25/08/2013
NEWS STORY
Whatever else happens today, Lewis Hamilton can leave Spa tonight knowing that on Saturday afternoon he did something pretty special.
Against all odds, having only just made it into Q3, the Mercedes driver took pole, leaving Paul di Resta heartbroken and Sebastian Vettel open-mouthed. Indeed, so surprised were Hamilton and his team at their achievement that the TV commentators were forced to apologise for the bad language. In reality, Hamilton was as surprised by his lap as Vettel and company.
Whether he can pull something equally special out of the hat today remains to be seen however, he can at least head back to Roscoe safe in the knowledge that on Saturday afternoon he left much of the paddock speechless.
Despite being caught off-guard by Hamilton's superhuman effort, surely Vettel and Mark Webber won't be heading into this afternoon's race feeling too despondent. Not like Fernando Alonso, who, having shown his car's improved pace in almost every session, was - like so many others - caught out by the madness that was qualifying and consequently starts from the fifth row.
In all honesty, it would be difficult to analyse qualifying too deeply for the fact is that the conditions and the speed with which they changed saw even the most experienced teams and their strategists masking wrong calls. In those final moments, as it became clear that Paul di Resta had lost the coveted front row slot nobody could have predicted how it was all going to play out.
Last night saw the mother of all storms with further rain throughout the night and while the track was still damp for this morning's GP3 and GP2 events the threatened rain never materialised. However, as we know from experience things can change very quickly here.
Tyre options are hard (prime) and medium (option), while there are two DRS zones, the first on the short pit straight and the second on the Kemmel Straight leading up the hill to Les Combes. Detection points are before the chicane and the other on the run down to Eau Rouge.
In terms of strategy, under normal circumstances, one or two stops are possible. A two-stop strategy is faster than a one-stop by three seconds, but only over the last five laps. So if there's a safety car period for more than three to four laps, teams could revert to a one-stopper. A two-stop strategy could be: start on the medium tyre, switch to medium again on lap 13 and hard on lap 25. Alternatively, start on the medium tyre, stop on lap 19 and then run to the finish on the hard.
Last year you'll remember that Hamilton's race, along with Alonso's came to a dramatic end at the first corner courtesy of Romain Grosjean, thereby earning the hot-headed Frenchman a one-race ban. It is to be hoped that there will be no such silliness today, however, with such a mixed up grid - Van der Garde and the Marussias starting ahead of the Williams and Toro Rossos - anything could happen. And then there's Alonso starting from ninth.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out, each performing a practice start just after the pitlane exit on the hill running down to Eau rouge.
Eyes look to the heavens but it is not the weather that gives cause for concern but a group of Greenpeace people who a situated on top of the main grandstand. They arrived there on by parachute. Any problems in terms of disruption could be damaging for the future of the race.
Elsewhere, Giedo Van der Garde reveals that according to Caterham's weather technology there is a 60 percent chance of rain around an hour into the race.
As the protestors prepare to abseil down the front of the stand one cannot help but fear for their safety... the police here are not known for their sensitivity.
Even worse than the threat of protests, we are force to sit through a 'rock version' of the Belgian national anthem. (Us neither).
Moments before the start of the warm up lap we receive a press release from Greenpeace stating that the protest is against "Shell's Arctic drilling plans".
All are on primes except for Bianchi, Chilton, Ricciardo and Gutierrez.
They're away. Hamilton leads into La Source with strong starts from Rosberg and Button. No problems at La Source but heading up the Kemmel Straight Vettel leaves Hamilton for dead. A great start from Alonso also who is up to fifth. A poor start from Webber who ran wide at La Source.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Button, Alonso, Webber, di Resta, Hulkenberg, Grosjean and Raikkonen.
Alonso hounds Button but just doesn't have the grunt while Grosjean battles with Raikkonen for ninth, the Lotus duo having lost out at the start. Maldonado passes Van der Garde for fifteenth as Raikkonen sweeps by his teammate to set off after Hulkenberg.
After 2 laps, Vettel, who has a 2.8s lead, is told to look after his tyres. Rosberg is under pressure from Button who has Alonso all over him. Indeed there is a train of cars behind the second Mercedes. Massa complains that he has no KERS.
Alonso nails Button on the Kemmel Straight, as teammate Massa is under pressure from Sutil.
Replay shows a dreadful start from di Resta, while Webber lost out to Alonso and Raikkonen clashed with Massa. It wouldn't be Spa without such fun and games.
Having established a 1.7s gap to di Resta, Webber goes quickest in S2 as he makes short work of Button, the McLaren driver unable to resist the Red Bull.
With Webber in pursuit, Alonso despatches Rosberg on the run to Les Combes, his move applauded by the Ferrari mechanics.
Worryingly there is a lot of brake dust coming from the Lotus of Raikkonen, the Finn hounding Hulkenberg. Problems also for teammate Grosjean who is unable to hold off Perez on the run up the hill, in his frustration the Frenchman overdoes it at Les Combes.
As Raikkonen battles Hulkenberg the front brakes on the Lotus are clearly glowing. Into Les Combes the Iceman nails the Sauber driver, the Lotus right up the exhaust pipe of the German before making his move.
At the end of lap 9, Hulkenberg, Massa and Pic all pit, the Brazilian seemingly released unsafely into the path of the Sauber. Elsewhere, the stewards are investigating the Perez/Grosjean incident.
Next time around, as Pic retires, di Resta and Vergne both pit.
Perez is handed a drive-through for forcing Grosjean off track, which seems a little unfair.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 11, as do Sutil and Maldonado. The Mercedes driver rejoins in ninth, behind Grosjean.
As Massa posts a new fastest lap (54.244), now down in fifteenth, Rosberg pits. The German rejoins in ninth behind his teammate who had passed Grosjean but then lost the position again.
Another outburst from Raikkonen, who, on being given some information, shouts: "Ib don't understand anything because you speak too early".
Alonso, Webber and Perez all pit at the end of lap 13 as Hamilton passes Grosjean. The Ferrari driver emerging behind the battling Mercedes and Lotus.
Vettel finally stops on lap 14, the German fitting another set of options. Meanwhile, Hamilton, who loses out to Alonso at La Source, re-takes the position only to lose it again to a seemingly faster Ferrari.
Another man on a mission is Vettel, who goes around the outside of (race leader) Button at the chicane to re-take the lead after just one lap. The McLaren driver, like Grosjean, has yet to stop. Rosberg passes Grosjean for fifth and Massa takes ninth from Gutierrez.
A typically brave move by Raikkonen on di Resta at the chicane as the Finn takes twelfth, the Scot's defence is impeccable.
As Webber sweeps by Grosjean, Raikkonen is all over Perez.
At the end of lap 17, Button finally pits, leaving Grosjean, and Gutierrez as the only drivers still to stop. The McLaren driver changes to primes which means he could be on a one-stopper.
Heading down the hill to Eau Rouge, Perez and the Force Indias are three abreast, as Raikkonen snatches ninth from Gutierrez.
With Perez out of the way, having served his drive-through, the Force India duo set about the Saubers, making quick work of Hulkenberg and then Gutierrez, who subsequently pits.
After 20 laps, it's: Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Webber, Grosjean, Button, Massa, Raikkonen and Sutil. Di Resta is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Vergne, Maldonado, Ricciardo, Perez, Gutierrez, Bottas, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton. Pic is the only retirement.
"I can't get any more from this car," moans Hamilton. "Copy Lewis," is the miserable response. The Mercedes driver is currently third, albeit losing ground to Alonso hand over fist.
Having been passed by Button, Grosjean finally pits. Elsewhere, teammate Raikkonen is not having it all his own way as he hunts down Massa, the Ferrari is simply too quick.
Hulkenberg and Vergne both pit on lap 24, as Raikkonen continues his pursuit of Massa. He seems to have nailed the Ferrari at the chicane but overcooks it and has to take to the escape road. When he heads straight into the pitlane it suggests his brakes have finally given up the ghost. Biter disappointment for the Finn (and the editor's wife... "that should never have happen to Kimi, it's disgraceful!").
Hamilton, Massa and Sutil all pit at the end of lap 26, as the replay proves that it was brake failure that saw Raikkonen eliminated. His retirement brings his run of 38 finishes to an end.
It's all over for di Resta as he clashes with Maldonado at the chicane, the pair involved in a four-way battle with Sutil and Gutierrez. While the Scot is out of the spot, Maldonado is able to continue, albeit after a pit stop. Ironically, it was clashing with Sutil that caused Maldonado to spin into the path of di Resta.
Alonso pits from second, rejoining in third just ahead of Button. Vettel leads Webber. Gutierrez and Perez also pit.
As Massa goes quickest (52.404), Webber pits, the Australian rejoining in sixth. Alonso, now second again, is 26.4s down on the leader. Next time around the German stops, emerging 6.380s ahead of Alonso. Bianchi and Chilton also pit.
Behind the leaders, attention now switches to the battle for third, Button leading Hamilton, Rosberg and Webber.
On lap 31, Webber posts a new fastest lap (51.397), as Vettel is warned that there could yet be rain before the end of the race. Moments later, told that the team might be reverting to "Plan A", Button calmly responds; "I'm up for that".
On fresh rubber, Vettel posts 50.885, almost half-a-second than the previous best.
Chilton is handed a drive-through for ignoring blue flags. As the English youngster heads to the pits to serve his penalty, Ricciardo pits.
With 10 laps remaining, it's: Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Rosberg, Webber, Grosjean, Massa, Perez and Sutil.
Moments later Button pits, taking on another set of primes. He rejoins in sixth.
A bit of naughtiness as Vergne and Hulkenberg battle for eleventh. Elsewhere, Sutil sweeps past Perez to take ninth.
Webber closes right in on Rosberg, both Mercedes drivers now struggling. Even with DRS however, the Australian is unable to make anything stick.
Maldonado is handed a 10-second stop-go penalty for causing a collision - not that it will help di Resta.
On fresh rubber, Button posts a new fastest lap (50.823) as he closes to within 11.9s of Webber. The Australian however, is fully focussed on the Mercedes duo ahead.
After 40 laps, as Gutierrez is handed a penalty for an earlier incident - leaving the track and gaining an advantage - Vettel leads Alonso by 13s with Hamilton a further 12.1s behind. Rosberg is 2.4s behind his teammate and 1.5s ahead of Webber. Button is now 9.7s down on the Australian.
Vettel posts a new fastest lap (50.756) as Massa finally nails Grosjean to take seventh.
"Stay within the car and within yourself," Vettel is told. Basically a warning not to try any late silliness such as posting fastest laps.
Ricciardo passes Perez on the Kemmel Straight to take the final point.
"Bring it home, stay away from the kerbs," Vettel is told as he begins his final lap.
He keeps away from the kerbs, he brings it home and pumps the air with his first as he takes the flag. Alonso takes second almost 17s later, with Hamilton completing the podium.
Rosberg is fourth, ahead of Webber, Button, Massa, Grosjean, Sutil and Maldonado.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Vergne, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez, Bottas, Van der Garde, Maldonado, Bianchi and Chilton.
Throughout the summer break, based mainly on Hamilton's superb win in Hungary, many were claiming that the second half of the season might not go Vettel's way. Though he lost out yesterday, today he has proved that the opposition is going to have to raise its game just a little bit higher.
They say that blondes have more fun and today Seb didn't need to break sweat.
Not the best of races we've witnessed here, in fact we really needed the weather gods to make an appearance. However, that shouldn't distract from a faultless performance from the four-time champ.