2016 Belgian Grand Prix - Fri 26 – Sun 28 Aug 2016

[godlameroso]

I don't think there's much difference between the medium and soft tire over a stint around here. The super soft is completely useless as a race tire, probably good only for 5-6 laps, this one is a guaranteed 3 stopper. If there is some cloud cover come race day it may give the tires a few more laps, but it's still going to be a 3 stopper. SS to lap 6, S to lap 18 S to lap 31 and another S or M to finish. Starting in 11th may not be a bad strategy as you can start on softs and finish on super softs.

From what I can see, the S is good for 9-13 laps, the medium can maybe go a lap or two more. The difference is when the two compounds give the speed in the stint, the softs are obviously going to be faster at the start, but the medium may start coming into it's element around lap 8-10 where it will be somewhat faster than a soft tire of equal lap count. The undercut will work well here but it's a risky strategy because tire wear is an issue.

Aside from that, I'm kind of dissapointed, the cars are no faster over a long run than they were last year. Well Mclaren is like 3 seconds a lap faster than last year but still, for the most part.

[digitalrurouni]

I think part of the problem the cars are not quicker is the ridiculously high tire pressures Pirelli is recommending. Couple to that fact that the temps are quite higher this weekend and voila we have slower cars. Ugh I really hate these tires. I hate it when drivers are saying the tires are giving up the ghost mid corner and when they are saying you need to drive around it by doing a cool down lap after a hot lap. What the heck Pirelli!

Also is there supposed to be rain on Sunday? That might be most excellent actually if that indeed does happen!

[PlatinumZealot]

Dont you see the pattern throughout the year? The tyres look dire and free practice and come race day they last three quarters of tge race.

[digitalrurouni]

yeah it's cause they drive like grandmas during the race!

[godlameroso]

About a week ago I predicted there was a very small chance of rain, most likely it'll be cloudier than today and tomorrow.

[Manjhi]

Nico Hulkenberg's pace looks stronger here, may be .2 sec slower than the ferraris. But on the race day the ferrari just looks unbeatable, plus Williams is they are not hiding anything here then they are in serious trouble, FI is faster car on this track. Ferrai and Williams are struggling for grip here, FI, RB & Mercs looks more balanced car here.

[Redragon]

Thunder storms and a 30%-40% chances of rain during race time on sunday, so we might have a bit of spice added to the race, finger crossed

[Spoutnik]

I think Lewis will go for the two stops strategy with big flexibility on the Medium tires for him that's the tyre who have the least delta of performance especially on a track like this and on a Merc I think; nevertheless a 3 stop especially on a Red Bull can be more effective.

I think upfront it will be a big bittle because Nico don't have Lewis to set up his pace, the biggest threat is Red Bull and more precisely Ricciardo who is really hungry for his first victory of the season. But the reality is that if there is a safety car I thin Lewis can win it or at least finish above Rosberg

[godlameroso]

Thunder storms and a 30%-40% chances of rain during race time on sunday, so we might have a bit of spice added to the race, finger crossed

I'm seeing 60% chance during race time. I kind of knew this was going to happen, it's impossible for a week's worth of clear sky at Spa, something has to give.

[zac510]

I think Lewis will go for the two stops strategy with big flexibility on the Medium tires for him that's the tyre who have the least delta of performance especially on a track like this and on a Merc I think; nevertheless a 3 stop especially on a Red Bull can be more effective.

I suppose that Hamilton will sit out of Q2 and start from the back with the option of whichever tyre he likes, then without the compromised short first stint, a 2 stop might be more easily completed.

Sure, if he qualifies in the top 3 he might start ahead of Alonso/Ericsson after penalties are sorted out, but the choice of starting tyre would be more valuable than that, I think.

[Chuckjr]

Prediction:

-Vettel trumps Red Bull
-Lewis to crash out on error

Would be good for the championship, otherwise it is again a too easy WDC for Hamilton.

Stop kidding yourself. It's been too easy of a championship for now going 3 years.

Lewis is starting from last, and it's not an unreasonable bet for him to win it. That = near zero competition. Come on, how hard is it really to win every week from any position when your car is 1.5 - 2 second(s) a lap faster? Let's be honest--it's not. Lewis even has communicated he hardly ever pushes if my memory serves.

Even if Ros wins it through some wierd attrition and luck, he only had to beat one guy -- even that guy being Lewis, it still is an empty championship, imo. Beating one guy is just not substantive by any kind reasoning.

Senna isn't legendary because he won 3 championships, he's legendary because he won in cars that had no business winning. He pinned his car on pole when his car should never have been on pole. Schumacher did the same many times early on in that POS 1996-1997 Ferrari. That's why those guys made timeless marks.

Unfortunately, that kind of mark is not available to Lewis or Rosburg atm. Merc is their worst enemy in this sense because everyone knows they virtually cannot loose. Yea....great win every week big guy, but who TF cares? Winning in a car that should win hands down every week...good job doing your job. Oh btw, virtually every other racer on the grid can do the job you did today...Slow golf clap.

Let's hope 2017 brings some real competition and something to be really proud of for the WDC.

[Chuckjr]

Even Lewis agrees with me...

http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/07/lewis-ham ... t-4136945/

[ChrisDanger]

Source: https://twitter.com/AlbertFabrega/statu ... 3317465088

[Juzh]

The highest hamilton can possibly get in a normal race is 4th, behind rosberg and RBs. Depending on how much ferrari does or does not self-destruct it might even be lower. Then there's the force india.. I don't think he'll have such an easy job at all, though I still think merc do have a solid 0.8-1s advantage over RBs still.

[dans79]

Yea....great win every week big guy, but who TF cares?

Cry me a river.....

This is how the sport has always been, if you don't like it find something else to watch.