23/08/2015
NEWS STORY
Not for the first time, as we look ahead to the race, the result appears a foregone conclusion, the Mercedes duo leaving the rest for dust and heading off into the distance.
However, at Silverstone, and again Hungary, we saw the German team suffer, first at the hands of Williams, then at the hands of Ferrari.
While the German team is playing down the possibility of this becoming a recurring problem that could derail its title efforts, the situation is further complicated by the new rules today which mean that the drivers get no 'outside help' at the start.
OK, this is a new rule that will affect everyone, but not ll teams have had the nightmare starts of the Mercedes duo in recent races.
An added worry is Nico Rosberg's tyre failure on Friday, for whilst Pirelli has comprehensively ruled out any fault in the construction of the tyre, the big question is how did it happen? Let's face it, ever since the incident the German's pace hasn't been quite the same.
Though MIA for much of the weekend, Williams ramped things up in qualifying, Valtteri Bottas taking a strong third place, his best qualifying result of the year. With teammate Felipe Massa starting sixth, this could be another strong race for the Grove outfit in the wake of the disappointment of Silverstone and Hungary.
Sergio Perez starts from fourth in the rejuvenated Force India, though teammate Nico Hulkenberg starts a lowly eleventh. The B-spec VJM08 has looked strong all weekend and a strong result would allow the team to edge ahead of Lotus and Toro Rosso in the fight for fifth.
As the messy divorce saga continues, fresh from a strong result in Hungary, things were looking good for Red Bull this weekend. However, whilst Daniel Ricciardo starts from fifth, teammate Daniil Kvyat failed to make it out of Q2.
Like Red Bull, Lotus is having more than its fair share of problems, consequently the last thing the Enstone outfit needed was a gearbox penalty that saw Romain Grosjean lose out on his glorious Q3 effort. Nonetheless, with both cars starting in the top ten, the team should take something away from here... even if Charles Pic's lawyers are working hard to see they don't.
Celebrating its 900th Grand Prix, there was little to savour for Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel qualifying ninth following a mistake and Kimi Raikkonen failing to post a time in Q2 after a technical failure. To compound the team's misery, a subsequent gearbox change demote the Finn to the back of the grid - well, around 25 rows ahead of the McLarens.
Next up come the Toro Rosso and Saubers, Max Verstappen handed a ten-place grid penalty following an engine change.
Finally, way, way behind the Manor duo, are the McLarens, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button having been handed a grid drop of 105 place between them. There is no more to add.
Other than the new start rules, things could be further spiced up by the weather. We know from experience that conditions can, and usually do, change quite quickly, and at different parts of the track.
Heavy rain indeed thunderstorms, are expected later in the day, but currently it is thought that they'll hit the region after the race. However, as we said, experience suggests we should be prepared for anything.
Finally, there is the unique characteristic of the circuit, the run from the grid to T1 (La Source) one of the shortest on the calendar. Even the smallest mistake can result in carnage as the field funnels into that first hairpin, witness Grosjean's theatrics a couple of years back, not to mention the infamous pile-up of 1998.
The fastest strategy is theoretically a two-stopper - start on softs, softs again on lap 15, mediums on lap 30. However, some drivers might try a three-stop S/S/S/M sprint strategy to limit tyre degradation and gain track position - but this depends on individual patterns of tyre usage and traffic.
There are two DRS zones, one on the short pit straight and the second on the Kemmel Straight, the long uphill run from Eau Rouge.
The pitlane opens and there's already an issue for Hulkenberg who reports a loss of power on his installation lap. He is told to return to the pits. He obliges and is soon back on track. "There's no power at all," he says, "I'm flat out and nothing's happening".
Button admits that he's disappointed that it is unlikely to rain during the race. Asked about starting from the back row, he quips; "at last nobody can hit me from behind".
Rob Smedley, on the other hand, says there could be rain at the end of the race after the final stops.
The drivers gather for the national anthem, bringing back memories of that haunting scene weeks ago in Hungary.
As the field - of which Hulkenberg is now a part - prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 38 degrees. It is noticeably windier than normal.
Perez is slow in getting away on the formation lap, whilst Hulkenberg reports he still has a power issue. The German is told to pit.
All on options bar Nasr, Button and Alonso as Hulkenberg is told to "take the start". Indeed, the message is repeated.
However, there is clearly a problem with the force India, as the green lights begin to go out, Hulkenberg gesticulates that he has no power, the start is aborted. As the field heads off again, the German is pushed into the pitlane. Moments later, Sainz also reports "no power". The Spaniard is subsequently told to pit.
A great start from Hamilton but an equally poor start from Rosberg who slips down to fifth. An absolutely superb start from Perez who is challenging Hamilton for the lead coming out of La Source after the Briton runs wide.
Ricciardo gets the jump on Bottas and is up there challenging Hamilton and Perez whilst Vettel is up to eighth. The Lotus duo side-by-side on the run down from La Source.
At the end of lap 1, it's Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo, Rosberg, Bottas, Vettel, Maldonado, Grosjean, Massa and Ericsson. Rosberg having nailed Bottas in the final chicane.
Heading up Kemmel, Maldonado slows, "I've lost the engine." He reports.
After two laps, Hamilton leads Perez by 1.6s with Ricciardo a further 1.1sd behind. As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (56.017), Rosberg is under pressure from a charging Vettel who is now up to fifth. Maldonado has made it back to the pits but is out of his car.
Down in tenth, having started eighteenth, Verstappen goes quickest in S1, but it is Hamilton who posts a new fastest lap (55.782).
Having been passed by Vettel, Bottas is now under pressure from Grosjean. Rosberg is making no real impression on Ricciardo who maintains a 1.1s gap.
Raikkonen, like Verstappen, is carving his way through the field, indeed, the Finn is right on the tail of the Toro Rosso driver.
Kvyat sweeps past Massa heading up the hill, the Russian now up to eighth. Elsewhere, Ricciardo is all over Perez, Renault power versus Mercedes.
Lap 6 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (55.722) as he extends his lead to 4.8s. Rosberg, in fourth, is 6.8s behind his teammate.
As early stop for Ricciardo who dives into the pitlane at the end of lap 7, the Red Bull driver switching to prime rubber. No such issues for Raikkonen who reports the cars ahead are struggling with their tyres.
After several false starts, Grosjean finally nails Bottas to take fifth, the Williams duo suffering from excessive downforce.
Next time around, under pressure from Rosberg, Perez pits. The Mexican sticks with option rubber and rejoins just behind Ricciardo in tenth. Bottas and Alonso also pit.
Replay shows a massive lock-up for Kvyat at the final chicane.
Now in second, Rosberg is 8.5s down on race leader and teammate Hamilton. Verstappen runs wide in T4.
Grosjean, Kvyat, Massa, Verstappen and Ericsson all pit at the end of lap 9, which means the Ferraris are now third and fourth behind the Mercedes. Ricciardo, who has pitted, is up to fifth.
A problem for Bottas, his team have got his tyres wrong, having fitted an errant prime instead of four options.
Fantastic stuff as Verstappen battles Nasr, attempting to go around the outside in Blanchimont. The Dutch youngster eventually nails the Brazilian at the hairpin.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 11, as does Button, the Finn rejoining in tenth.
Perez is a man on a mission, the Mexican nailing the Australian on the run up the hill to take fourth.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 12, the German, now on primes, rejoining in third ahead of Perez and Ricciardo. The Mexican makes a bid at the top of the hill, but fails.
The stewards announce that Bottas' tyre error is under investigation.
Hamilton pits, the world champion rejoining, on primes, behind new race leader Vettel, but, more importantly, 8.1s clear of Rosberg.
Along with the Manors, Vettel is the only driver yet to pit.
Bottas, currently seventh, is hit with a drive-through. He will need to stop again to sort out those tyres.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 14, rejoining in sixth, as Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (54.948).
After 15 laps (of 44), it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Perez, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Vettel, Bottas, Kvyat, Massa and Raikkonen.
A big, big wobble for Ricciardo at Raidillon, not his first of the weekend.
Bottas serves his drive-through, rejoining in eleventh, but he will need to stop again. Merhi pits.
In fact, Bottas, having been made aware of his tyre situation, is told to continue. "We can still get some good points," he is told.
As Grosjean blasts past Ricciardo for fourth, Kvyat makes short work of Massa, Raikkonen keeping a watching eye on the pair.
Perez is warned: "Grosjean behind, Grosjean behind. His pace is good!" Indeed, the fast Frenchman is just 1.5s down the road.
Raikkonen closes on Massa, as Vettel begins to close on Vettel.
"Have a go at Perez," Grosjean is told, the Frenchman subsequently obliging on the entry to Les Combes.
Meanwhile, in the distance, dark clouds are looming.
"Well done mate," says a Gallic voice, "we are P3, keep pushing, keep pushing."
As Ricciardo closes in on Perez, the Red Bull suddenly slows, almost catching out Vettel. With the Australian stranded at the very start of the pit straight, just after the chicane, the Virtual Safety Car is deployed. Perez pits, as do both McLarens.
Next time around, Grosjean, Massa, Raikkonen, Verstappen and Bottas all pit.
"Nico is definitely closer since the safety car came out," says Hamilton, suggesting the German upped his pace.
The track clear, Raikkonen resumes his battle with Massa, almost catching the Williams driver off-guard, Verstappen shadowing the pair.
After 22 laps - half-distance - Hamilton leads Rosberg, Vettel, Grosjean, Kvyat, Perez, Massa, Raikkonen, Verstappen and Bottas.
From out of nowhere, Massa posts a new fastest lap (54.093).
"How did Nico gain a second under the virtual safety car?" repeats Hamilton. "We're investigating," is the response.
Kvyat is advised that the current tyre situation with his rivals (Massa and Raikkonen) means he will be competitive towards the end of the race. The Russian is currently fifth.
Whilst Verstappen is currently ninth, teammate Sainz is having a nightmare race, the Spaniard currently down in seventeenth following his issue at the start.
Whatever the manner of Rosberg's improvement, it has clearly fired up Hamilton who ups his pace and soon builds a 4.8s gap to his teammate. Vettel, who like the Mercedes has yet to make second stop, is a further 21.7s down the road, just 4s ahead of Grosjean.
Kvyat gets very out of shape as he enters the pitlane, almost collecting Perez in the process. Nasr also pits, rejoining in thirteenth.
"Let's think about an extra stop, if it makes sense," Vettel urges his team.
On fresh rubber, Kvyat sweeps past Bottas to take ninth, as Ericsson pits.
Alonso flies past Nasr on the run up the hill as Hamilton is told to pit. The Briton has asked for more front wing saying the track has changed. Indeed, feeling his tyres are good he says he doesn't need to stop. Told that Rosberg will therefore be given the stop, Hamilton changes his mind, switching back to options.
Next time around teammate Rosberg pits, like Hamilton, he switches to options, rejoining in second, 6s down on the leader.
Nasr re-takes twelfth from Alonso, the two enjoying their own little battle.
"From the data, the tyres look good to go to the end," Vettel is told.
After 32 laps, Hamilton leads Rosberg, Vettel, Grosjean, Perez, Massa, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Bottas and Verstappen.
Alonso is told that a rain shower has developed around "forty kilometres away", roughly the distance from pole he started the race from, what with all those penalties.
"We are two laps down," Sainz is told, "so we will box the car." The Spaniard duly obliges, to become the fourth retirement of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Verstappen makes his third stop of the day, and is now down in tenth.
As Grosjean closes to within 2.2s of Vettel, a little lock-up suggests the Ferrari driver's tyres are nearing the end of their shelf life. The Frenchman is told to "keep pushing".
"We need to make a move count on Kimi pretty quickly," Kvyat is told, the Russian wasting no time at all in obeying the instruction. He sweeps past the Ferrari to take seventh. Perez and Massa are the Russian's next target.
22.6s down on Rosberg, who is 4.4s behind the race leader, Vettel is only 1.1s ahead of Grosjean, almost within DRS range.
"These guys are so slow in front, even we're catching them," says Button.
Kvyat is unable to use DRS to pass Massa because the Williams driver also has its benefit in his pursuit of Perez.
Again Grosjean is told to attack Vettel.
Kvyat is told that the stewards are warning him and his pals to watch the track limits. The Russian finally nails the Williams but almost runs into the back of Perez in the process, he slows and is lucky not to be hit by Massa. Great driving by the Red Bull driver and appreciated by his crew.
As Grosjean once again fails to nail Vettel, no such issues for Kvyat who now passes Perez for fifth. With fresher tyres and DRS, the Mexican is unable to offer any resistance to the Russian.
Disaster for Vettel, his right-rear tyre explodes on the run up the hill. The German continues, his tyre flailing, as car after car passes the Ferrari. Had that happened just a little earlier, in Eau Rouge, it could have been a whole lot worse.
As Hamilton begins his final lap, Verstappen passes Raikkonen at Les Combes but overdoes it, allowing the Finn to re-take the position. Nice try by the youngster.
Hamilton takes the flag, ahead of Rosberg, Grosjean, Kvyat, Perez, Massa, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Bottas and Ericsson.
Nasr is eleventh, ahead of Vettel, Alonso, Button, Merhi and Stevens.
Whilst Mercedes is now well used to such celebrations, Grosjean runs over to his team, the Frenchman almost in tears. Ironic, that the car, which powered him to third, his first podium since Austin 2013, is likely to be impounded in a couple of hours.
A massive gamble by Ferrari, and possibly a gamble too far, one shudders to think of the consequences had Vettel's tyre exploded on a different part of the circuit.
Hamilton extends his lead, whilst Rosberg rues his disastrous start and another missed opportunity.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.