It was wet in all the practice sessions and in qualifying, so it’s been a challenging weekend. It’s not raining now (just before the start of the race) but that’s probably going to change during the race.
The provisional grid was: SV, LH, MW, FM, NR, JA, BS, FA, SP, VP, SB, KK, JB, RB, AS, PM, HK, PD, JT, TG, JD, VL, DR, MS … but that was assuming (a) PM isn’t penalised and (b) those that didn’t make the 107% time requirement are allowed to compete on Sunday.
Williams’ Pastor Maldonado has been dropped five places on the Spa grid as a penalty after clashing with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton during qualifying for Sunday’s Belgium race. Maldonado, who had qualified in 16th, will now start the race from 21st. […] Hamilton, meanwhile, was given a reprimand for his involvement in the incident.
[source: FIA]
SV leads everyone away on the formation lap
Pit-car radio for MS tells him most people are on the option (soft) tyre but BBC report JB is on the prime compound
There’s concern from the teams that the front tyres might blister, which hasn’t been seen before; they’ve asked for replacements but that was denied
Smoke from NR’s Mercedes
01/44: Poor start for MW
Contact in Turn 1
FM ahead of LH
NR takes P1 from SV
On-board camera shows JA has broken his front wing and front-left suspension
02: NR, SV, FM, LH, FA, SB, SP, MW
TG pits, as does BS, HK and JA
FA passes LH for P4
LH attacking FA
MS is already up to P14 having started dead last
03: NR, SV, FM, FA, LH, SB, SP, MW
FA fastest lap 1:56.493
DRS enabled
SV alongside NR and passes him to reclaim P1
Replay of the start – looks like it was BS who caused the Turn 1 incident
Also shows JA got a big thump from behind; breaks his suspension on FA’s rear-right wheel
04: MW pits, as does JB
New nose cone for JB
SV f/lap 1:55.708
FA looking to pass FM
FM all over the tail of NR
05/44: SV, NR, FM, FA, LH, SB, SP, KK
MS pits
NR still defending hard as FM
FA pressuring his teammate; LH closing as the Ferraris battle
FA pushes FM wide; FA takes P3; LH passes FM too
06: SV pits – another set of soft tyres
MW f/lap 1:54.957
Broken end-plate on KK’s car; broken rear wing on SB’s Toro Rosso; coincidence?
Incident in first turn under investigation
Drive-through penalty for car 9 (BS)
07: NR, FA, LH, FM, KK, VP, SV, AS
SB’s made it to the pits
FA takes P1 from NR
LH attacking NR
08: NR still holding off LH … but finally LH makes his move stick
SV f/lap 1:54.733
FM lining up NR now
09: FA pits from P1 – soft tyres – rejoins just ahead of MW
MW alongside FA through Eau Rouge – FA yields just before a huge accident – MW takes P9
BS serves his penalty
MW goes one side of AS; FA goes the other side
10/44: LH, NR, SV, FM, KK, VP, MW, AS, FA, PD; retirements: SB, JA
FA uses DRS to pass MW for P6
Pit-car from SV complaining of blistering tyres
11: LH pits from P1 – soft tyres – rejoins between the two Force Indias
Pit-car for LH reminding him to be gentle with his new tyres
12: NR pits – slow stop
FA f/lap 1:53.747
MW takes P4 from KK
LH right on the tail of VP
13: VP pits, releasing LH
LH easily past KK for P4
KK fights back
Contact – LH takes his line but KK was in his blind spot – LH spun off and bounces off the wall
Safety Car deployed
14[SC]: Lots of teams taking the chance to pit under the SC
Replay shows LH looking to his right at the apex, but KK is on his rear-left corner
BBC asking why KK was there and not directly behind LH, which would have been the faster line
15/44[SC]: KK & PD pit
FA, MW, SV, FM, NR, AS, SP, VP, MS, RB
DR has retired
16[SC]: LH’s McLaren is lifted away
SC in at the end of this lap
17: Green flags – racing again
Clean through Turn 1
NR sneaks past FM for P4
JB has taken P10 from RB
18: FA has got the hammer down but he can’t shake SV
JB around the outside of SP in Turn 1; VP goes the other side and demotes SP to P10
SV takes P1
19: SV f/lap 1:52.281
RB passes SP in Turn 1 but the Williams re-takes P10 at Les Combes
Pit-car for FA tells him “it’s not a disaster for our strategy”
20/44: SV, FA, MW, NR, FM, AS, MS, JB, VP; retirements: DR, LH SB, JA
SV f/lap 1:51.974
21: JB pushing MS for P7 but MS is going to make it very hard to pass
No further action re: incident between LH & KK
22/44: BS pit stop #3
Drive-through penalty for SP following incident with SB
JB brakes later than MS and takes P7
23: JB takes a look at AS but plays it safe
SP serves his penalty
JB takes P6 from AS
24: JB closing on FM now
25/44: SV, FA, MW, NR, FM, JB, AS, MS, VP, RB
JB braves it past FM for P5
SV’s tyres clearly blistering
26: JB tucked up behind NR
JB uses DRS to storm past and take P4
Pit-car from JB asking how far are the guys in front; he’s told they’re struggling with blisters
27: JB is ~8sec behind MW
28: SP off track – broken suspension?
29: SP pits – straight into the garage and retirement
JB continues to close on MW
30/44: FA pits from P2 – prime tyres – rejoins ahead of NR
31: SV pits from P1 – primes – twitchy as he exits the pit lane – rejoins behind JB
NR, FM & VP pit together
NR passes RB but FM tucks up behind him
32: MW pits, as does AS & MS
SV easily past JB – the McLaren lacks power as they head uphill
McLaren pit crew getting ready
33: JB pits from P2 – soft tyres (he started on the harder compound)
SV f/lap 1:51.015
FM pits again (he just stopped on lap 31) – puncture – primes – tail steps right out at pit exit
KK passes FM, pushing him down to P12
34: MW f/lap 1:49.883
MS takes P6 from AS
35/44: SV, FA, MW, JB, NR, MS, AS, VP, PM, PD; retirements: SP, DR, LH, SB, JA
36: MW right on the gearbox of FA’s Ferrari
37: MW closes up through Eau Rouge; passes FA for P2
39: MS tucked up behind his Mercedes teammate; MS on the options tyres so he has an advantage over NR
40/44: SV, MW, FA, JB, NR, MS, AS, VP, FM, PM
JB continues to close on FA; gap’s down to 2.6sec
Pit-car for JB with a setting change – more boost?
41: Pit-car for NR telling him to conserve fuel – why not just be honest and tell him to let MS past?
Late pit stop for RB
Replay shows RB ran into the back of KK just before pit entrance
42: JB storms up behind FA and easily past the Ferrari for P3
MS makes an easy move on NR for P5
43: JB pushing on – he’s under 5sec behind MW but there’s only 2 laps left
44/44 = final lap: JB still closing on MW but the Red Bulls are safe
SV takes the chequered flag
MW only 3.7sec behind his teammate
JB started P12 and fought his way to P3
P4=FA, 5=MS, 6=NR, 7=AS, 8=FM, 9=VP, 10=PM
VP had a problem on the final lap, lost P8 to FM and parks the Renault off track
P11=PD, 12=KK, 13=BS, 14=JT (+1 lap), 15=HK, 16=RB, 17=JD, 18=TG, 19=VL
DNF: SP, DR, LH, SB, JA
Provisional result: SV, MW, JB, FA, MS, NR, AS, FM, VP, PM, PD, KK, BS, JT, HK, RB, JD, TG, VL.
Result: SV, MW, JB, FA, MS, NR, AS, FM, VP, PM.
2011 Drivers’ Championship
2011 Constructors’ Championship