2018 Belgian Grand Prix thread

[Rob Dylan]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/138145/norris-gets-mclaren-fp1-outing-at-spa

So F1's back this weekend (yay), and in the wake of Fernando Alonso's retirement sabbatical, a certain British junior driver named Lando Norris is getting a FP1 slot for Spa. Cue silly season rumours...

[dr-baker]

So McLaren will chuck Norris a chance to impress for a seat next year...

[WeirdKerr]

oh and that's radillon actually....

[tommykl]

oh and that's an unfunny meme created and propagated by unfunny people actually....

There, fixed that for you

[Londoner]

oh and that's an unfunny meme created and propagated by unfunny people actually....

There, fixed that for you

Can we insta-ban anyone posting WTF1 content on this forum? If any website needs exterminating it's that one.

[good_Ralf]

Can we insta-ban anyone posting WTF1 content on this forum? If any website needs exterminating it's that one.

A few years ago when WTF1 was a niche site, it was genuinely funny, and even today, some of the articles are still rather good reads, but I guess now that it has blown up, this is inevitably what you'll get.

I know you were being a touch sarcastic in your post, but I wouldn't get rid of WTF1, as it's a site that tries to make light fun out of a sport which some people consider to be a bit dull, uncharismatic and humourless itself, even if WTF1's jokes/memes can often be a bit unoriginal and lazy. But ultimately GPRejects > WTF1, why aren't our viewing figures as high?!

EDIT: It's reported that Bottas will take on a new engine/PU components and start at the back, while Hamilton and Vettel also get new engines but it won't affect their grid position (surprise surprise). If Kimi has to change anything, he'll also get a grid drop.

[Rob Dylan]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/138212/bottas-set-to-start-belgian-gp-at-the-back

Bottas starting from the back. Mercedes upgrading engines, and Red Bull talking about top gains.

[AdrianBelmonte_]

There you go, your ROTR in the shape of Crofty

https://twitter.com/mjs4320/status/1032979444712058880

[dr-baker]

Both Racing Points in the top 10 in qualifying. Not bad for a debutant team, especially entering midseason!

EDIT: second row!

[Paul Hayes]

Quite the turn-up for Force India given the week they've had! Of course they've always done well on low-downforce tracks and had their best ever result here, but still... Let's just hope they don't throw it away by binning it into each other tomorrow!

[Rob Dylan]

That's absolutely likely to be the best qualifying position for a debutant team since Brawn GP! Is Lawrence Stroll the hero F1 needs right now?

[mario]

Quite the turn-up for Force India given the week they've had! Of course they've always done well on low-downforce tracks and had their best ever result here, but still... Let's just hope they don't throw it away by binning it into each other tomorrow!

Especially since, to begin with, it looked like it was all going wrong when the track conditions worsened and they stayed on slicks - had Perez not gotten away with his slide, it might have looked very different.

They've managed to make the most of it today, which should hopefully put them in a decent position for tomorrow - I imagine that both drivers will be under especially strict instructions not to do anything silly tomorrow. Realistically, I expect that, unless something else happens behind them, the two Red Bull's and Kimi will get past them, but it does at least give them a decent chance of staving off the two Haas cars.

[Paul Hayes]

That's absolutely likely to be the best qualifying position for a debutant team since Brawn GP! Is Lawrence Stroll the hero F1 needs right now?

It's not a new team (yet) though it it? So doesn't count. Just a new sponsor, at the moment!

EDIT: Seems I was wrong, Kravitz has just mentioned on the Sky commentary that they are officially a new team... I clearly haven't been paying enough attention!

[Londoner]

More like "Nico Chokenberg", amirite? Looked like he missed his braking point by a million miles.

[Rob Dylan]

I don't dislike the guy, but that race made me think that Stoffel Vandoorne's career as a McLaren driver is over. He sat in last for basically the entire race, except for Ricciardo who was 2 laps down. Reject of the Race material almost.

[Nessafox]

I don't dislike the guy, but that race made me think that Stoffel Vandoorne's career as a McLaren driver is over. He sat in last for basically the entire race, except for Ricciardo who was 2 laps down. Reject of the Race material almost.

The commentators were somehow convinced he'll move to Sauber though... But in all honesty i don't see Sauber dumping Ericsson, especially not since he also scares his share of points. So unless Honda wants Stoffel, it's over. Maybe indycars