2020 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps, August 28 - 30

[holeindalip]

I think Renault were fortunate here. Renault ran low-drag, RB ran a different package with downforce & Merc were the most sub-optimal with a giant amount of downforce comparatively, anticipating rain. Renault won’t be as close next week if everyone runs a similar package.

Why not, Renault ran really well in Italy last year as well. Cyril said pre-race that low df and high df circuits are ok for them its just when they are in between they have issues...

[Moore77]

The silence is deafening from the people who declared the RB16 as the best car on tyres, kindest and all that after one outlier. For two races now, Max was heard crying the tyres are gone. Once again, these are the same C2, C3 and C4 that was used in Silverstone2. For 3 races now, Mercedes has used C2 and C3 in races with 44C, 50C and 30C temperatures on 3 different circuits, struggling in one of them. The only outlier there, was 27/24 PSI tyre pressures.

[ENGINE TUNER]

Who again, wanted even harder and more durable tires?

I do, that would have allowed drivers to follow closer and put more pressure on each other. These tires force the drivers to leave space ahead or overheat. Watch imola 05, Schumacher couldn't get past, but it was exciting to watch him pressure ALO lap after lap, neither one having to worry about burning out their tires.

F1 needs much better tires, even if they can't build a cliff into them.

The cars not being able to follow has more to do with downforce, dirty air and the importance of the front wing. If every one had harder tires, everyone could push more.

Yes the dirty air is a huge problem but there was dirty air in 2005 yet SCH was able to shadow ALO for over half the race because the tires were durable and did not overheat from the slightest slide. RAI was able to push the entire race from p17 and win in Suzuka 2005 on 1 set of fantastic tires, that is what durable tires and a reversed grid would give every race. The pirelli tires are garbage and destroy any racing in F1. Bolt the 2005 tires on these 2020 cars and the racing would be much better.

Lining the cars up from fastest to slowest is almost a guarantee for boring races. Turn fp3 into a 45 minute long reverse wdc grid position sprint race, take the results of that and add them to qually as it stands now to make the grid for the grand prix. Give them tires that they can push hard for the entire stint or race and every weekend will be epic and the most deserving driver will probably win most weeks.

Its not about harder or softer tires,its about tires that dont overheat at the smallest slide and then lose most grip, the pirelli tires are inherently weak and can not withstand the heat.

[erudite450]

The silence is deafening from the people who declared the RB16 as the best car on tyres, kindest and all that after one outlier. For two races now, Max was heard crying the tyres are gone. Once again, these are the same C2, C3 and C4 that was used in Silverstone2. For 3 races now, Mercedes has used C2 and C3 in races with 44C, 50C and 30C temperatures on 3 different circuits, struggling in one of them. The only outlier there, was 27/24 PSI tyre pressures.

Paul Di Resta constantly deceiving some gullible fans with his Redbull 'tyre whispering" crap is terrible. An awfully biased commentator!

[PlatinumZealot]

Race was meh... but...

WAKANDA FOREVER!!!

[Moore77]

The silence is deafening from the people who declared the RB16 as the best car on tyres, kindest and all that after one outlier. For two races now, Max was heard crying the tyres are gone. Once again, these are the same C2, C3 and C4 that was used in Silverstone2. For 3 races now, Mercedes has used C2 and C3 in races with 44C, 50C and 30C temperatures on 3 different circuits, struggling in one of them. The only outlier there, was 27/24 PSI tyre pressures.

Paul Di Resta constantly deceiving some gullible fans with his Redbull 'tyre whispering" crap is terrible. An awfully biased commentator!

To be honest, all those who are doing F1 reporting on TV and writing on F1 tabloid website are there to make a living. They get paid to simply sensationalize the show.

[Hoffman900]

The silence is deafening from the people who declared the RB16 as the best car on tyres, kindest and all that after one outlier. For two races now, Max was heard crying the tyres are gone. Once again, these are the same C2, C3 and C4 that was used in Silverstone2. For 3 races now, Mercedes has used C2 and C3 in races with 44C, 50C and 30C temperatures on 3 different circuits, struggling in one of them. The only outlier there, was 27/24 PSI tyre pressures.

Paul Di Resta constantly deceiving some gullible fans with his Redbull 'tyre whispering" crap is terrible. An awfully biased commentator!

To be honest, all those who are doing F1 reporting on TV and writing on F1 tabloid website are there to make a living. They get paid to simply sensationalize the show.

Exactly. Their job is essentially to make non stories , stories , and create sensation and excitement. Which many buy into, including here, as they play with people’s emotions and those people hang on to every word they say.

[NathanOlder]

I'd guess I'm right when I say this is probably the first ever race Hamilton has finished where he didnt overtake a single car all day. Same for Bottas and Max.

Also was today Max driving and thinking of the championship? Didnt risk having to pass Ricciardo with an extra stop, and didn't push flat out when the front 3 were in tyre trouble. Surely last year Max would have just pushed flat out with a 'win or bust' mentality. Nothing like that today.

[Wass85]

I'd guess I'm right when I say this is probably the first ever race Hamilton has finished where he didnt overtake a single car all day. Same for Bottas and Max.

Also was today Max driving and thinking of the championship? Didnt risk having to pass Ricciardo with an extra stop, and didn't push flat out when the front 3 were in tyre trouble. Surely last year Max would have just pushed flat out with a 'win or bust' mentality. Nothing like that today.

Very cerebral from Verstappen who still hangs on to second in the championship.

[Sieper]

Who knows, what if loosing party mode will really have an effect. Plus RBR is still working to improve the car race by race. Certainly still a gap there but without party mode Max would have started P2 here almost certainly.

[grubschumi13]

Everyone did their jobs today. Max as usual the only one against Mercedes.

Certainly some rain would have spiced up the action.

I can't help but feel sorry for Bottas, If there was any doubt Bottas is a 2nd driver not in name but certainly in action, today should be telling again.

In Mercedes whenever there is a call to one driver pass, it has always been in Hamilton's favor.
Whenever the team allows a driver to dictate the strategy, it is always Hamilton.
I cannot recall a single race strategy that Mercedes called that ended up favoring Bottas over Hamilton.

At Silverstone when Mercedes were 2-3 and Hamilton behind Bottas, the team said "you are free to race" knowing how much of an advantage Hamilton had with fresher tires and that the pass was inevitable. Today with Bottas behind, the team protected Hamilton.

How is he not a second driver

[Unf]

Dude? Only impudence is coming from you! Couple weeks ago Ham has lost the tires in the last lap. All top 3 was lapping 2-3 seconds slower than Ric! So they were indeed in trouble to save the tires. lol. sour.?

Yes... their last laps were dramatic as hell... it's a mirace they survived /facepalm

I am pretty confident, you would declare this was the best race of the season if Ham failed to win.

Depends. If he would fail after nice fight with somebody - then yes, I will be glad. If he will fail cause some defect - not so much.

[Hoffman900]

Whether there are team orders or not, Lewis has earned his place to be the first driver and get priority.

I think, from the outside, Mercedes is giving Valteri every opportunity to race heads up against Lewis. This isn’t a knock on Valteri as I like him, but he is racing against the best of his generation, and one of the best of all time. He’s doing a good job but he would never stand a chance, as would just about anyone else in the field, despite what people think.

[zeph]

What is Racing Point’s explanation for Perez’ inexplicable strategy?

[Sieper]

The silence is deafening from the people who declared the RB16 as the best car on tyres, kindest and all that after one outlier. For two races now, Max was heard crying the tyres are gone. Once again, these are the same C2, C3 and C4 that was used in Silverstone2. For 3 races now, Mercedes has used C2 and C3 in races with 44C, 50C and 30C temperatures on 3 different circuits, struggling in one of them. The only outlier there, was 27/24 PSI tyre pressures.

One, it is not crying but informing the pitwall about the status. You don’t need that man, indont think you are one of those people, right? Two, Silverstone puts much more heat in the tires without cooldown in between. Assuming Merc made no set-up mistake there Then that is seemingly their only weak point. But how many of those tracks are there. Not many.