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| Photo: RBR |
It was all over in less than one lap. Watch how much more grip the Vettel has available into the bottom of the Eur Rouge Radillon complex, despite a good start by Hamilton, VEttel can get right under him up the hill and use the tow to just blow by him as if he had DRS activated. Amazing. From then on it just seemed like the only difficulty was for the Red Bull pit wall to keep Seb from doing harm to himself as he did not have to pass anyone else for the whole race.
Behind, a good race for Alonso, storming from 9th on the grid to second on the podium. The obvious question is what would have happened if he had not made the mistake in Q3 and could have been there close to Vettel on lap one?
His battle with Hamilton at the braking zone at Les Combes was just an epic moment, pure talent, beating one of the best brakers in all of racing.
But Vettel is now 46 points ahead, that's alms two DNF's worth of cushion with a potential maximum of 200 points still in play over the next 8 races. Not looking great for Fernando's quest.
Hamilton was hoping for rain, his Mercedes seems to have solved the tire wear issues but perhaps at the expense of speed.
Disappointment for Raikkonen, who had to retire for severe lack of brakes!
Honorable mention to Pastor Maldonado for one of the dumbest moves I've seen in a long time. How long is this guy's state sponsored wallet going to keep him in F1?
The Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; 44 laps; 308.052km; Weather: Dry. Classified: Pos Driver Team 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 2. Alonso Ferrari 3. Hamilton Mercedes 4. Rosberg Mercedes 5. Webber Red Bull-Renault 6. Button McLaren-Mercedes 7. Massa Ferrari 8. Grosjean Lotus-Renault 9. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 10. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 11. Perez McLaren-Mercedes 12. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 13. Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 14. Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 15. Bottas Williams-Renault 16. van der Garde Caterham-Renault 17. Maldonado Williams-Renault 18. Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 19. Chilton Marussia-Cosworth Fastest lap: Not classified/retirements: Driver Team Di Resta Force India-Mercedes Raikkonen Lotus-Renault Pic Caterham-Renault World Championship standings, round 11: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Vettel 197 1. Red Bull-Renault 312 2. Alonso 151 2. Mercedes 235 3. Hamilton 139 3. Ferrari 218 4. Raikkonen 134 4. Lotus-Renault 187 5. Webber 115 5. McLaren-Mercedes 65 6. Rosberg 96 6. Force India-Mercedes 61 7. Massa 67 7. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 25 8. Grosjean 53 8. Sauber-Ferrari 7 9. Button 47 9. Williams-Renault 1 10. Di Resta 36 11. Sutil 25 12. Perez 18 13. Vergne 13 14. Ricciardo 12 15. Hulkenberg 7 16. Maldonado 1
(table: Autosport)
As a fan of F1 since 2007 I missed the Ferrari Schumacher years.I stopped watching NASCAR long before 48 started winning championships. I watch Moto GP when I catch a race. However, I am not going to rant about Vettel and how he is ruining my love of the sport. I will say it is hard to watch great battles and driving come short of the championship and to see the exit of respected drivers for sponsored incompetence. Poor Paul.
ReplyDeleteMaldonado will be there with Venezuela's money, crashing and being stupid, while in his country people can't find toilet paper in the market.
ReplyDeleteA country plenty of oil, with extremely corrupt government, and struggling people.
And once more he says it wasn't his fault. It was Sutil. The first touch made him loose control of the steering and veer right into Di Resta... Poor Pastor... Always a victim...
ReplyDeleteDittos! Put Darth in any other car and it would be a fun series to watch.
ReplyDeleteDid you forget Maldonado wining GP2? The way he did it?. Yes I remember his mistakes in Australia and Valencia which costed a place in the podium last year, and others this year. Who has the right to call him stupid ? How many books do you read per year ? We venezuelans hope better times for him and Williams. Proud to have Maldonado and many others as World Champions such as Carrera Cup, GT , LMP2, Ferrari Challenge and a government that supports 65 pilots Worldwide. Dont blame pilots for government mistakes or behavior. Gracias.
ReplyDelete