2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Danlizzyman
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 18:03
Location: Kerry, Ireland

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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LM10 wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 12:16
WaikeCU wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 12:09
Danlizzyman wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 11:33


I've been checking the forecast often as I'm attending the race this weekend, Saturday now forecast to be 10 degrees, that's crazy for August! If any sessions are run in the dry they'll struggle big time to get temp into the tyres.
8 degrees, coldest period in the night. 14 degrees highest during the day, thus still way too low. Rain expected throughout the weekend. I expect something similar to Hockenheim where one area of the track is still dry and other area are very wet. Low temperatures with inters or wets, will be similar as driving on ice. Could be the most exciting race of the year.
A race does not get exciting in such conditions. It just gets chaotic and mostly things happen which shouldn’t happen.
Your definition of exciting must be different to mine then, chaos is welcome in my book! Hamilton will be relishing the thought of that weather at this stage, I wouldn't bet against him.

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GPR-A duplicate2
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Joined: 07 Aug 2014, 09:00

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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LM10 wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 12:16
WaikeCU wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 12:09
Danlizzyman wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 11:33


I've been checking the forecast often as I'm attending the race this weekend, Saturday now forecast to be 10 degrees, that's crazy for August! If any sessions are run in the dry they'll struggle big time to get temp into the tyres.
8 degrees, coldest period in the night. 14 degrees highest during the day, thus still way too low. Rain expected throughout the weekend. I expect something similar to Hockenheim where one area of the track is still dry and other area are very wet. Low temperatures with inters or wets, will be similar as driving on ice. Could be the most exciting race of the year.
A race does not get exciting in such conditions. It just gets chaotic and mostly things happen which shouldn’t happen.
Why? If that is not good for the spectacle, then racing on simulators would be the only thing that would make sense, because in simulators, it never rains and neither you spend money for broken parts!

As much as the skill is required to drive a car on full speed and not overdo it in dry, to make the best possible lap, after having practiced over and over again throughout a weekend, would be different to controlling a car in an unpredictable environment. Only few can excel in both and that is who you should appreciate and such opportunities are rare in a calendar. So let's see who can excel this weekend and enjoy!

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godlameroso
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Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 21:27
Location: Miami FL

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Quick weather note, although the probability of rain is high, particularly Saturday, the predicted rainfall amount is low. In other words it won't come down in buckets, it'll be light. As a strategic call, I'd wait until the last moment possible to switch tires unless the whole track is getting nature's tinkle.
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WaikeCU
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Joined: 14 May 2014, 00:03

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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godlameroso wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 12:41
Quick weather note, although the probability of rain is high, particularly Saturday, the predicted rainfall amount is low. In other words it won't come down in buckets, it'll be light. As a strategic call, I'd wait until the last moment possible to switch tires unless the whole track is getting nature's tinkle.
That's the difficult part. This is the longest track on the calendar I think. Too late and you'll lose a lot of time struggling for grip on a damp,wet track. Too early and you'll cook those inters or wets on a dry surface.

cplchanb
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 19:13

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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lets see if we can reclaim the track record from the 919 evo!

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Sierra117
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Joined: 08 Oct 2017, 10:19
Location: New Zealand

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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cplchanb wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 15:24
lets see if we can reclaim the track record from the 919 evo!
Let's be fair and do it sans regulations like the EVO too :P
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Juzh
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Joined: 06 Oct 2012, 08:45

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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pole lap with telemetry
HQ: https://streamable.com/e2pbo


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Big Tea
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Joined: 24 Dec 2017, 20:57

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Sierra117 wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 15:34
cplchanb wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 15:24
lets see if we can reclaim the track record from the 919 evo!
Let's be fair and do it sans regulations like the EVO too :P
They could use unlimited 'letric and fuel flow also any weight saving etc in free practice, I hope someone does go for it :mrgreen:
When arguing with a fool, be sure the other person is not doing the same thing.

Just_a_fan
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Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 20:37

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Juzh wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 16:40
pole lap with telemetry
HQ: https://streamable.com/e2pbo

https://streamable.com/e2pbo
I didn't notice the slight lift in to Pouhon before. That seems to be the "interesting" corner these days, not Eau Rouge - Radillion.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

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MtthsMlw
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Joined: 12 Jul 2017, 18:38
Location: Germany

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Norris will replace Alonso in FP1.

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Juzh
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Joined: 06 Oct 2012, 08:45

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Just_a_fan wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 18:16
Juzh wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 16:40
pole lap with telemetry
HQ: https://streamable.com/e2pbo

https://streamable.com/e2pbo
I didn't notice the slight lift in to Pouhon before. That seems to be the "interesting" corner these days, not Eau Rouge - Radillion.
Agree. Eau rouge and radillion are flat even in very close slipstream.

Some other laps from 2017

Bottas first Q3 lap onboard (143.358) - 2017 Belgian GP


Magnussen Q1 lap onboard (145.535) - 2017 Belgian GP


Verstappen Q3 lap onboard (1:43.380) - 2017 Belgian GP

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falonso81
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Joined: 04 Sep 2013, 15:29

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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So, when Ferrari change their PU, Kimi will go from spec 1 to spec 3?

Just_a_fan
591
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 20:37

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Juzh wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 18:50
Just_a_fan wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 18:16
Juzh wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 16:40
pole lap with telemetry
HQ: https://streamable.com/e2pbo

https://streamable.com/e2pbo
I didn't notice the slight lift in to Pouhon before. That seems to be the "interesting" corner these days, not Eau Rouge - Radillion.
Agree. Eau rouge and radillion are flat even in very close slipstream.

Some other laps from 2017

Bottas first Q3 lap onboard (143.358) - 2017 Belgian GP
https://streamable.com/tav2g

Magnussen Q1 lap onboard (145.535) - 2017 Belgian GP
https://streamable.com/0th7e

Verstappen Q3 lap onboard (1:43.380) - 2017 Belgian GP
https://streamable.com/1v62j
Wow, Bottas physically braked in to Pouhon and had 277km/h min corner speed compared to Hamilton's 290km/h on the pole winning lap. That's a huge difference.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

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MtthsMlw
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Joined: 12 Jul 2017, 18:38
Location: Germany

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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falonso81 wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 19:46
So, when Ferrari change their PU, Kimi will go from spec 1 to spec 3?
Most likely, yes.

f1316
78
Joined: 22 Feb 2012, 18:36

Re: 2018 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Francorchamps, 24-26 August

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Big Tea wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 17:19
Sierra117 wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 15:34
cplchanb wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 15:24
lets see if we can reclaim the track record from the 919 evo!
Let's be fair and do it sans regulations like the EVO too :P
They could use unlimited 'letric and fuel flow also any weight saving etc in free practice, I hope someone does go for it :mrgreen:
They’ve only got to improve by 0.7 from last year to get a 1:41.7 - I think that would well within range in normal conditions.

That said, maybe it’ll be too cold/rainy.

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