Formula 1 MSC Cruises Belgian Grand Prix 2023Formula 1

[NotThePrez]

Caught the qualifying highlights, GP might actually be my favorite race engineer on the grid after today.

 

[PaMu1337]

Track is drying up, looks like they can start the shootout soon.

If somehow they cannot do the shootout at all, the sprint will start based on yesterday's qualy order.

Edit: starting in 15 mins

 

[TumeK5]

Remember, if you ever feel useless, wet weather tires exist in Formula 1...

 

[Adam41]

They're waiting for it to dry out so Max can set his Q3 time in the dry and get pole.

 

[PaMu1337]

Welp, someone had to try I guess...

Doesn't look like much of a driver error, there was just no grip at all there

 

[Bosso]

Verstappen and Hamilton are really in their own class when it comes to wet weather driving. Both completely destroying their teammates in the same car.

 

[PaMu1337]

Wow that was close

If McLaren keeps developing properly, I can see Piastri challenging for the championship next year. Probably the best rookie we've had in years

 

[Bosso]

Very impressive from Piastri. He just needs to improve his race pace now. Russell cost Hamilton a possible pole there, he should have let him go after locking up.

 

[Jubby]

How many penalties occurred when PER got to T18/19 on his last SQ3 lap? Holy crap, that was ridiculous.

 

[Veinz]

Going from wet to dry in these qualy sessions is always fun, I’m surprised they pulled it off two times in a row.

 

[Famine]

Russell cost Hamilton a possible pole there, he should have let him go after locking up.

Proper GT World Series qualifying stuff.

 

[toastet]

How many penalties occurred when PER got to T18/19 on his last SQ3 lap? Holy crap, that was ridiculous.

pretty sure none, all off the racing line

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Positive qualifying with a lot of teams looking fast. Lewis car seems hooked up well so hopefully it transfers into the races, looks rapid in the straights without DRS so hopefully he can pass the cars in front to make up for the unfortunate starting of last lap behind George.

Welp, someone had to try I guess...

Doesn't look like much of a driver error, there was just no grip at all there

Looked like driver error given moments others had yesterday with softer tyres, thought he was going to crash before he even had a moment. Probably felt he had to push to make it into Q3 though, team should not really gamble with the tyres like that though when it is wet still in a lot of places. No need for it as Inters would have been much more confidence inspiring and brought a lot more lap time while being a lot safer.

 

[PaMu1337]

Chance of rain for the sprint: 100%

Track is pretty much dry at this point though, so may get interesting on strategy

Edit: torrential rain at parts of the track, but grid is dry

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Umbrellas are going up in the crowd.

 

[MagpieRacer]

If Piastri can jump Max at the start, that McLaren is lightening through the middle sector, he might actually win.

Edit. Delayed start. Honestly, let's just abandon wet tyres now and have extra dries or something. No point having them.

 

[PaMu1337]

Formation lap is delayed to 17:12

Absolutely pouring it down everywhere now

Edit: delay now indefinite, there's a river on Eau Rouge as the drains are overloaded

 

[MagpieRacer]

Formation lap is delayed to 17:12

Absolutely pouring it down everywhere now

Edit: delay now indefinite, there's a river on Eau Rouge as the drains are overloaded

Staggered the drainage appears to have failed. Not like rain is unprecedented here..

 

[PaMu1337]

Rain will not last long, and it's already slowing down

 

[PaMu1337]

It may be possible to start behind the SC around 17:35 (15 mins from now). It's still raining hard now, but it should end in 2-3 minutes, and should dry up pretty quickly.

Edit: indeed start at 17:35

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It may be possible to start behind the SC around 17:35 (15 mins from now). It's still raining hard now, but it should end in 2-3 minutes, and should dry up pretty quickly

Confirmed. Formation lap will start at 17:35. I wonder how long until they get on dry tires.

 

[PaMu1337]

Confirmed. Formation lap will start at 17:35. I wonder how long until they get on dry tires.

Wild guess: some drivers will try about halfway in, but it will only be faster at 2/3 of the way in. But I can see a switch to inters very early on

 

[MagpieRacer]

Wild guess: some drivers will try about halfway in, but it will only be faster at 2/3 of the way in. But I can see a switch to inters very early on

I reckon they'll go to inters as soon as they safety car is gone.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

So 4 formation laps then rolling start?

 

[PaMu1337]

So 4 formation laps then rolling start?

Alex Jacques: It's a rolling start, because a standing start would be with all cars in the pits 😂

 

[PaMu1337]

If Verstappen would follow the SC into the pit, he probably can't get out until all other cars have passed

 

[Milouse]

Already 5 laps out of 15 without racing. What if there's a need for Safety Car for a race incident after that ?

 

[TypeRDC5]

I've seen races start in much worse conditions. I think for the FIA and F1 are trying to avoid another big crash at Spa given the unfortunate events over the last few years.

 

[Bosso]

Excellent work by Mclaren and Piastri.

 

[IforceV8]

Pit placement is terrible with the fast teams at the beginning instead of the end.