Category: Formula One

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F1 Drivers Stock Value

 

It is a phrase that is sometimes used in motor racing when teams or sponsors are weighing up their options on what particular driver or rider to sign for them. In fact, if you are a regular viewer of BT Sport and the MotoGP coverage then it is a phrase you will hear Neil Hodgson use quite often. The “Stock Value” of a racer.

We can all have opinions based on results and championships as to who the best performing racers are on the market, the current talk of Max Verstappen is a prime example. What I wanted to know was, if I was to gather all the figures and stats together from races and qualifying, add a few equations in such as their level of performance and the particular machinery they have at their disposal, what would their stock value be?

I sat down with somebody who loves their spreadsheets, formulas and mathematics and we set about compiling all the stats on the current Formula One drivers this season to see what their valuation was, no matter whether they had raced at one Grand Prix weekend or the entire season. The stats entered would then be calculated to find their “stock value”.

This is by no means intended to be 100% serious as we all know motor racing is about talent, wins and championships and the performance on the track, but the table below does make for interesting reading when you look at where certain drivers find themselves. Especially when you consider this is all about statistics and numbers. As the pundits say, a racers stock value will identify how good they are actually performing.

The interesting point I noticed when we were calculating stats is that using the formula we had was that Ricciardo, Rosberg and Vettel had a a better Qualifying stock value than Hamilton. At the other end of the scale, Wehrlein had a better Qualifying stock value than both Sauber drivers.

We took all the stats and all the performances. There is no set figure to compare it against but as an example if you took Mr Fictional Driver who won every Grand Prix so far, got every pole, every fastest lap and basically did everything right in the race and qualifying based on the formula we used, that stock value would be 50.36.

Here are your Formula One Drivers Stock Values.

Please don’t take it too seriously.

F1 DRIVERS STOCK VALUE

1. Stoffel Vandoorne – 29.40

2. Lewis Hamilton – 23.11

3. Nico Rosberg – 20.10

4. Daniel Ricciardo – 17.98

5. Sebastian Vettel – 14.25

6. Valtteri Bottas – 14.07

7. Romain Grosjean – 13.36

8. Kimi Raikkonen – 13.09

9. Max Verstappen – 13.01

10. Sergio Perez – 12.76

11. Kevin Magnussen – 11.31

12. Felipe Massa – 10.36

13. Fernando Alonso – 9.86

14. Esteban Ocon – 9.75

15. Carlos Sainz Jr. – 9.30

16. Daniil Kvyat – 9.05

17. Nico Hulkenberg – 8.57

18. Jenson Button – 7.86

19. Felipe Nasr – 7.17

20. Esteban Gutierrez – 6.29

21. Jolyon Palmer – 6.31

22. Marcus Ericsson – 5.96

23. Pascal Wehrlein – 4.26

24 – Rio Haryanto – 0.74

See You At The Chequered Flag

Neil Simmons

Twitter: @world_racing

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‘Damage Limitation’ in Monza for Red Bull

Red Bull’s mission in Monza was ‘damage limitation’ as the team from Milton Keynes struggled to deal with the straight line speed of Mercedes and Red Bull.

Daniel Ricciardo finished behind Kimi Raikkonen in fifth whilst Max Verstappen had to settle for seventh.

“You hope for a podium every race but realistically, coming here, we thought Ferrari would have an edge on us,” said the Australian.

The highlight of the race was the 26-year-old’s breath-taking manoeuvre on Valtteri Bottas:

“I was pretty close to Bottas in the middle of the race and knew I could race hard from that position. It was a really enjoyable overtake. I have a three-hour drive home tonight and didn’t want to spend the whole journey regretting not trying it.”

Max Verstappen struggled to get off the line but the teenager managed to end up in the points:” I went into anti-stall at the start. I don’t know what happened there so I have to analyse that. After that it was just very difficult, because you have to push harder on the tyres to get past people and that compromises your strategy, but in the end our last stint was very positive.”

Team Principal Christian Horner was satisfied with his drivers’ performance and entering the second half of the season second in the drivers’ championship: “After a difficult start for Max, who got an anti-stall, he recovered extremely well to finish seventh, and Daniel finished well in P5 after an outstanding passing move on Valtteri Bottas. To be leaving Europe 11 points ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship heading to circuits that hopefully suit our strengths more than here, means this has been a positive weekend.”

Dominic Rust @DominicRust

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Mercedes completes “pretty perfect” weekend in Monza

GP ITALIA F1/2016 – MONZA (ITALIA) 04/09/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

Nico Rosberg took his first Italian Grand Prix victory with a controlled display from the front, leading home a supreme Mercedes 1-2 after a poor start by Lewis Hamilton all but gifted him the race.

A third straight Monza win looked to be a formality for Hamilton after storming to pole position by half a second clear of Rosberg, but he was forced to watch his teammate streak off into the lead when a clutch issue off the line left him swallowed by the two Ferraris and Valtteri Bottas behind.

But compared with Hamilton’s other poor starts this season, recovery was a simple matter for the Briton – after breezing past Bottas under DRS on the main straight, Hamilton made his first and final stop for mediums and simply waited for the Ferraris ahead to see out their own two-stop strategy and drop behind him.

“It’s tough to take when you lose a race because of such a poor start,” Hamilton said. “From there it was just about managing the tyres in the first stint and I was delighted to get back up to second after the first stop.

“I’m happy with my performance this weekend but after such an incredible qualifying day yesterday it was disappointing to be unable to capitalise.”

Hamilton eventually took the chequered flag fifteen seconds adrift of Rosberg, who ran an unchallenged race at the front on his way to an “incredibly special” seventh win of the season.

“It means so much to win here at Monza,” said Rosberg. “The race went perfectly for me. Our car has been amazing this weekend and I extend a massive thank you to the whole team.”

Despite facing a renewed threat from Red Bull and Ferrari in Belgium, Mercedes appeared to be competing in a category above their rivals in what Toto Wolff called a “pretty perfect” weekend marred only by the team’s recurring clutch problems.

Paddy Lowe added: “Clearly we need to analyse what happened to Lewis at the start and do better next time [but] it’s fantastic to get the 1-2 here today and it’s been a sensational performance all weekend from the drivers, race team and team back at Brackley and Brixworth.”

James Matthews

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Haas F1 Italian GP Preview & Qualifying Recap

Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Italy.
Saturday 03 September 2016.
World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X4I6413

 

When Haas F1 Team debuted in the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship to become the first American Formula One team in 30 years, it did so with help from two Italian partners – Scuderia Ferrari and Dallara. It’s a collaboration that continues as Formula One comes into the final leg of its European stretch with the Italian Grand Prix Sunday at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Maranello-based Ferrari provides Haas F1 Team with its power unit, gearbox and overall technical support, and famed racecar builder Dallara has Haas F1 Team’s design staff embedded in its Parma headquarters.

Proof of the program’s success can be found in Haas F1 Team’s eighth-place standing in the constructor ranks, where after 13 races it is 22 points ahead of ninth-place Renault and only 17 points behind seventh-place Toro Rosso. The 28 points Haas F1 Team has earned so far this season are the most of any new team in this millennium. When Jaguar debuted in 2000 and when Toyota came on the scene in 2002, each entity managed only two point-paying finishes in their entire first seasons for a combined total of six points.

With Ferrari providing the horsepower and an upgrade package for Haas F1 Team, the outfit feels well-prepared for Formula One’s fastest track. The circuit’s long straights combined with teams’ low-drag configurations and new rear wing mean that speeds approach 360 kph (224 mph). Cornering speeds are relatively low and with the high-speed straights, tire wear is minimal.

After 2 optimistic practice sessions that saw Grosjean 6th quick and Gutiérrez 9th quick in FP1 and Grosjean 9th quick and Gutiérrez 14th quick in FP2 hopes were running high for both cars to make it into Q3 on Saturday.

A spin in FP3 for Grosjean forced a gearbox change for the #8 VF-16 which will result in a 5 grid-spot penalty for the Frenchman.

Qualifying Report:

Both Haas F1 drivers easily made it into Q2 as the new rear wing and engine updates appeared to be paying immediate dividends. Grosjean could only muster the 12th fastest lap in Q2 and was eliminated but Esteban Gutiérrez became the first Haas driver to make it to Q3 by turning the 7th quickest lap, splitting the 2 Red Bulls.

Gutiérrez acquitted himself well in Q3, even with the rear of his Haas VF-16 stepping out on him as he rounded the second Lesmo (turn four) during his qualifying lap. Gutiérrez ended the final round of knockout qualifying in 10th with a fast lap of 1:23.184 and Grosjean, after his 5 grid-spot penalty will start P17.

Lewis Hamilton claimed the pole with a blistering lap of 1:21.135, an average speed around 159MPH!

Pirelli is bringing three tire compounds to Monza:

P Zero White medium – less grip, less wear (used for long-race stints)

P Zero Yellow soft – more grip, medium wear (used for shorter-race stints and initial portion of qualifying)

P Zero Red supersoft – highest amount of grip, highest amount of wear (used for qualifying and select race situations)

Pirelli provides each driver 13 sets of dry tires for the race weekend. Of those 13 sets, drivers and their teams can choose the specifications of 10 of those sets from the three compounds Pirelli selected. The remaining three sets are defined by Pirelli – two mandatory tire specifications for the race (one set of P Zero White mediums and one set of P Zero Yellow softs) and one mandatory specification for Q3 (one set of P Zero Red supersofts).

Haas F1 Team’s drivers have selected the following amounts:

Grosjean: one set of P Zero White mediums, three sets of P Zero Yellow softs and nine sets of P Zero Red supersofts

Gutiérrez: two sets of P Zero White mediums, two sets of P Zero Yellow softs and nine sets of P Zero Red supersofts

Image courtesy of Haas F1 Media

EB 3-Sept

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Haas F1 Belgian GP Review

Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium.
Sunday 28 August 2016.
World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X4I2504

The Belgian Grand Prix Sunday at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps began well for Haas F1 Team, but a red-flag period scuttled the team’s strategy, leaving drivers Esteban Gutiérrez and Romain Grosjean 12th and 13th, respectively.

Grosjean got a great jump at the start avoiding the chaos of the first turn of the opening lap by diving low through La Source and jumping to fifth. He was passed by Force India’s Sergio Perez on lap four but quickly settled into sixth place. Gutiérrez also took advantage of the lap-one carnage, where four cars were eliminated outright, and advanced from 18th to ninth.

Kevin Magnussen brought the safety car on lap sixth with a MASSIVE shunt out of Eau Rouge allowing both drivers to duck into the pits and change tires, a strategy that was quickly negated a couple of laps later when the red flag was display to repair the tire barrier that was knocked out of place by Magnussen’s crash.

The red-flag stoppage allowed the drivers who didn’t pit a free pit stop, as they were able to change tires on pit lane. (When will this stupid rule change?) This was incredibly advantageous for them, as no track position was lost. The positions they gained by staying out prior to the red flag were kept and the positions Grosjean and Gutiérrez picked up on the racetrack were essentially lost.

Nonetheless, 34 laps remained once the red flag was lifted, which meant plenty of opportunity remained.

As an energy-recovery system issue affected Grosjean’s speed, Gutiérrez was able to leapfrog his teammate for 11th on lap 18.

At the race’s halfway mark, Gutiérrez was 11th and Grosjean was 12th. Gutiérrez pitted for a new set of Pirelli P Zero White medium tires on lap 22 and Grosjean followed on lap 23, also opting for White mediums.

With pit stops having cycled through by lap 26, Gutiérrez was 13th and Grosjean was 15th.

With seven laps remaining, Gutiérrez and Grosjean were running 12th and 13th, respectively, with a five-second margin between them. As the laps wound down, Grosjean was able to cut into Gutiérrez’s advantage, but time ran out and the checkered flag waved, leaving the duo 12th and 13th.

Thirteen rounds into the 21-race Formula One schedule, Haas F1 Team remains eighth in the constructor standings with 28 points.

Romain Grosjean – Driver #8
“Well, it was a very good start and a very good first lap. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any top speed in the beginning of the race. Something was not going quite right. It took a lot of time to solve that. My last stint wasn’t bad. I made up a lot of time on everyone, but the damage had already been done. We had a shot at a good finish today. On the positive side, I’m much happier with the car than I was recently, so that’s at least great. It’s just a shame we lost an opportunity for a good result.”

Esteban Gutiérrez – Driver #21
“It wasn’t the result we expected. We were fighting very hard to get into the top-10 and even though we didn’t manage to get there, I think we did well. The balance of the car felt good and we had reasonable pace. This is one of the things we need to keep up for the coming events because it’s what’s going to keep us consistent and help us get the most out of the car. I feel very grateful for the team. They did a great job and had some great pit stops. We lost some time on the safety car before the red flag, but sometimes it goes that way. We finished P12, so I’m not completely satisfied, but we will keep pushing.”

Guenther Steiner – Team Principal
“A very interesting and exciting race for the fans. For us, it was a bit up and down. We got away very well, but then with the red-flag scenario, we were pushed back and couldn’t get further to the front. In general, both drivers showed good speed. We had a small issue with Romain’s car with the energy recovery system, which the team fixed within a few laps and in the end we finished 12th and 13th. We would’ve liked to get in the points, but that didn’t work out. However, we showed we can do it if the circumstances are right. We still hope to get some more points this year and we look forward to Monza.”

Image courtesy of Haas F1 Media

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Jochen Rindt – The Saddest Crowning of All

September 5th, 1970. Monza, Italy. It is a Saturday, the day of the final practice for the Italian Grand Prix. The great Austrian driver, Jochen Rindt, is on the verge of winning the biggest prize in all of motor sport: The F1 World Championship. Including Monza, there are four rounds to go, the other races being in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. But Jochen has a 20-point lead over Jack Brabham, with just four rounds to go, and none of the other drivers, bar Jacky Ickx in the Ferrari, are on winning form. In his revolutionary Lotus 72, he has won four of the last five races, ironically having to retiring due to mechanical failure in his home race in Austria a couple of weeks before. Although Jackie Stewart is my absolute hero, I am looking forward to Rindt wrapping up the title, as I am a massive fan of this incredibly exiting driver (To give you an example of his driving style, think of blending Ronnie Peterson with Gilles Villeneuve, and you are somewhere near), and a win at Monza, which is expected, will bring him right to the edge of doing so. My Father is also a great fan of the Austrian. I am in the sitting room with the TV on, and it is “World of Sport”. Suddenly I hear the presenter, Dickie Davies, mention the name “Jochen Rindt”, and I fully expect it to be followed by the words “is in pole position”; but I am wrong. “Jochen Rindt dies at Monza.” I immediately rush out into the front garden, where dad is edging the lawn, and tell him the news. With equal suddenness, he throws the shears to one side and comes bolting into the house to hear the rest of the report…

I had seen Jochen race several times; indeed, the very first big race I had been taken to, the Formula Two Guards Trophy on Bank Holiday Monday in 1967, was won by the Austrian. In Formula Two, he had already proved himself to be king. In 1970, I had seen him race three times; at the Brands Race of Champions where he finished second, The Alcoa Britain International Trophy for Formula Two cars, in which he won his heat but retired in the final while well in the lead, and the British grand Prix back at Brands, where he won following a great scrap with Jack Brabham which was resolved when the Australian ran out of petrol on the last lap. In the past he had always been fast but unlucky in F1, but that began to change when he joined Lotus at the beginning of 1969, although often expressing concern about the strength and safety of Colin Chapman’s designs, having had two massive crashes within months of joining the team.

At Monza in 1970, that luck was to run out again…for the last time. Approaching the Parabolica curve Jochen’s car swerved to the left under braking and crashed into the barrier, the wedge-shaped nose of the car sliding along under the barrier until it reached a supporting post, hitting it at great speed and sending it into a violent spin, and car and driver finally came to a halt in the sand trap. For reasons best known to himself, Jochen did not like fastening the crotch strap on his safety harness, and, as a result, he had “submarined” down into the cockpit upon impact, receiving terrible chest and throat injuries from the harness buckle. He was pronounced dead soon after.
I write this article not to sadden you, but to remember this great driver on the weekend that Formula One returns to Monza, forty-six years later. Thankfully nobody did go on to beat Jochen’s points score that year, and thus, to this day, he remains the first – and only – posthumous world champion. We salute you, champ.

Max Scott @MaxFalconScott

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Monza! Magnifico!

Ⓒ Neil Simmons

The city of Monza sits approximately nine miles to the north-east of Milan. The region was conquered by the Romans and Milan was declared the capital of the Western Roman Empire. It stood as a colossus against the rest of the world, even though there were some quarters who did not believe in the iconic value of this region. Armies came but it would take something special to break this fortress.

Similarities in these thoughts can be made with the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, which now stands like that colossus, but no longer controlled by the Romans. This is a motor racing land now but it still has its enemies. Will the Monza empire crumble and fraction off into a new era? True Formula One fans, those who have grown with this beast of a circuit, stand like centurions, guarding the gates of this fortified, fuel injected dynasty. Surely this can’t be the end of one of the most iconic circuits in the world?

The red flag of Ferrari dominates the scenery as far as the eye can see, but the dominance is being tested by the growing barbarians that gather. The settlements of Mercedes and Red Bull gaze down at the Tifosi who vehemently stare back, their eyes stubbornly piercing with the Italian flair for all to see, waving arms and passionate cries. Ferrari will not secede and Monza will never surrender.

Nineteen victorious moments the red machine has cried in joy here in Northern Italy, they have been here before. The challenge of Auto Union and Alfa Romeo in the 1930s and 1940s, the Mercedes 1950s revolution. How did this proud army withstand the onslaught of Lotus (70s), McLaren (80s and 90s) and Williams (80s and 90s)? Because like Monza, they are proud.

The table at Monza is a stirring pot of passion and heroic ideology. At the head of the banquet sits the German conqueror Michael Schumacher with his glorious 5 wins in battle. Seated next to him a man who travelled across the Atlantic to tame the Monza beast four times during the eighties, Nelson Piquet. They sit proudly knowing that among all the challengers who ventured to Northern Italy, they are the best, the gladiators in this epic arena who tamed the beast and made it bow in defeat.

Before these two Monza greats are gathered are the men who tasted victory on three occasions. Tazio Nuolari looks on with Italian pride with his countryman Alberto Ascari. They were a decade (or just over) apart in their victories but they hold the legion flag as the Italians who have won the most times, defending their honour. Before Nelson Piquet, other warriors made the trek across the world to fight the Italian dragon; the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio who successfully tamed this track three times in the fifties. Another Brazilian master would see victory here as Rubens Barrichello marched on in 2002, 2004 and 2009. The Scandinavians were not going to be defeated by the Italian tarmac. Ronnie Peterson came and conquered Monza in the seventies, he remains the only driver from this part of Europe to do so. He sadly would also lose his life at this great circuit.

What about the proud British?

Stylish and with an air of arrogance, two men, sixty years apart have looked Monza in the eye and taken their mechanical sword and thrust it through the heart of Monza. Stirling Moss was triumphant here in 1956, 1957 and 1959 before Lewis Hamilton returned the British pride of treble wins in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The Germans too would see victory again. Sebastian Vettel winning on three occasions but back then he was not driving a red car. His reception will be so much more different now.

Only two men can join Nelson Piquet at the head of the banquet, Vettel and Hamilton. The Tifosi will be hoping a German can bring Italian victory, whereas the Brits are pinning their arrogant hopes on Hamilton.

A gladiatorial arena of long straights, tight chicanes and the sweeping parabolica. An air of mechanical war is sweeping across Europe this evening. The Italians are ready for battle again, but will they see a twentieth victory? Will the Tifosi bellow with a passionate roar that will shake the stands where they sit and sway the trees that line the old track banked on the outside of the new. That same old track that witnessed the challengers from yesteryear arrive full of hopes and dreams with one goal in mind. To conquer the beast of Monza.

This is the place where Jochen Rindt lost his life, the only racing driver in Formula One to have won the world title posthumously.

For those who believe that this circuit should be consigned to the vaults of history with the memories of battle that it has served up in the past, think again. This old girl is not ready to give up her charms and she certainly will not go down without a fight.

Monza Magnifico. The beast returns this weekend. The empire shall not crumble.

Photo Credit to Neil Simmons

Neil Simmons

2nd September 2016

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Ferrari: from Spa to Monza

GP BELGIO F1/2016 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (BELGIO) – 28/8/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

For Ferrari, the Belgian Grand Prix was yet another missed opportunity to mount the podium following Lewis Hamilton’s mammoth grid penalties this weekend.

They will take solace from the fact that this time it wasn’t a strategic call, or technical problems, but instead more run-ins with a Red Bull second driver.

After an excellent start both Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were clear of Max Verstappen, who had bogged down from second on the gird.

The Dutchman then tried an optimistic move to regain his positions at turn one, where Vettel had only left room for teammate Raikkonen.

The resulting collision left Vettel spun around, Raikkonen with front wing damage as well as a puncture while Verstappen had a damaged floor and front – and some red mist.

The 18-year-old was firm on Vettel, Raikkonen and Sergio Perez when they tried to overtake at the Les Combes chicane, although there was contact with the Finn before he made his trip to the run off.

That might have annoyed Raikkonen, but what happened a lap later angered the Iceman.

The 2007 World Champion had made his move to the inside along the fast Kemmel Straight, only to be forced to stamp on the brakes as the hot-headed Verstappen swerved in front to cover Raikkonen’s line, something he politely described as “ridiculous”.

Raikkonen was able to race to ninth following that wretched start, while Vettel climbed to sixth when a podium was more than on the cards.

For all the mishaps and spills that have dogged their season, Ferrari will be hoping to put all of that behind as they head into their home round as the Italian Grand Prix graces Monza for what could be the final time.

Contractual wrangling mean the Italian Grand Prix could move to Imola – former host of the San Marino Grand Prix, – next year.

Ferrari should be marginally quicker at the ultimate power track, with the TagHeuer-badged Renault engines in the back of the Red Bull still slightly behind the Ferrari and Mercedes Power Units.

For Vettel, the race has fond memories as he took his first ever win in Monza back in 2008 while driving a Toro Rosso, while Raikkonen has never won in Italy.

Ferrari will need a strong showing at Monza for a number of reasons and not only to keep their famous Tifosi onside.

They are now 22 points behind Red Bull and fast losing touch with second in the Constructors’ Championship in a season when their car ought to have delivered more.

If there is to be a revival for the Prancing Horse, Monza is the place to do it as time runs out in the 2016 World Championship.

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Title momentum up for grabs in high-stakes Italian Grand Prix

GP AUSTRIA F1/2016 – SPIELBERG (AUSTRIA) 03/07/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

Nico Rosberg may have put an end to Lewis Hamilton’s four-race win streak with a lights-to-flag victory in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, but his teammate’s recovery from the back of the grid to third prevented the German from retaking the lead in the championship.

That makes this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix a must-win event for Rosberg. Having lost out to Hamilton at favourite tracks like Monaco, Austria and Hockenheim, Rosberg needs to strike back at his teammate’s own hunting grounds if he is to keep his title challenge alive.

With traditional Hamilton tracks like Suzuka and Circuit of the Americas dominating the latter half of the season, it’s imperative that Rosberg builds on the momentum of Spa to take back control of the championship – just as he did at the start of the season.

“It’s great to add another classic circuit like Spa to the list of wins,” Rosberg said. “Hopefully that puts us on a good curve as we head to another legendary track in Monza.

“Last year obviously didn’t end so well for me there, so I’m hoping for a bit more luck and a little less fire this time… I can’t wait to make our Silver Arrow fly at Monza.”

But if Rosberg is heading to Monza emboldened by his performance in Belgium, so too will Lewis Hamilton, who also has the added psychological benefit of three recent Italian Grand Prix victories to his name.

“I had a perfect weekend there last year,” Hamilton said of his most recent Monza win. “Standing on that amazing podium, looking out over a sea of fans on the straight, has to be up there as one of the most incredible experiences a sportsman can have.

“It’s game on for me with the penalties out of the way and fresh engines ready to use. I can’t wait to get back out there.”

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Spa, a chaotic restart

GP BELGIO F1/2016 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (BELGIO) – 27/8/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

Formula 1 re-started after the summer break and everyone was hoping to watch an exciting race in Belgium. The spa is one of my favourite circuits and it didn’t let me down. From the first lap until the last one there were many battles, some of them forced collisions between the drivers some others were some easy overtakes from the faster drivers to the slower ones.

Rosberg took the pole position in Saturday’s qualification session, whilst his team-mate received a grid position penalty and started the race from the last row.

Max Verstappen started the race from the second position, followed by Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, while his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth.

Lights out..

GP BELGIO F1/2016 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (BELGIO) – 28/8/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

Lights out and the race starts, Rosberg has a good and clean start, but behind the two Ferraris collided with each other and Kimi Raikkonen damaged Max Verstappen’s front wing. Sebastian Vettel took the outside on the first corner, but he was very close to Kimi Raikkonen who didn’t have any space to turn because Max Verstappen dived in the corner from the grass and trapped Kimi Raikkonen between him and Sebastian Vettel.

Max Verstappen pitted and replaced his damaged front wing, with a fresh one, whilst both Ferraris lost places. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton started from the last row of the grid and they moved up to fourth and fifth place respectively. Both drivers started the race on the mediums, which allowed them to do a longer stint with the same set of tyres.

Shocking accident..

GP BELGIO F1/2016 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (BELGIO) – 28/8/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

On the eighth lap, Kevin Magnussen lost the control of his Renault, at the final part of the famous Eau Rouge, and crashed into the tyre wall. His Renault was destroyed, but Magnussen walked out of the car and he was transferred to the medical centre. Kevin Magnussen said on twitter that he went home with an ankle injury, but he will be fine for the Italian Grand Prix. The race was red-flagged after two laps were all the drivers were behind the Safety Car.

Re-start..

GP BELGIO F1/2016 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS (BELGIO) – 28/8/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

At the re-start, Daniel Ricciardo tried to remain close to the Nico Rosberg, but the German was unmistakable during the race and managed to increase the gap with the Australian. Lewis Hamilton passed Fernando Alonso and on lap 18 and managed to pass Nico Hulkenberg and moved up to the third position. A few laps later, Mercedes called into the pits the Brit champion and switched his tyres with a fresher set, this move gave an advantage to Hamilton over Ricciardo for the second position.

On lap 32, Lewis Hamilton made his final pit-stop, but he couldn’t catch and pass Daniel Ricciardo. Fernando Alonso, with his Honda-powered car, wasn’t able to defence his position from Perez and Vettel, hence he dropped seventh ahead of the two Williams and Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn suffered a puncture after the collision with Verstappen and Vettel, and during his pit-stop fires created at the body of his Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen was frustrated and angry with Max Verstappen, mainly because of Max’s defensive moves when Kimi tried to pass him on the straight.

The Finn said: “If I had not braked, we would have had a massive accident. It will happen sooner or later if this doesn’t change. I am fine with good, hard racing but that is not correct.”

Next race will take place in Monza, where the Tifosi will cheer for the favourite team.

Victor Archakis @FP_Passion

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