happened between Jenson complaining about understeer and setting a lap half a second faster than anyone's.

[foxmulder_ms]

With Lewis, my guess, it looked like they just put too much rear wing.

My guess, Button will win and Raikkonen will be second. Alonso will fight for the podium.

[zyphro]

Perhaps it was like Nico's China qualifying? A sudden temperature change causing his tyres to fall in the perfect working range?

Don't think it was just temperature per se, he just nailed the setup. Just like Nico did in China.

[godlameroso]

I wonder how the tires will degrade tomorrow and if it will be a significant factor, I reckon the best strategy is O P

[zyphro]

Taking into account that Rosberg will start at 23th position they could re-introduce this new ddrs and start from the pit, at least it could be a good opportunity to check the sistem properly. What do you think?

If they don't take this opportunity... facepalm.

[PlatinumZealot]

Button's side of the garage are playing mind games. Button sand bagged in FP3 to make it next to impossible for LH side of the garage to know which wing was faster. It was only in Q2 that Button showed the true speed of the new Rear wing. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot; why the hell did Mclaren not give the leading driver the new wing to try first?!

[the user]

Button's side of the garage are playing mind games. Button sand bagged in FP3 to make it next to impossible for LH side of the garage to know which wing was faster. It was only in Q2 that Button showed the true speed of the new Rear wing. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot; why the hell did Mclaren not give the leading driver the new wing to try first?!

Hamilton used the newer wing during FP3 but couldn't get the setup right, that's why they decided to use the older wing.

[marcush.]

haha Button is doing a prost on Hamilton..Mclaren sure have people still in the company remmbering those days when senna tried to outfox the prof who himself tried the same with ayrton....