2012 Belgian Grand Prix

[mister dog]

Or the TV camera view, as put on Instagram by Fernando -

After this FIA is discussing closed cockpits for 2014 again. Hope they go for the jet fighter glass coup like on the X2010, because they are also thinking about a form of protective rollbar just over the driver's head which would look ugly as hell (and this year's efforts with the broken noses look ugly already...).

 

[dhandeh]

After this FIA is discussing closed cockpits for 2014 again. Hope they go for the jet fighter glass coup like on the X2010, because they are also thinking about a form of protective rollbar just over the driver's head which would look ugly as hell (and this year's efforts with the broken noses look ugly already...).

It's been ongoing for a while, not just because of yesterday.

As for the roll hoop...

If it saves someone's life, who cares what it looks like.

 

[ghskilla]

Agreed. If it saves a life, then it's good enough. Only once they become used to the concept then they could start thinking of looks.

 

[Ardius]

Can't claim credit for this, but an interesting analysis of Kamui's first corner:
http://imgur.com/a/ETPea

 

[mister dog]

Agreed. If it saves a life, then it's good enough. Only once they become used to the concept then they could start thinking of looks.

I don't fully agree, remember the knights that drove those sigars in the 60's on circuits without barriers, just trees, and no seatbelts neither (more chance to survive by being thrown clear of the car).

A racecar needs to be beautiful, not look like something that came out of a windtunnels unwhiped butt. So i prefer they look into combining safety with something that looks estetical.

The technology is there for sure.

 

[ghskilla]

I don't fully agree, remember the knights that drove those sigars in the 60's on circuits without barriers, just trees, and no seatbelts neither (more chance to survive by being thrown clear of the car).

A racecar needs to be beautiful, not look like something that came out of a windtunnels unwhiped butt. So i prefer they look into combining safety with something that looks estetical.

The technology is there for sure.

I agree, but would you prefer looks over the risk of someone being injured or killed? Safety should be optimal, and after that is done they should fix the looks.

Can't claim credit for this, but an interesting analysis of Kamui's first corner:
http://imgur.com/a/ETPea

You can analyze it better with this:

 

[dhandeh]

I don't fully agree, remember the knights that drove those sigars in the 60's on circuits without barriers, just trees, and no seatbelts neither (more chance to survive by being thrown clear of the car)...

I have heard some absolute rubbish in my time, but this is priceless.

Just look at the facts, between 1958 and 1970, during your glory years, where drivers got thrown clear, dusted themselves down and enjoyed a brandy, they were averaging more than 1 death a year.

Ayrton Senna Brazil May 1, 1994 San Marino GP
Roland Ratzenberger Austria April 30, 1994 San Marino GP(q)
Ricardo Paletti Italy June 13, 1982 Canadian GP
Gilles Villeneuve Canada May 8, 1982 Belgian GP (q)
Ronnie Peterson Sweden Sept. 10, 1978 Italian GP
Tom Pryce Britain May 5, 1977 South African GP
Mark Donahue United States Aug. 19, 1975 Austrian GP (q)
Helmuth Koinigg Austria October 6, 1974 U.S. GP
Francois Cevert France October 7, 1973 U.S. GP (q)
Roger Williamson Britain July 29, 1973 Dutch GP
Jochen Rindt Austria Sept. 5, 1970 Italian GP (q)
Piers Courage Britain June 7, 1970 Dutch GP
Gerhard Mitter West-Germany August 2, 1969 German GP (q)
Jo Schlesser France July 7, 1968 French GP
Lorenzo Bandini Italy May 10, 1967 Monaco GP
John Taylor Britain August 7, 1966 German GP
Carel Godin de Beaufort Netherlands August 2 1964 German GP (q)
Wolfgang Von Trips West-Germany Sept. 10, 1961 Italian GP
Chris Bristow Britain June 19, 1960 Belgian GP
Alan Stacey Britain June 19, 1960 Belgian GP
Stuart Lewis-Evans Britain Sept. 19, 1958 Moroccan GP
Peter Collins Britain August 3, 1958 German GP
Luigi Musso Italy July 6, 1958 French GP
Onofre Marimon Argentina July 31, 1954 German GP (q)

 

[jcm]

Can't claim credit for this, but an interesting analysis of Kamui's first corner:
http://imgur.com/a/ETPea

Kamui is brilliant! It's really a shame that he didn't score here, I think he would've gotten a podium, and been able to maybe fight for the win.

It's really amazing how much carnage a small mistake can cause when there are so many cars around you. I know a lot of people talk about adding cockpit covers / roll hoops, but that accident could've been avoided if there was more track instead of grass. I'm not saying that I want to change the circuits to meet safety standards, I'm just saying that probably would've stopped that specific accident. I wouldn't be too surprised if the track was extended out a bit there for next year, but part of me hopes that no further action is taken from this incident.

 

[ghskilla]

Kamui is brilliant! It's really a shame that he didn't score here, I think he would've gotten a podium, and been able to maybe fight for the win.

It's really amazing how much carnage a small mistake can cause when there are so many cars around you. I know a lot of people talk about adding cockpit covers / roll hoops, but that accident could've been avoided if there was more track instead of grass. I'm not saying that I want to change the circuits to meet safety standards, I'm just saying that probably would've stopped that specific accident. I wouldn't be too surprised if the track was extended out a bit there for next year, but part of me hopes that no further action is taken from this incident.

I think we're over-exaggerating this a bit. Even though Kamui is a professional racing driver, I don't think he was thinking, "Steer clear of the carnage, Alonso's there, better let go of the wheel, he's gone, steer clear of Hamilton's car, good, I made it."

It was probably more, "Alright, turn 1, look in the mir-WOAH! Steer away, steer away! Oh GOD hands off the wheel, hands off the wheel! Oh... 🤬. What the hell was that..." He was probably really shaken up after that incident.

 

[jcm]

^I don't know man, despite massive damage on his side-pod, he didn't even get lapped! Couldn't have been too shaken. I think he's now my favourite driver too!

 

[mister dog]

I have heard some absolute rubbish in my time, but this is priceless.

Just look at the facts, between 1958 and 1970, during your glory years, where drivers got thrown clear, dusted themselves down and enjoyed a brandy, they were averaging more than 1 death a year.

Ayrton Senna Brazil May 1, 1994 San Marino GP
Roland Ratzenberger Austria April 30, 1994 San Marino GP(q)
Ricardo Paletti Italy June 13, 1982 Canadian GP
Gilles Villeneuve Canada May 8, 1982 Belgian GP (q)
Ronnie Peterson Sweden Sept. 10, 1978 Italian GP
Tom Pryce Britain May 5, 1977 South African GP
Mark Donahue United States Aug. 19, 1975 Austrian GP (q)
Helmuth Koinigg Austria October 6, 1974 U.S. GP
Francois Cevert France October 7, 1973 U.S. GP (q)
Roger Williamson Britain July 29, 1973 Dutch GP
Jochen Rindt Austria Sept. 5, 1970 Italian GP (q)
Piers Courage Britain June 7, 1970 Dutch GP
Gerhard Mitter West-Germany August 2, 1969 German GP (q)
Jo Schlesser France July 7, 1968 French GP
Lorenzo Bandini Italy May 10, 1967 Monaco GP
John Taylor Britain August 7, 1966 German GP
Carel Godin de Beaufort Netherlands August 2 1964 German GP (q)
Wolfgang Von Trips West-Germany Sept. 10, 1961 Italian GP
Chris Bristow Britain June 19, 1960 Belgian GP
Alan Stacey Britain June 19, 1960 Belgian GP
Stuart Lewis-Evans Britain Sept. 19, 1958 Moroccan GP
Peter Collins Britain August 3, 1958 German GP
Luigi Musso Italy July 6, 1958 French GP
Onofre Marimon Argentina July 31, 1954 German GP (q)

I agree, but would you prefer looks over the risk of someone being injured or killed? Safety should be optimal, and after that is done they should fix the looks.]

It comes with the sport sadly, it's just about making the comparison with what those guys tought when they stepped into a metal can and drove off at 300k's an hour, with how safe it actually is nowadays.

Besides; it's not gonna happen (the glass coupe etcetera), until 2014 at the earliest, enough time to figure out something that is safe but looks good on the car also, instead of putting funny rollbars over their heads in panic all of a sudden.

 

[Blaze_409]

In retrospect had Vettel's alternator not failed in in Valencia then Vettel would be leading the championship. The way the points are makes it seem like his season/pace has not been as good but the guy has been almost top 5 everywhere.

 

[F1 fan]

Yup. I see the rest of the season playing out as a battle between Vettel and Alonso.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Yup. I see the rest of the season playing out as a battle between Vettel and Alonso.

*listens to German national anthem* No, I don't pick favourites, what ever do you mean?

 

[F1 fan]

Actually, it saddens me that there isn't a competitive Brazilian. Now that is a national anthem. Too bad Massa's performing so badly, because the Italian national anthem is my second favourite.

 

[MarcoM]

Some pics and a vid from last Sunday. It was cold in the morning and we got quite a sunburn in the afternoon.

My mate

And I

]

 

[nissman]

Nice pics mate! 👍

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Lotus has named Jerome d'Ambrosio as Romain Grosjean's replacement.

Seeing as how it is now the Tuesday before the race, perhaps it is time to re-open the Italian Grand Prix thread.

 

[MarcoM]

Nice pics mate! 👍

tnx, could have been better, but during an F1 weekend most areas are nogo at Spa.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Lotus has named Jerome d'Ambrosio as Romain Grosjean's replacement.

Seeing as how it is now the Tuesday before the race, perhaps it is time to re-open the Italian Grand Prix thread.

Yes please.


Also, cue discussion, of whether or not Jerome D'Ambrosio's ready for Lotus, or not. Was it the Virgin keeping him from winning before? No?

 

[nissman]

Seeing as how it is now the Tuesday before the race, perhaps it is time to re-open the Italian Grand Prix thread.

Waiting for that aswell.

 

[Tom]

Lotus has named Jerome d'Ambrosio as Romain Grosjean's replacement.

Seeing as how it is now the Tuesday before the race, perhaps it is time to re-open the Italian Grand Prix thread.

Nothing has been officially announced by Lotus so until they have, don't give out false information. I mean according to this, Alguersuari could replace Grosjean so let's just wait for an official press statement from Lotus first.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

F1 Fanatic is a much better source than Crash. Especially considering that F1 Fanatic got it directly from Lotus.

Do you think it's okay in F1 to use your car as a weapon (regarding Maldon-Oh-no), if someones made you angry?

I didn't say it's okay. I said I didn't believe Maldonado did it in Monaco.

 

[Tyger]

Who was driving the Elan?

 

[MarcoM]

Perhaps it was Kimi, but I really couldn't tell. If was there start order it could very well be Kimi.

 

[Tzun]

If Lotus gets settings right Kimi win, no downforce or very little atleast like MSC had last year. I hope MSC have that little downforce like he had last year. MSC vs Ham again,

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If Lotus gets settings right Kimi win

The problem with this statement is that it can apply to practically any driver and team.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

The problem with this statement is that it can apply to practically any driver and team.

Few words have been so true, from you.

 

[Peasantslayer]

If Lotus gets settings right Kimi win, no downforce or very little atleast like MSC had last year. I hope MSC have that little downforce like he had last year. MSC vs Ham again,

No thanks, I watched it with my dad and he was shouting at the TV telling Hamilton to ram Schumacher off the track. I think Hamilton went on to set the fastest lap of the race after getting past him.

 

[Ardius]

No thanks, I watched it with my dad and he was shouting at the TV telling Hamilton to ram Schumacher off the track. I think Hamilton went on to set the fastest lap of the race after getting past him.

After Button caught and overtook them both in the space of 1 lap .