28/07/2024
NEWS STORY
Over the years Spa has produced more than its fair share of thrills, spills and controversy. For many the stand out event was 1998, the year that saw almost half the field wiped-out in a massive crash just after La Source, and which later saw Michael Schumacher marching determinedly to the McLaren garage to 'have words' with David Coulthard.
Then there was Romain Grosjean receiving a one-race ban for almost taking Fernando Alonso's head off in a typical bit of first lap over enthusiasm.
Thankfully we don't have to worry about the Weather Gods causing problems today, however over enthusiasm could still be an issue.
Starting from eleventh, Max will be fired up to get to the front as soon as possible, however first he'll have to deal with the likes of Ocon - never a pushover - and Alonso, not to mention Ricciardo coming from behind.
Then we have Charles and Sergio starting up front, the Mexican aware that failure to deliver today could see him sporting RB overalls late next month.
Adding to the potential fun and games we have the Mercedes and McLaren duos, both of which could result in fireworks what with team 'mates' keen to stamp their authority.
Spa is great for overtaking they've been telling us all week, and that has always been the case, however the DRS zones have pretty much made a mockery of this in recent years with car A overtaking Car B, then Car B almost immediately reclaiming the position.
Other than Perez, the axe appears to be hovering over the heads of both Ricciardo and Sargeant and while we are convinced the American's days are number, the Australian might yet convince Helmut that there remains life in the old dog.
Yesterday's weather aside, it's been an interesting weekend thus far with the teams thrown a number of curveballs. Mercedes has dropped its new floor, Red Bull its recently introduced upgrades and the new asphalt track surface providing a whole new challenge.
On Friday Max looked very quick, and again yesterday, but the McLarens really do look to be the superior package at present.
Therefore, in addition to get his way through the pack as quickly as possible - which will no doubt mean an aggressive tyre strategy - Max will be hoping that his teammate can get the jump on Charles and dictate the race pace.
At the same time, Red Bull will need the perfect strategy, something which Ferrari and McLaren consistently fail to achieve.
Could Max do the impossible and win today, you ask, well he's done it before. Indeed for the last two years he has claimed pole but had to serve grid penalties. In 2022 he started from 14th on the grid... and won, while last year he started from sixth... and won.
Compared to last year, the new track surface has shifted the balance significantly towards a two-stop strategy. It also means that the hardest tyre here is now much more suitable for the race than it was twelve months ago, to the detriment of the softest. However, all three compounds are still perfectly viable, also because only four teams - Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Alpine - have two sets of hards available.
On paper, the fastest strategy is to run the first stint on the medium before doing a double stint on the hard. The logical alternative is to go medium/hard/medium but the soft/hard/hard and soft/hard/medium options cannot be ruled out.
The one-stop is too slow, while the three-stop, even on a track where overtaking is definitely possible is, at least according to simulations, not faster.
A further consideration is that the set-up choices made yesterday remain the same for today, given that the cars in are in parc ferme this could also change the balance of power witnessed in qualifying.
The pitlane opens and Zhou leads the way, followed by Ocon, Ricciardo, Russell and Bottas.
Air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees.
"A nice sunny day here which is rare," says Norris! "Excited, optimistic we can have a good result but we know the Red Bulls will be very fast. It's going to be tough to keep them behind, but if we can. We have a lower wing which should help us go forwards. We have chances but we'll have to look ahead and look behind."
All are starting on mediums bar Sainz, Stroll and Zhou who are on hards and Ricciardo who is on softs. Fresh rubber all round.
Leclerc leads the field away on the formation lap.
The grid forms. Perez visibly has his car pointing inwards towards Leclerc.
They're away! Leclerc gets a brilliant start, as does Hamilton, but as Perez moves across the Ferrari is no longer there and he finds his path blocked by the Mercedes.
Around La Source, Hamilton has the inside line and makes full use of the exit causing Perez to go wide. Behind them, Piastri has the inside while his teammate runs wide and over the kerb on the exit of La Source kicking up a cloud of dust.
On the run down the hill to Eau Rouge Hamilton and Perez are side-by-side, however it is the Mercedes that leads into the iconic corner as the Mexican almost loses out to the pursuing Piastri.
Norris' mistake at La Source has cost him a couple of places.
Perez is all over Hamilton on the run up to Les Combes, while right behind Russell runs wide to avoid a collision with Piastri.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Hamilton, Perez, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, and Verstappen as the Dutchman nails the Williams driver in the final chicane.
On the run up the hill Verstappen passes Alonso as Perez is struggling to hold off Piastri as Verstappen closes in on his McLaren teammate.
Albon is noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
On Lap on the run up the Kemmel Straight to Les Combes Hamilton passes Leclerc as Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (49.828).
Perez complains that there is an issue with his battery, as Zhou slows, complaining that he's losing power.
The Chinese subsequently pits before rejoining the race in last position.
"We're Plan A," Piastri is told as he has a look at Perez.
After 5 laps, Hamilton leads Leclerc by 1.028s as Perez drops 1.5s behind, just 0.841s ahead of Piastri.
"Something is moving down by my legs," reports Hamilton.
"My tyres are overheating a bit," warns Stroll.
Zhou makes his second visit to the pits, this time it appears terminal.
"Rear starting to grain a little bit," reports Hamilton as Hulkenberg makes the first scheduled stop of the day. The German switches from the mediums to hards.
At the end of Lap 8, Albon, Ricciardo and Sargeant all pit.
"Plan A or Plan B?" Piastri is asked. "I think A," he replies.
In ninth, Alonso has slipped 4.3s behind Verstappen.
"Tyres still okay, but rears definitely dropping," reports Hamilton.
Gasly pits at the end of Lap 9, as Albon goes purple in the final two sectors.
The leading eight are covered by 9.7s.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.
"Box, box," Verstappen is told at the end of Lap 10, as Russell also stops. They rejoin in 13th (Russell) and 14th, the Mercedes driver subsequently passes Tsunoda.
Elsewhere, Hulkenberg barges his way past Gasly for 17th.
Hamilton, Perez and Piastri all pit at the end of Lap 11, as does Bottas.
Hamilton rejoins in 6th, ahead of Stroll, Perez, Russell, Piastri, Magnussen and Verstappen who has finally passed Tsunoda.
"If we're getting undercut let's go long," urges Leclerc. At which point he pits, while Sainz and Norris continue.
Stroll pits, thereby releasing Hamilton, while Leclerc rejoins in fifth behind the Mercedes.
Piastri passes Perez for 6th, with Russell also looking to pass the Red Bull.
A new fastest lap from Verstappen (48.403).
Alonso pits from 4th at the end of Lap 13, the Spaniard rejoining in 13th behind Ricciardo.
Piastri posts a new fastest lap (47.565).
"100% pace please," Norris is told, the Briton 3.2s down on race leader Sainz and just 7.5s ahead of Hamilton.
"Straight-line speed is a ******* joke," reports Stroll.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 15, rejoining in 8th, 5.5s down on Verstappen.
Sainz runs wide in Turn 14 allowing Hamilton to close to within 6.5s.
"We are going to try and undercut Carlos," Norris is told.
"I think we should try and get them," says Verstappen of the drivers ahead. "Have a go," he is told.
"Carlos has stayed out," Norris is told, "we've got the gap so the opportunity here is to pass the cars we've got a tyre advantage over."
The Briton posts a new fastest lap (47.522) as he closes to within 3.6s of Verstappen who is 1s down on Russell.
Gasly passes Hulkenberg as they continue to battle for 13th.
"We are thinking Plan B for medium," Sainz is told. "We think they cannot go to the end."
Bottas passes Hulkenberg who is clearly struggling.
Perez appears to be backing up Russell into the clutches of his Red Bull teammate.
"Box, box!" Sainz is told on Lap 20. The Spaniard duly obliges, rejoining the race in 8th on mediums.
On Lap 21, Russell passes Perez as they enter Les Combes. The Mexican subsequently pits which releases his teammate. He rejoins in 8th behind Sainz. Ricciardo also stopped, the Australian rejoining in 18th.
As Verstappen seeks to close the 1.9s gap to Russell, Norris is just 0.777s behind.
Ricciardo passes Sargeant for 16th.
As Albon pits, Perez posts a new fastest lap (47.223) as he seeks to close the 11.2s gap to Sainz.
Tsunoda and Sargeant battle for 17th.
Out front, after 24 (of 44) laps, Hamilton leads Leclerc by 2.3s.
"Keep closing this gap to Piastri," Russell is told.
Leclerc makes his second stop at the end of Lap 25. He rejoins in seventh, 5s down on his Ferrari teammate.
Next time around Mercedes reacts and pits Hamilton. As Piastri takes the lead, Hamilton rejoins in 6th, 3s ahead of Leclerc.
There's lots of chopping and changing further back, where Albon has just passes Magnussen for 15th as he sets about closing the gap to Ricciardo.
"This looks good Oscar, let's go!" The Australian responds with a new fastest lap (47.024).
"It goes without saying, but clean air is king," says Piastri.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 28, as does Sainz. They rejoin in seventh (Verstappen) and eighth, as Gasly also stops. The Dutchman is now on mediums, while Sainz has switched back to hards.
Norris reacts to Verstappen's undercut, the Briton rejoining in seventh, 1.8s down on the Red Bull, but 5.9s up on Sainz.
Perez quickly moves aside for his teammate who sets about closing the 7.6s gap to Leclerc.
Piastri pits at the end of Lap 30, promoting Russell into the lead. A bad stop from the Australian who locks-up and slightly overshoots his slot. However, he rejoins in 4th, 3.2s ahead of Verstappen.
Norris makes short work of Perez to claim sixth, as Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (46.447).
"Just confirming you're happy to stay out," Russell is asked. "Yes," he replies as Norris posts a new fastest lap (45.563).
"Lando, these tyres are robust, you are free to push on them."
"We're happy for you to push," Verstappen is told, after the Dutchman warns that Norris is closing.
In fourth, Piastri is gaining on Leclerc as Hamilton remains 5.8s down on race leader Russell.
"How much quicker do I need to be, am I on target to beat him or not," asks Hamilton, but of whom, Russell or Piastri?
Piastri almost catches Leclerc on the hop, as Verstappen is told: "10 laps to go, 10 of your finest!"
Hamilton is lapping around 0.8s quicker than his teammate who is on 24-lap old tyres.
On Lap 36, Piastri finally nails Leclerc through Les Combes, the Ferrari driver having no answer to the quicker McLaren.
After 38 laps, it's: Russell, Hamilton (+ 2.s), Piastri (5.5s), Leclerc (+ 1.9s), Verstappen (+ 1.2s), Norris (+ 0.5s), Perez (+ 9.7s), Sainz (+ 0.8s), Alonso (+ 21.8s) and Ricciardo (+ 7.3s).
On Lap 39, Sainz passes Perez as they head into Les combes, dropping the Mexican to 8th, and possibly a seat at RB.
In fourth, Leclerc has Verstappen and Norris closing in.
With 4 laps remaining, Hamilton is just 1.1s down on his teammate.
"There's going to be action ahead, we want to be there," Piastri is urged.
"Make sure you give each other plenty of space," Hamilton is told. "Keep this clean," is the message for Russell.
Hamilton has as look as they enter Les Combes on Lap 42, but back off. Piastri is now 2.5s behind.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.
Perez pits at the end of Lap 42, no doubt going for the fastest lap. He rejoins in eighth.
At they begin the final lap, Hamilton makes a slight mistake as the gap opens to 0.5s, with Piastri 0.8s behind.
Verstappen is unable to close on Leclerc and remains 5th, ahead of Norris.
Russel takes the flag, ahead of his teammate, Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Perez, Alonso and Ocon.
Perez posts a new fastest lap (44.701) to claim an extra point.
"Honestly, I thought I could," admits Piastri wen sasked if he thought he could catch the Mercedes pair, "as clean air made such a difference today.
"I'm happy with the result," he adds, "we managed the race very well, think that's the second or third time this year we've tried to run over the front jack so I'll try and not do that again!"
"We definitely didn't," admits Hamilton when asked if he thought a 1-2 was possible this weekend, "so first of all congratulations to George and to the team.
"We had such a disaster on Friday so made some changes and the car was fantastic today," he adds.
"I was trying to get closer, but George did a great job on going long on the tyres. Every stint I had tyres left but the team brought me in."
"Amazing, amazing result," says Russell, "I definitely didn't predict this win this morning in our strategy meeting.
"The tyres felt great," he continues, "so I just kept saying we can do the one-stop, we can do the one-stop.
"Well done to Lewis, he did a great job controlling the race and if circumstances were different he could have won the race.
"It was a team effort, the strategists did a wonderful job. The car felt great and the pace was there. It's so well deserved for everybody."
An entertaining race, though in some ways like a meal that promises much, but still leaves you hungry.
The main factors for this appear to be tyre deg - or rather the lack of it - hence Russell's ability to run so long on his second set of rubber and still have pace, while overtaking clearly wasn't the breeze we expected it to be, with a number of drivers clearly unable to get anywhere near the car ahead without hurting.
After last week's shenanigans it was nice not to have any complaining over the radio, yet Hamilton will surely question why he has forced to pit twice even though clearly happy with his tyres.
That said, Mercedes rivals drivers all ran two-stoppers, while other than Russell the only one-stopper was Stroll who clearly didn't benefit.
Then again, as he heads to Ferrari, George will be the new golden boy... and who joined the team beneath the podium for the celebrations but Kimi Antonelli.
"We were expecting at best a podium," says Toto Wolff, "but the car worked well on one and two-stops.
"Overnight Friday to Saturday, Shov our Chief Engineer said 'I've figured out what it is'. I don't think the new floor was bad, what we realised overnight was we tripped over on a mechanical issue.
"I'd like to have two winners today, but we had to cover Leclerc and Piastri or we would have been undercut. George was P5, the one-stop showed P5 so we went for it. I think he was very good today, but then when you look at the pace Lewis was very good. The strategy played for George not Lewis, like I said I'd like to have two winners today."
Not a classic but definitely entertaining, like only a circuit like Spa can provide.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa here.