The Official 2017 Belgian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Dr Z]

Hope you all had a good break. It’s race week.



[H/t] Sauber

Date(s): Friday 25 August - Sunday 27 August 2017

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 & Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0845	0855	0900	1000
Practice 2	Fri	1245	1255	1300	1400
Practice 3	Sat	0945	0955	1000	1100
Qualifying	Sat	1200	1200	1300	1400
Race	Sun	1130	1200	1300	1400

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps



Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Belgium/Spa...

Event timings, steward decisions, technical reports and laptimes for the weekend will appear here:

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-ch...

The tyre choices:


Circuit/tyre info:

• Longest circuit of the year at 7.004 kilometres.
• Geographical layout means it can be raining on one part of the track but dry on another.
• Elevation changes and compressions generate forces on tyres from all directions.
• Compromise set-up needed to provide downforce in corners but not too much drag.
• High speeds and big corners place significant energy loads through the tyres.
• Overtaking is very possible at Spa, opening the door to a variety of different strategies.

Oh, and btw:



Welcome to the Pirelli Tyre Championship.

2016 Grand Prix

It might as well have been the Dutch Grand Prix.


Nico on pole with Max and Kimi not far off


Three into La Source no pass go.


Nico won, leading lights to flag

---

Interested to see how this weekend goes. On first look, a Silverstone-like weekend is on the cards, but weather could mix things up.

Last year the high tyre pressures imposed by Pirelli caused all manner of issues for the teams, with the top teams (except RB) shying away from using the softest compound for the race.

Bring the softest compound to the race to encourage more stops but prevent teams from extracting the performance from the tyres by bumping up the pressures. It’s the Pirelli way.

[RigbyE61]

Looking forward to this one! Ill be there for the second year running!

[Drive Blind]

this is my fave period on the F1 calendar. Back after the break, two classic circuits in Spa and Monza and all the gossip and rumours about who's going where next season.

Apologies if I'm being a bit premature, but did the proposed changes to the Monza layout happen? Changes to curva grande and the first chicane?

[HustleRussell]

Yes! I am IN!

The best circuit of the season!

Thanks for kicking us off Dr Z

[Norfolkit]

RigbyE61 said:

Looking forward to this one! Ill be there for the second year running!

Us too, pop in for a beer if you're in Camping F1

[esso]

We will be there with Camping F1 ,1st visit to Spa so really looking forward to it.

[RigbyE61]

For those at Camping F1, I'll be in a grey E61 next to a bright green Scirocco.

[sandman77]

A bit of rain forecast at the moment so that could mix things up a little (otherwise this circuit is surely going to favour the mercs).

If anybody hasn't see it you should definitely watch the 1998 race. It was total chaos in very heavy rain and Michael Schumacher was giving everyone a lesson on how to drive until he drove into the back of Coulthard who was slowing to let him lap him. In fairness to Schumacher he couldn't see a thing through the spray from Coulthards car and wasn't expecting him to back off on the racing line. It was also D.Hill last win and the Jordan teams first. One of my all time favourite GP's.

[mycool]

That was a great race - sadly these days it would be an hour delay to the start, then 10 laps behind the safety car until there was a dry line.

[ajprice]

Guy Martin will be on the Williams crew for Spa

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/872721/1/guy-martin-j...

[sandman77]

mycool said:

That was a great race - sadly these days it would be an hour delay to the start, then 10 laps behind the safety car until there was a dry line.

Yes but to be fair that would have avoided the 13 car crash on lap 1.

[lucido grigio]

ajprice said:

Guy Martin will be on the Williams crew for Spa

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/872721/1/guy-martin-j...

Interesting.
Assume there'll be a "Guy Martin does F1" show on ch4 sometime soon.

[Norfolkit]

esso said:

We will be there with Camping F1 ,1st visit to Spa so really looking forward to it.

Do you like walking a lot

Last year CampingF1 was pretty good, pretty well organised (there's a returnable deposit to be paid on arrival, returned on departure, I think it was 20 Pounds [or Euros]). Large marquee which houses the bar and served decent food. They also had a brilliant "burger van" selling really nice food, pulled pork, jerk chicken, proper cumberland sausages along with great burgers.

One thing I would say is don't leave anything valuable in your tent when it's unoccupied, heard of several thefts (during the day) last year, unsurprising I suppose as everyone and his dog is up at the track all day.

We also had a talk from Martin Brundle on Saturday night, he was very good (should be him on Friday this year but I guess it depends on whether he's recovered yet).

If you're GA it is an early start to bag a decent spot, last year I think they were taken by surprise at the size of the crowd (most of the Netherlands went last year due to Max being in a Red Bull), hopefully they're better organised this year.

Enjoy.

[SteellFJ]

CAN NOT WAIT for Sunday, this is my favourite track of the season as well.

Been such a long month without F1, I even spent three weekends doing DIY!!!

[daidark]

lucido grigio said:

ajprice said:

Guy Martin will be on the Williams crew for Spa

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/872721/1/guy-martin-j...

Interesting.
Assume there'll be a "Guy Martin does F1" show on ch4 sometime soon.

You can't help but love guy he be the one to get rid of chandok him and David would work work well. Cant wait for the green lights Sunday it's a shame I have to.

[deadslow]

does anyone know if Brundle is back/recovered?

[Vaud]

deadslow said:

does anyone know if Brundle is back/recovered?

Yes he is back.

https://twitter.com/MBrundleF1

[anonymous-user]

I see Schumacher will be out on track this weekend.

Unfortunately not Michael himself

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/41028780

Could be a future F1 driver perhaps.

[Vaud]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

I see Schumacher will be out on track this weekend.

Unfortunately not Michael himself

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/41028780

Could be a future F1 driver perhaps.

Not sure how I feel about this one... Good for F1 PR? Or a double edged sword?

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

Not sure how I feel about this one... Good for F1 PR? Or a double edged sword?

It's all a bit strange really.

Because of insurance it is not the car Schumacher used back then but the 1994 car.

Also having Mick driver I suppose is the connection to his father but it is all a bit strange especially when they are being so secretive about Michael's condition.