28/08/2022
NEWS STORY
Despite the 'threats' F1 and the teams sent out in the wake of a number of incidents at the Red Bull Ring, this weekend we get to see the real F1 fans.
Twelve months ago they sat for hours in appalling conditions only to be rewarded with a one lap farce, yet here they are cheering on their heroes as if nothing happened. These are the fans that are the backbone of the sport and we can only hope that today their loyalty will be rewarded.
Certainly the prospects are there, indeed, there is every chance that today could be a classic.
The engine penalties meted out mean we have a totally muddled grid, and while there remains a Ferrari and a Red Bull at the front, it is by no means certain that either Carlos or Sergio will come out on top.
Starting from 14th and 15th, Max and Charles' hoped for charge through the field should be worth the price of admission alone, while Norris' progress should be equally entertaining.
By rights, those penalties should have opened the door for Mercedes, but the cool temperatures thus far this weekend have clearly hampered the German team. Then again, the 1.8s gap to Max is down to more than tyres and while Mercedes and Ferrari remain mystified by the Red Bull driver's pace, let's not forget that new, lighter chassis we reported on last week, which is said to be coming some time soon. Certainly, it has to be said, the technical directive which came into force this weekend, hasn't had any impact.
The sheer number of drivers out of position already makes this a tough one to call, but the warmer temperatures will also play into Mercedes hands, and while we salivate over Max (and Charles') rise through the field, out front Carlos and Sergio will be fully aware that they must take full advantage of today's golden opportunity.
As we have said so many times before a race cannot be won at the first corner, however it can be lost.
Spa, however, presents a unique set of circumstances, for whereas normally one would want to be first into the first corner, here it is more advantageous to be second... or third.
Down the hill to Eau Rouge and up Raidillon to Les Combes is the perfect opportunity for the car in second to get a tow from the leader, consequently neither Carlos or Sergio will be too keen to lead into La Source this afternoon.
However, behind is a gaggle of drivers seeking any opportunity, among them Alonso, the Mercedes pair, Albon, Ricciardo and Gasly.
Regular readers will be aware that we do our very best to avoid hyperbole and sensationalism, but we really get the feeling that today's race could be special, and in all honesty we need it.
Either a one-stop or two-stop strategy is possible today, though there are different permutations of one-stopper possible, along with a more aggressive two-stop strategy.
So far weather conditions have been variable but today is much warmer, with the tactical picture made more complex by the fact that a number of fast cars are starting from the back.
Starting on the medium is the most flexible approach, which gives the option to switch to either the hard or soft as part of a one-stopper, while leaving the door open for a two-stopper if needed. Starting on the soft doesn't exclude a one-stopper, but it requires either an early stop for the hard or careful management to then go on the medium.
A different and more aggressive approach could be to use the soft as a part of two-stopper, perhaps with two stints on the medium tyre. This might compromise track position but could be a good option for a fast car if there is a safety car, or degradation on the soft turns out to be quite high.
The pitlane opens and Stroll is first out, followed by Schumacher, Magnussen, Sainz and Russell. Only Latifi and the Bulls stay put in their garages.
Ocon complains that he has something in his eye.
In the moments before the anthem, Albon, Russell, Ricciardo and Schumacher sit on the grass by the side of the track chatting.
Ahead of the formation lap, the air temperature is 21 degrees, while the track temperature is 36. It is bright and sunny, altogether different to the last two days.
All are starting on mediums bar Sainz, Bottas, Verstappen and Leclerc, who start on softs, while Tsunoda starts from the pitlane on hards.
So, it's all-out attack from Sainz, Verstappen and Leclerc.
They head off on the formation lap, and in a late move, Gasly heads into the pitlane, though we're not sure why - other than it promotes Verstappen another place up the grid.
A late issue for the Frenchman claims AlphaTauri.
The grid forms.
They're away! Sainz gets away well while Perez moves across to cover Alonso. However, this allows Hamilton to come up on the outside on the approach to La Source.
As they round La Source, Sainz lead, with Alonso behind and Hamilton, Perez and Russell three abreast, the seven-time champ on the outside.
Out of La Source, Perez falls behind the Mercedes pair as Vettel is alongside Ricciardo.
At the top of the Kemmel Straight, Hamilton pulls out of Alonso's slipstream and edges ahead of the Alpine. However, into Les Combes the Spaniard has the inside, and the Mercedes hits him from behind lifting Hamilton into the air.
"What an idiot," declares Alonso, "closing the door from the outside. We had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first!"
Hamilton immediately loses pace, whilst Stroll takes a ride through the gravel.
Further back, Verstappen and Leclerc are battling side-by-side.
Though he's lost ground, and is under attack from Vettel and Ricciardo, Hamilton is chasing down Alonso and at one point they are almost four abreast.
However, Hamilton slows. "Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop," the Mercedes driver is told. He duly obliges, parking the car at Blanchimont.
At the end of lap 1, it's Sainz, Perez, Russell, Alonso, Vettel, Ricciardo, Albon, Verstappen, Stroll and Leclerc.
Latifi runs wide through Les Combes, and in his efforts to avoid the spinning Williams Bottas follows suit, sending the Alfa into a spin and off into the gravel. "I'm beached," he reports.
The safety car is deployed.
As the field continues behind the safety car, Leclerc says he can see smoke from his front-right. He pits, as does Latifi following his clash with Bottas.
Ferrari confirms that Leclerc had a tear off in his cooling system.
At the end of lap 4, the race resumes but Sainz is almost caught napping. On the run up to Les Combes Alonso is all over Russell but the Mercedes driver holds him off.
Having passed Albon, Verstappen is all over Ricciardo.
No further action to be taken over the Alonso/Hamilton clash.
Verstappen nails Ricciardo at the Bus Stop to claim 6th, as the cameras find a very forlorn looking Hamilton walking through the countryside.
Vettel is all over Alonso, with Verstappen filling his mirrors.
Out front Sainz has a 1.6s lead.
Albon passes Ricciardo for seventh, as Verstappen makes short work of Vettel to claim fifth.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.
On the run up to Les Combes, Verstappen passes the Alpine of Alonso as though the Spaniard is almost stationary... then, again the Spaniard is not really fighting the world champion for position.
Unsurprisingly, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (51.954).
A DRS train has formed behind Magnussen. It includes Norris, Zhou, Tsunoda, Gasly, Leclerc and Latifi.
Leclerc passes Gasly for 15th, as Verstappen picks off Russell for third.
Norris passes Magnussen for 11th, as Leclerc passes Tsunoda and sets about dealing with Zhou.
Gasly and Albon have their times deleted for exceeding the track limits at Turn 4.
Having passed Zhou, Leclerc dispatches Magnussen to claim 12th.
Up front, Sainz leads Perez by 1.3s with Verstappen just 0.6s behind.
Verstappen now complaining about high deg.
Albon and Gasly both pit at the end of lap 10.
Leclerc is advised the deg is higher than expected for everybody.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 11, as Verstappen complains that he is losing time behind Perez. Alonso also pits, as does Magnussen.
As Verstappen passes Perez on the run up to Les Combes, Sainz rejoins in 6th on mediums, but he is in traffic.
Sainz passes Ricciardo for 5th but is 3.4s down on Vettel.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 12, as does Ocon. They rejoin in 15th and 16th, respectively.
Verstappen is already 2.4s clear of his teammate who is 3.2s clear of Russell. Vettel is fourth, ahead of Sainz, Stroll, Leclerc, Norris, Zhou and Tsunoda.
As Russell pits at th3e end of lap 13, Sainz passes Vettel at the Bus Stop chicane. Norris also pits.
Perez pits at the end of lap 14, as does Vettel, while Verstappen continues on his softs. Zhou and Schumacher also stop.
Leclerc is all over Perez who is third following his stop.
"We are considering Plan B," the Spaniard is told.
At the end of lap 15 Verstappen pits, rejoining 4.6s down on Sainz in second.
On the long climb to Les Combes, Russell passes Leclerc for fourth, the Briton on much fresher rubber.
"He didn't leave a car space there, and we touched," complains of his earlier tussle with Perez.
As Perez posts a new fastest lap (51.556), Vettel passes Abon for 8th.
As Verstappen closes to within 0.4s of Sainz, the world champion posts a new fastest lap (50.747). The crowd roars as the Dutchman sweeps past the Ferrari to reclaim the lead.
In no time at all the Red Bull is 2s clear of the Ferrari.
Tsunoda is the last driver to make a scheduled tyre stop.
"If we stop now we will be right in front of Gasly in P12," Leclerc is told. "Do you want a new medium or new hard," he is asked. Surely this is a strategic call the team should be making.
"Can you do five more laps," Leclerc is asked, as Perez closes in on the other Ferrari.
On lap 21, Perez finally nails Sainz at Les Combes to make it a Red Bull 1-2.
Ricciardo is all over Albon as they battle for ninth, Norris currently 13th.
Unable to make a move on Albon, Ricciardo finds himself under pressure from Stroll, with Norris and Zhou closing in.
Stroll makes a bold move on Ricciardo at Eau Rouge, before thinking better of it.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 25, as Ferrari brings Leclerc also. The Spaniard switches to the hard, rejoining in 4th, while Leclerc is now 7th on mediums. Alonso also pits, the Spaniard rejoining in 13th on hards.
Ocon is assured that everyone is going to have to stop again.
Albon and Stroll pit at the end of lap 26, rejoining in 17th and 18th. However, no sooner are they back on track that Albon passes his Williams teammate for 16th.
Perez makes his second stop at the end of lap 27. He rejoins in third on hards.
Alonso gets up close and personal with Zhou as they battle for tenth... the wily Spaniard coming out on top. Indeed, he subsequently passes Norris for ninth.
Stroll finally nails Latifi at the Bus Stop.
In his pursuit of Russell, Perez goes quickest in S2.
Leclerc is all over the back of Ocon as they battle for 6th.
Zhou pits at the end of lap 28.
As he passes Ricciardo for 8th, Alonso is positively scything his way through the field.
Russell pits at the end of lap 29, the Briton rejoining in fourth, 7.9s down on Sainz. Norris also stops.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 30, fitting a fresh set of mediums. Tsunoda also pits, as does Schumacher.
Meanwhile, talking to Sky sports, Lewis Hamilton admits the clash with Alonso was his fault. "No looking back at the footage, he was in my blind spot," says the Briton. "I didn't leave enough space so it was my fault today. Just sorry to the team."
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 33, rejoining in 15th. He is immediately locked in battle with Tsunoda.
Next time around it is Vettel that pits, the German rejoining in 8th behind Gasly.
"What happens if we three stop," asks Sainz. "We finish behind Russell in P4," he is told.
After 34 laps, with 10 remaining, it's: Verstappen, Perez (+ 13.2s), Sainz (+ 9s), Russell (+ 3.7s), Leclerc (16.4s), Alonso (+ 18.2s), Gasly (+ 8.6s), Vettel (+ 0.12s), Ocon (+ 0.3s) and Albon (+ 8.8s).
No sooner has Vettel passed Gasly for 7th, and the Frenchman retaken the place, than Ocon, courtesy of a double tow, passes the pair of them.
Aware that Albon is lapping over a second quicker, Gasly is warned not to "waste time with these guys".
On his softs, Zhou, in his pursuit of Norris, goes quickest in S1.
"I'm honestly beginning to struggle quite a bit," warns Russell. "It's too late for Plan G," he is told, "we've got to make this work."
In tenth, Albon heads a DRS train of five cars, including Stroll and Norris.
A mistake at Stavelot sees Russell lose ground to Sainz.
Leclerc came here aiming to do a Vettel and win all the remaining, but he's not even going to be on the podium.
"The safety car window is closed," Norris is told.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.
At the end of lap 42, Leclerc pits for fresh rubber, the Monegasque clearly targeting the point for fastest lap. However, in the process he loses 5th place to Alonso.
As he drives the last lap, Verstappen is cheered on by his Orange Army.
As Verstappen takes the flag, Leclerc passes Alonso on the run to Les Combes, and while he has salvaged 5th he will probably not post the fastest lap. His 49.984 is a PB, but not good enough to beat Verstappen's 49.354.
Meanwhile, Leclerc is handed a 5s time penalty for speeding in the pitlane, thus dropping him back down to sixth.
Behind Verstappen, it's Perez, Sainz, Russell, Alonso, Leclerc, Ocon, Vettel, Gasly and Albon.
Stroll is eleventh, ahead of Norris, Tsunoda, Zhou, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Schumacher and Latifi.
Not the classic we were, indeed, far from it. Yes, there were some interesting moves, but in all honesty the DRS, combine with the two, makes overtaking too easy here.
We'd tweeted before the race that we envisaged a Mercedes win, but in all honesty that was more about the FOSU side of things, and surely even Turk Thrust wouldn't have put Lewis out on the opening lap.
This has been a disaster for Leclerc, and right now few would bet against Max taking back-to-back titles, his pace today having been absolutely awesome.
All of which gives Max a 93 point lead over his Red Bull teammate and a 98 point advantage over Leclerc.
And so to Zandvoort, where the local boy was dominant from start to finish last year.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.