F1 2021: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (Aug 29)

EdM5 · 08-30-2021, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

For those that live near Spa or are familiar with that region, is there a time of year in that part of Belgium where the rain chances are diminished?

Don't think so.
Philippe can tell us all about this but the weather conditions in the Ardennes (Belgium) and neighbouring Eifel area (Germany - the Nordschleife is here located) are in my experience totally unpredictable and quite often wet.

I did my BMW M drivers training on a wet Nordschleife and it scared the shit out of me.

Chihuahua · 08-30-2021, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdM5

Don't think so.
Philippe can tell us all about this but the weather conditions in the Ardennes (Belgium) and neighbouring Eifel area (Germany - the Nordschleife is here located) are in my experience totally unpredictable and quite often wet.

I did my BMW M drivers training on a wet Nordschleife and it scared the shit out of me.

OK, makes sense. I know the joke regarding Spa is "if you don't like the weather conditions, just wait ten minutes."

racerbruce · 08-30-2021, 07:28 PM

An open invitation to the FIA:

Racing Flags 101....no, I'm not kidding.

Checkered Flag:
Signifies the end of the practice session, qualification attempt or race. The race leader is declared the winner.

Green Flag:
Signals the start of the practice session, qualification attempt or race and all restarts after a caution or red-flag period.

Yellow Flag:
The “caution flag,” signals hazardous conditions on the track, and cars must slow immediately, maintain position and yield to track safety vehicles until the green flag is displayed. During a qualification session, a qualification attempt is halted.

White Flag:
Displayed when the leader starts the final lap of the race. During qualifications, signals that driver has started final lap of qualification attempt.

Blue Flag:
The “passing flag,” signals slower cars to yield to faster with traffic.

Red Flag:
Signals that the race stops immediately, regardless of position of cars on the track.

Black Flag:
Directs a driver to proceed to the pits on the next lap and to consult with race officials.

Red and Yellow Flag:
Signals that oil, water or some other substance has made the track surface slippery.

GuidoK · 08-30-2021, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerbruce

[B]An open invitation to the FIA:
...

I don't think the FIA reads this forum....

///M Power-Belgium · 08-30-2021, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

For those that live near Spa or are familiar with that region, is there a time of year in that part of Belgium where the rain chances are diminished?

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdM5

Don't think so.
Philippe can tell us all about this but the weather conditions in the Ardennes (Belgium) and neighbouring Eifel area (Germany - the Nordschleife is here located) are in my experience totally unpredictable and quite often wet.

I did my BMW M drivers training on a wet Nordschleife and it scared the shit out of me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

OK, makes sense. I know the joke regarding Spa is "if you don't like the weather conditions, just wait ten minutes."

Positive . Yes I am ..

Well , actually I can write pages about this subject !

The Belgian Ardennes is the highest area and of course Spa-Francorchamps is part of it .
The last 2-3 year (summers) we've been hit heat waves and extreme droughts with lack of water .That's why we had very sunny F1 races . But this year we got extreme rainfall like 200 mm in 24 hours . I'm pretty sure you heard about the Belgian floodings ..
It was a disaster ! #NeverForget !

That's why this year Belgium and Spa is extremely wet . But in the Ardennes the weather was always very unpredictable and also in the past.
It has to do with the length of the valley and the 7 km length of the Francorchamps circuit . The length of the valley from beyond Stavelot to Francorchamps is +/- 17 km => post # 613
Forests are everywhere in the Belgian Ardennes and also in Francorchamps . That's why it has his own climate and weather as it can rain on one part of the track , and on the other side of the track it can be sunny !

I think it was in the summer of 2015 ,I drove on top at Stavelot and looked down over the valley and I saw that the forest was covered in a very dense fog .
10 min. later I drove in a wall of fog . It looked unreal ! Visibility zero (0) ! While I know the roads there very well , I had to step out of my car and walk over the road to the other side of the road to see what was written on the road signs !
My orientation ability was completely gone ! I was lost ...In a place that I know very well !
So yeah . Over here the weather (can) be very extreme ...And so also the rain on the Francorchamps track .

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Currently I have no idea . Didn't got news about the whole situation .

On the other hand : The Francorchamps circuit is going through difficult financial times .
Last year they didn't got incomes by the damn Covid pandemic ,last month the circuit was damaged by the floodings and now It's a bad moment as they planned circuit constructions regarding the safety at Raidillon/Eau Rouge .

Hopefully they are having deep pockets ..

Max should be given the half point.
https://racingnews365.com/who-got-th...max-verstappen

Robin_NL · 08-31-2021, 05:34 AM

We went mountainbiking on the track somewhere beginning of the nineties on holiday, nice.

Been there more than a handful of times , also 2013 F1 GP invited by Oris/Williams F1. Always 'good weather' as I recall.

Cheers
Robin

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 05:37 AM

Max suggests GP races should start earlier.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...-rain/6657659/

Robin_NL · 08-31-2021, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Max suggests GP races should start earlier.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...-rain/6657659/

@6:00AM local time lol

Cheers
Robin

yco · 08-31-2021, 12:31 PM

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 02:31 PM

Latest flash I've just seen is that RBR have put in an official protest about Merc cheating with certain components but I can't get on the site.

Chihuahua · 08-31-2021, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Latest flash I've just seen is that RBR have put in an official protest about Merc cheating with certain components but I can't get on the site.

All teams cheat. None of them ever think they are. The sloppy ones get caught.

F1 101.

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 05:18 PM

Some good news for teams with extra spending allowance for some events.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...bonus/6657722/

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

All teams cheat. None of them ever think they are. The sloppy ones get caught.

F1 101.

Depends how they hide it.

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Currently I have no idea . Didn't got news about the whole situation .

On the other hand : The Francorchamps circuit is going through difficult financial times .
Last year they didn't got incomes by the damn Covid pandemic ,last month the circuit was damaged by the floodings and now It's a bad moment as they planned circuit constructions regarding the safety at Raidillon/Eau Rouge .

Hopefully they are having deep pockets ..

No shortage of this in Costco my friend

///M Power-Belgium · 08-31-2021, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Latest flash I've just seen is that RBR have put in an official protest about Merc cheating with certain components but I can't get on the site.

- Mercedes still runs with the flexible front wing.
- Mercedes has a new hidden PU cooling system to push more ponies .

Should be OK . The FIA clowns are sleeping anyway...

M5Rick · 08-31-2021, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

- Mercedes still runs with the flexible front wing.
- Mercedes has a new hidden PU cooling system to push more ponies .

Should be OK . The FIA clowns are sleeping anyway...

Yeah fatso in paris has a habit of 'getting distracted' by something else when it comes to Merc. Hope you had a good day my friend.

///M Power-Belgium · 08-31-2021, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Yeah fatso in paris has a habit of 'getting distracted' by something else when it comes to Merc. Hope you had a good day my friend.

Great shot of the 'Belgian GP : The race....

racerbruce · 08-31-2021, 07:47 PM

So kind of Todt to recognize that....

-A green flag never started the event
-A checkered flag never ended the event
-Only the red flag was waved....

-Behind the pace car....
-For two laps....
-And the FIA....
-Chose to declare a race winner

Ain't no cure for dumb.
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showpos...&postcount=735

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...jDmLPNcOC.html

M5Rick · 09-01-2021, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Great shot of the 'Belgian GP : The race....

and the winner is...Max. (16wins to the tally.

///M Power-Belgium · 09-01-2021, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rick

and the winner is...Max. (16wins to the tally.

And more to come !

M5Rick · 09-01-2021, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

And more to come !

Merc better be investigated for the bendy front wing and PU cooling anomaly before the Zandvoort my friend, not even Todt can push it under the carpet for ever.

08-30-2021, 07:28 PM	#729
racerbruce Brigadier General 3877 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	An open invitation to the FIA: Racing Flags 101....no, I'm not kidding. Checkered Flag: Signifies the end of the practice session, qualification attempt or race. The race leader is declared the winner. Green Flag: Signals the start of the practice session, qualification attempt or race and all restarts after a caution or red-flag period. Yellow Flag: The “caution flag,” signals hazardous conditions on the track, and cars must slow immediately, maintain position and yield to track safety vehicles until the green flag is displayed. During a qualification session, a qualification attempt is halted. White Flag: Displayed when the leader starts the final lap of the race. During qualifications, signals that driver has started final lap of qualification attempt. Blue Flag: The “passing flag,” signals slower cars to yield to faster with traffic. Red Flag: Signals that the race stops immediately, regardless of position of cars on the track. Black Flag: Directs a driver to proceed to the pits on the next lap and to consult with race officials. Red and Yellow Flag: Signals that oil, water or some other substance has made the track surface slippery. __________________ Racerbruce Last edited by racerbruce; 08-30-2021 at 07:35 PM..
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08-31-2021, 05:34 AM	#733
Robin_NL S0THPAW 8968 Rep 7,863 Posts Drives: HS M2 Competition Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	We went mountainbiking on the track somewhere beginning of the nineties on holiday, nice. Been there more than a handful of times , also 2013 F1 GP invited by Oris/Williams F1. Always 'good weather' as I recall. Cheers Robin
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08-31-2021, 05:37 AM	#734
M5Rick General 69020 Rep 22,164 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Max suggests GP races should start earlier. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...-rain/6657659/
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08-31-2021, 12:31 PM	#736
yco i'm just saying 6021 Rep 2,634 Posts Drives: E71 X6M '10 (sold) Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Istanbul & Kyiv iTrader: (0)	__________________ "Race car driving is like sex. All guys think they're good at it." Jay Leno
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08-31-2021, 02:31 PM	#737
M5Rick General 69020 Rep 22,164 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Latest flash I've just seen is that RBR have put in an official protest about Merc cheating with certain components but I can't get on the site.
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08-31-2021, 05:18 PM	#739
M5Rick General 69020 Rep 22,164 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Some good news for teams with extra spending allowance for some events. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...bonus/6657722/
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08-31-2021, 07:47 PM	#745
racerbruce Brigadier General 3877 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	So kind of Todt to recognize that.... -A green flag never started the event -A checkered flag never ended the event -Only the red flag was waved.... -Behind the pace car.... -For two laps.... -And the FIA.... -Chose to declare a race winner *Ain't no cure for dumb.* https://www.zpost.com/forums/showpos...&postcount=735 https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...jDmLPNcOC.html __________________ Racerbruce Last edited by racerbruce; 09-01-2021 at 11:39 AM..
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