2023 Belgian Grand Prix - [RACE] discussion thread
FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2023
| Circuit stats | |
|---|---|
| First Grand Prix | 1950 |
| Number of laps | 44 |
| Lap record | 1:46.286 Valtteri Bottas (2018) |
| 2022 winner | Max Verstappen |
The hell is going on between Max and his engineer lol
They’re bored.
A disagreement during qualifying where Max was mad at GP for only just making it into Q3. See https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.2023-belgian-gp-qualifying-verstappen-apologises-to-his-engineer-after-q2-radio-rant.1772684943518809937.html for the radio of the incident.
Did the commentators already mention that the williams is a rocket in a straight line? I might have missed it
Shall I push on and we do some pit stop training?
Is Max bored
GP and Max need to do couples therapy after this weekend
Ah yes the national anthem cape
“No capes!” — Edna Mode
Look GP, no hands!
"Oh GP, it's so windy! I have to hold the steering wheel sooo tight! I'm struggling so much!"
EDIT: Leclerc also mentioned the wind was very very strong in the cooldown room. I guess Max was not being facetious about the wind then.
SIGH. "Max please stop goofing around doing rollercoaster hands down the main straight. Hands on the wheel at all times please..."
(next lap)
NYOOOOOOOOMMM
"BOTH. HANDS. On the wheel please Max. Waving at the pit wall is not better..."
It was great to see the sprint race post being quite lively yesterday compared to what I've seen previously around here.
Hope the pace keeps up and we get some good content here today.
Also, go Oscar! Been waiting sooo long to see my team back at the front.
Sprint races are pretty good for people that are not so much into F1, it was lively enough for my gf to be able to watch the entire 11 laps without being bored! It’s a different pleasure, less long term strategy and more track action! :)
So GP told max that it wasnt smart to take so much out of the tire in the out lap and max decided to show him by just going 7 tenth per lap quicker than perez? lol
He was bored lol
Shocking race pace by McLaren.
That double overtake on him, yikes.
Yeah, Lando got Zonta'ed.
And now he got overtaken by an Alpha Tauri, woof.
That's a great move by Ocon, caught Tsunoda completely off guard.
Pass of the race for me. That was ballsy and slick as hell.
What is happening to Max and his engineer? They seem pretty annoyed at each other this weekend
No, just a racer wanting info and an engineer knowing when not to say something over the radio. It's a, "bro trust me" kind of thing.
I agree. I don't know if it's being broadcasted more because it's in vogue right now, but there seem to be a lot of snappy comments. I don't remember hearing nearly this much in past seasons.
Max is just so good. I wonder if anyone could beat him right now even in equal machinery. I mean, Perez isn't a generational talent, but he isn't bad either. Max just casually pulling a 20s gap on him in the same car and tires is insane. And before that Max did the same with Albon and Gasly, who are also very respectable drivers.
Maybe Lando? Max seems to respect him as a driver more-so than most on the grid, though that may be attributed slightly to their close friendship. Hamilton would definitely still give him a run for his money considering his quali pace in the current mercedes imo. But even then I would bet it all on Max. He’s absolutely insane.
Let's go. Need some excitement. That snap for VER was scary.
Brilliant race for Yuki so far.
Starting grid accounting for Max and Magnussen penalties
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:46.988 |
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:47.045 |
| 3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:47.087 |
| 4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:47.152 |
| 5 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:47.365 |
| 6 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:46.168 |
| 7 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:47.669 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:47.805 |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:47.843 |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:48.841 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri Honda RBPT | 1:53.148 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:53.671 |
| 13 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | 1:54.694 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1:56.372 |
| 15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 2:00.314 |
| 16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:54.160 |
| 17 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | 2:00.832 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 2:01.535 |
| 19 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | AlphaTauri Honda RBPT | 2:02.159 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 2:03.166 |
Haha accounts for the hulkenberg engine penalty too just by chance. Poor hulk
The cooldown room audio is so much better now, and has been for the past 3 or 4 races. I'm glad they fixed that.
Bernard was waving his green flag with such enthusiasm! Great that Crofty remembered him, that was quite wholesome.
I'm surprised Max hasn't replied and called GP a cunt yet.
It is absolutely annoying that they show me Verstappen exiting a car and show the grandstands when there is still racing going on.
Tsunoda up to 6th. Wow.
Do you guys think they'll retire Sainz once he falls out of points?
I'd be surprised if he continues much longer tbh
Ferrari: "Hold my carbon fiber."
Colour me surprised...
Yuki heard people praising Daniel yesterday I guess. He's had a blistering start.
I’m late to this comment thread but I was shocked they didn’t retire him at the first pit stop. He fell nearly all the way back, surely they would have known he wasn’t going to recover and get into the points. Why put more time/wear on components at that point?
He's looks good so far. Definitely a good chance for points if he keeps the car on track.
I am waiting for VER to ask to stop for the fastest lap.
Those glasses though...
I’ve never felt so uneasy about a common apparel. Then again, there really wasn’t anything “common” about those glasses. 😂
What did McLaren do to get cursed with this luck.
Max having another FP4 Sunday.
Okay, see you guys after the summer break.
Lol , 2 seconds Ted, from Ted.
Gasly extending those Softs is impressive, if the rain comes soon it could be phenomenal for him.
He's still on the tyres from lap 1? Wow.
Gasly is having a great weekend.
Nice one, Albon!
Good question. Spa is special in that, after the end, the cars immediately come into the pits through the pit exit, they don't go around the circuit (because it's so long). I wonder if that yellow flag is because of that. Could the the smoke too though.
The yellow flag after the finish was because the cars turned around and drove backwards into the pit after the race.
Gasly has to be the unluckiest driver of the season. What the hell Alpine? Can he get one clean weekend?
Aston Martin is making the exact same gamble that didn’t work in Monaco
Don't remind me. That really is going to end up being Nando's last genuine shot at a win, isn't it?
And now Mercedes did it with Russell too!
Big ASMR vibes from Vowles.
Max gonna be so pissed if Lewis takes his fastest lap
We will see in a Minute
VER > PER gap now same as PER > LEC gap.
Perez really not getting everything out of that car.
Very impressive by Ocon!
I'm less optimistic than Sam is about the chances of rain. There is a small shower cell about 40km to the west right now, but the sun is heating up the air and I don't think it'll make it to the track because of it. Maybe a few drops around 15:45 local time, but low probability. The even smaller cell he sees to arrive at around 15:05 near the track is already fizzling out. So if there aren't any humid air masses or intense vertical movement I have missed, this is most probably a dry race. There is some significant gusty wind though.
Norris driving like a beast!
It's great watching him mug everyone. Shame it won't last
Max already 2 seconds ahead.
Wicked driving from Max. Who could compete with him in the RB? Because it ain't Sergio..
Perez cutting over and then going for the inside caused utter chaos behind him 🤣
Nice to see HAM nick fast lap
They should give RBR Renault engines again after the summer break.
That pass is just too easy...
This weekend just keeps getting worse for Haas doesn't it.
Is this normally an undercut or an overcut circuit?
Here we go! I missed having a Belgian GP that started on time (and started at all).
Any bets on when Max ends up in P1?
Lap 5 or he crashes out in the start turmoil
That national anthem reminded me of a high school spirit week production. Not a bad thing! Just not what I was expecting.
It was amusing seeing Alonso trying not to laugh.
Looking forward to Albons race. Great until now.
Stroll, 4.3 seconds for soft's...
Just bet his entire stack on red
Great move by Gasly! Maybe points are on the table?
Hopefully for both of them.
