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Fate hands Hamilton his lost Spa win back – at his team mate’s cost The article discusses two separate Belgian Grand Prix events in Formula 1, highlighting notable moments and changes in the sport's culture over time. In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won his first Belgian Grand Prix but was later stripped of the victory due to cutting the Bus Stop chicane, leading to increased steward intervention. In 2024, Hamilton finally secured a win after Mercedes teammate George Russell was penalized for unsportsmanlike behavior during a safety car period. The article also covers the 2024 race, where Red Bull's Max Verstappen started with a 10-place grid penalty and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took pole position. Notable drivers mentioned include Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, George Russell, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz Jr., Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, and Max Verstappen. The 2024 race saw Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton engage in a fierce battle for victory, with Russell initially winning but later disqualified for his car failing to meet the minimum weight limit, promoting Hamilton to first place and securing his 105th grand prix victory.. Source: Race Fans

Did Perez deserve his latest kicking from Marko after ‘sacrificial’ race strategy? Here is a summary of the article: Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko criticized Sergio Pérez's performance in the Belgian Grand Prix, saying he "completely collapsed" in his final stint and drove slow lap times. However, the article points out that Pérez's opening stint was reasonable, holding onto third place despite being passed by Lewis Hamilton at the start. Pérez didn't have a full set of Red Bull's latest parts due to a legacy from his crash at the Hungaroring a week earlier. His pace began to drop after his second pit stop, and he was overtaken by Oscar Piastri and George Russell. Despite struggling with pace, particularly in the second stint, Pérez was instructed by Red Bull to maintain a lap time target of 1'47.5, but failed to achieve it. The team managed their strategy, pitting Pérez and allowing Max Verstappen to pass him while keeping Lando Norris behind. Pérez finished eighth, failing to deliver a top-6 result for the eighth consecutive race, leading to speculation that his time at Red Bull may be coming to an end. Christian Horner stated that it "won't impact anything", while Dr Helmut Marko indicated that Pérez's results will be reviewed for 2025.. Source: Race Fans

Why Hamilton wasn't offered Russell's one-stop option in Belgian GP George Russell won the Belgian Grand Prix by employing a bold one-stop strategy, which was only possible due to his starting position further back in the grid and less pressure to perform. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, who started closer to the front, had to make multiple stops and was frustrated with the decision. Mercedes team officials explained that Russell's strategy was designed to protect him from threats behind, particularly Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, and that it allowed him to maintain track position despite Hamilton's attempts to overtake. The team's data suggested that Russell could finish anywhere from first to fifth with this strategy, and it ultimately proved to be the winning move as he took the chequered flag.. Source: Motorsport

Edd Straw's 2024 Belgian Grand Prix F1 driver rankings Here is a summary of the article: The top three drivers for the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix were Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen, based on their performance during the weekend. Leclerc had a strong qualifying session and finished ahead of three cars despite starting first, while Hamilton had an outstanding weekend with a strong qualifying and making his way to the front in the first stint. Verstappen managed to gain four positions through strategy despite being penalized for an engine issue. Other notable drivers included Alonso, who had a strong race with Aston Martin, Russell, who made an inspired call for a one-stop strategy, Ocon, who had a solid race despite a water leak, Piastri, who finished strongly after passing several drivers, and Ricciardo, who earned the final point through strategic moves.. Source: The Race

How Mercedes went from Friday practice disaster to F1 race winner Here is a summary of the article: Mercedes-AMG F1 Team struggled during first practice sessions at the Belgian Grand Prix, with their W15 car lagging behind by over one second. Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were visibly disappointed. Despite being confident due to track characteristics and an upgraded floor, they couldn't explain their poor performance. In second practice, they tried different set-ups but lost pace. Overnight, the team adjusted mechanical settings and returned to the old floor, which improved performance. On Sunday, they finished 2nd (Hamilton) and 1st (Russell), initially with Russell declared winner but later disqualified for an underweight car. The team credited their improvement to finding the right operating window on Saturday night.. Source: Motorsport

MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: How Max Verstappen was seriously compromised as he attempted to recover from his Belgian GP grid penalty Max Verstappen finished fifth at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, initially promoted to fourth after George Russell's disqualification. However, this was not his initial finishing position, as he started 11th on the grid due to a penalty for setting the fastest qualifying time in wet conditions. Despite the penalty, many expected Verstappen to make up significant ground and potentially take the lead, given his history of strong performances when starting from lower positions.. Source: Formula 1

F1 Podcast: Why Russell both won and lost the Belgian GP George Russell won the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix using a one-stop strategy that surprised everyone in the Formula 1 world. However, his victory was short-lived as he was later disqualified due to his car being underweight. On The Race F1 Podcast, experts Edd Straw, Mark Hughes, Scott Mitchell-Malm, and Samarth Kanal analyzed the unexpected win, debating whether Russell's strategy was the cause of the disqualification. They also discussed Lewis Hamilton's worthiness to claim the top spot as the eventual winner, given that he finished second in the race.. Source: The Race

Were Russell’s worn tyres the cause of his Spa F1 disqualification? Here is a summary of the article: Mercedes driver George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix after his car was found to be underweight by 1.5 kilograms. The team initially suspected that Russell's one-stop strategy, which involved running tires for 34 laps without changing them, contributed to the weight loss due to tire wear and tear. Mercedes acknowledged an error on their part and will investigate thoroughly to find the explanation. Pirelli's head of tyre development, Mario Isola, explained that predicting tyre wear rates is difficult as each track and situation is unique. The lack of marbles at Spa-Francorchamps, which could account for the 1.5-kg difference in weight, may have also contributed to the discrepancy. Mercedes' disappointing outcome was attributed to a combination of factors, including major changes made to the car on Friday night, Saturday's wet weather, and potentially miscalculated tyre wear profiles or underestimated post-race marbles. The team's boss, Toto Wolff, acknowledged that there is no excuse for the mistake and emphasized the need to learn from it while highlighting positives from the weekend.. Source: Motorsport

Famin to stand down as Alpine F1 team principal after summer break Bruno Famin, Alpine Formula 1 team principal, is leaving his role by the end of August after initially being hired in early 2022 as engine division leader and later becoming motorsport vice president and interim team principal following Otmar Szafnauer's departure. Although he continued to serve as team principal in 2024, rumors about his position intensified due to changes made under special advisor Flavio Briatore. Famin confirmed his departure at a press conference without revealing who will replace him. Alpine announced that Famin will oversee all other motorsport activities for Renault Group at Viry-Chatillon, with a new team principal to be named later.. Source: Motorsport

10-place grid penalty confirmed for Verstappen in Belgium Max Verstappen will take a 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix due to a power unit change, which includes a new internal combustion engine (ICE). This is his first component exceeded limits this season and carries a 10-place penalty. Despite taking a penalty, Verstappen has shown ability to climb through the field from similar positions in previous years, winning from 14th on the grid in 2022 and sixth last year. However, he admits it's unlikely he'll win again due to the current competitive picture. Yuki Tsunoda will start at the back of the grid after taking a complete new power unit, including multiple components.. Source: Racer

Verstappen comfortably ahead in first Belgian GP practice Max Verstappen topped the first practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix with a time of 1m43.372s on soft tires, but will receive a grid penalty for using a new internal combustion engine. Oscar Piastri was second-fastest in his McLaren, and Alex Albon took third despite struggling with downforce issues. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth respectively, complaining of rear downforce and severe bouncing. Charles Leclerc finished sixth in the Ferrari, while Sergio Perez struggled to find confidence in his Red Bull. Lando Norris was eighth after locking up on his fast lap, and Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll completed the top 10. In the second practice session (FP2), Valtteri Bottas had a close call when he took a spin on the wet exit curbs at La Source and narrowly avoided the concrete barrier before coming to rest. Yuki Tsunoda will start from the back of the grid on Sunday after being forced to switch to an entirely new power unit due to technical issues, while Esteban Ocon failed to set a lap time during the session and ended up last.. Source: Racer

Technical updates: 2024 Belgian Grand Prix As the summer break approaches in Formula 1, several teams are introducing new upgrades to their cars ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Mercedes has made significant changes, including a new diffuser and floor edge to increase downforce, as well as updates to its beam wing and halo to reduce drag. Ferrari has lowered its rear wing for increased downforce and paired it with a front wing change for balance reasons. McLaren, Haas, and Red Bull have made smaller tweaks to their rear wings and beam wings, while Alpine has introduced an extensive upgrade package including new front and rear wings, engine cover, and mirror design aimed at improving airflow. Sauber-run Stake has developed new floor fences, front and rear wings, a more efficient beam wing, and changed mirror geometry to improve flow quality. Aston Martin and Williams have not made any updates, with Red Bull expected to revert to its previous specification due to its Hungary upgrade being designed for high-downforce venues only.. Source: Racer

How F1 teams have adapted their wings for the demands of Spa Formula 1 teams are introducing new front and rear wing specifications for the Belgian Grand Prix to address challenges posed by the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The changes aim to reduce downforce and drag in sectors one and three while maintaining performance in the twisty second sector. Front wing modifications involve trimming upper elements' trailing edges, while rear wing changes include reducing element sizes within the box region and tailoring design aspects for reduced downforce and drag. Some teams are introducing new beam wing designs or utilizing existing parts that interact well with their rear wings. Notable examples include Ferrari's return to a similar rear wing design from last season and McLaren's use of a semi-circular notch in the upper flap's trailing edge and modified tip section angle for improved performance. The RB F1 Team has introduced a new rear wing design, dubbed VCARB 01, which features a unique configuration and revisions to the brake duct furniture and up-washing swage line on the lower endplate's outer face.. Source: Motorsport

The laps that suggest an ominous Belgian GP warning will come true Here is a summary of the article about Formula 1: The upcoming Spa Formula 1 race is expected to favor reigning world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull due to their track experience and dominance in the past. Despite recent struggles for Red Bull, Fernando Alonso warns against over-estimating a shift in power to McLaren and Mercedes. In the first practice session (FP1), Verstappen was fastest by more than half a second from Oscar Piastri's McLaren, with Red Bull reverting to its previous engine cover and cooling configuration. Verstappen faces a 10-place grid penalty due to enforced engine component changes, but his strong performance in FP1 suggests he may still win the race. Sergio Perez struggled with car balance during FP1 at Spa, while Charles Leclerc complained of poor rear grip. Alex Albon (Williams) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) also showed promising performances despite some issues. Mercedes showed less impressive performance on soft tires compared to McLaren, but performed better on medium tires. Ferrari cars struggled with bouncing issues, which could hinder their chances. Verstappen's 10-place penalty may not affect his chances of winning due to his significant advantage over the rest.. Source: The Race

F1 Belgian GP: Verstappen leads Piastri in FP1 Here is a summary of the article about Formula 1: Max Verstappen led the first practice session (FP1) at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix with a fastest lap time of 1m43.372s on soft tyres, over a second faster than his next closest competitor. Sergio Perez struggled with car control issues and missed most of the session due to a suspected water leak problem in his upgraded Alpine car. Daniel Ricciardo, reportedly being considered as a replacement for Perez at Red Bull, spun out at La Source and finished 13th, while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda complained about understeer and oversteer issues and ended up in 16th place. In an unusual move, Red Bull rotated their race engineers, with Richard Wood working alongside Perez's car and Tom Hart taking over for Gianpiero Lambiase at Imola.. Source: Motorsport

The top 10 reasons to attend the Dutch Grand The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix will take place on August 23-25 at the Zandvoort Circuit in the Netherlands, known for its unique atmosphere and challenging track with fast corners, elevation changes, and lack of runoff areas. The event features a range of activities including Pit Lane Walks, hospitality packages, and racing events like the Porsche Supercup and F1 Academy. With four top teams - Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull - competing closely in the 2024 season, the Dutch GP promises to be an exciting event. To promote sustainability, the circuit is easily accessible by public transport or cycling, reducing traffic entering the track. Formula 1 aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 and encourages fans to attend the race in person, with tickets selling quickly for what promises to be an "electric" grand prix.. Source: Motorsport

Hamilton will speak to FIA officials over Verstappen crash partial blame Lewis Hamilton will meet with FIA officials after the Hungarian Grand Prix stewards deemed his crash with Max Verstappen "could have been avoided" despite giving no further action. The stewards found neither driver was predominantly at fault, but Hamilton disagrees, saying he left plenty of room for Verstappen to recover after the collision. The incident occurred during the 2021 Formula One World Championship season, where Hamilton and Verstappen competed for the drivers' championship, with Hamilton ultimately winning his eighth title by a single point in Abu Dhabi.. Source: Motorsport

McLaren, Mercedes demonstrate low-drag Spa F1 updates The 2024 Belgian Grand Prix saw McLaren and Mercedes introduce new low-drag specific upgrades in an effort to close the gap with Red Bull in the championship standings. The updates included circuit-specific front and rear wings, with a focus on beam wings. Mercedes shortened the chord length of its upper front wing elements to reduce drag, while also introducing a new floor edge wing, a single-element beam wing, and a low-camber version of its two-element beam wing. They also removed their usual winglet from the halo and replaced it with small wool tufts to assess flow patterns. McLaren's updates included a low-downforce rear wing with a squarer mainplane element and reduced camber, a single-element beam wing, and updated brake duct furniture for efficiency. The goal of these upgrades was to optimize downforce output while minimizing drag at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which is known for its lift-to-drag ratio.. Source: Motorsport

Mercedes floor upgrade and more: Belgian GP F1 tech The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps presents a setup dilemma for Formula 1 teams, requiring a balance between high-downforce and low-drag requirements. Seven of the ten teams have brought upgrades to address this challenge. Mercedes has made significant changes, including an upgraded floor and diffuser, as well as a low-downforce wing specifically designed for Spa. Ferrari has introduced low-downforce front and rear wings, while McLaren has developed a low-downforce package featuring new front and rear wings, beam wing, and rear brake ducts. Alpine has revised its front wing geometry, introduced a new engine cover, wider rear brake duct, and low-drag rear wing, as well as a single-element beam wing. Red Bull's upgrades are all low-drag specific, including changes to the rear wing, beam wing, and rear brake ducts. Sauber has reworked floor fences, designed a more efficient rear wing, and introduced a low-drag beam wing with shorter chord lengths on its front wing. Haas has opted for less cambered rear wing and beam wing for Spa. These upgrades aim to optimize performance at high-speed corners and fast flowing sections of the track while addressing low-downforce demands.. Source: The Race

Tsunoda to start Belgian GP from back of the grid after penalty Yuki Tsunoda will start from the rear of the field at the Belgian Grand Prix due to receiving a new engine from Red Bull that exceeds his allocated engine parts. Max Verstappen is also expected to take a new internal combustion engine, resulting in a 10-place grid penalty. In contrast, Daniel Ricciardo, who has used as many engine parts as Tsunoda, will not receive a new engine at Spa. This decision follows Red Bull's common practice of taking penalties at tracks where overtaking is easier. The future of Tsunoda with the team is uncertain, with rumors of replacing Sergio Perez and considering drivers like Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. Despite this uncertainty, Tsunoda remains confident in his abilities after consistently reaching Q3 and scoring points throughout the season.. Source: Motorsport