What did you think of the Belgian Grand Prix? Share your verdict on today’s race.
F1 Fanatic holds polls on each race to find out which fans thought were the best and worst races during a season.
Please vote based on how entertaining and exciting you thought the race was, not on how your preferred driver or team performed.
Rate the race out of ten and leave a comment below:
Rate the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix out of ten
- 10 (5%)
- 9 (22%)
- 8 (32%)
- 7 (20%)
- 6 (10%)
- 5 (4%)
- 4 (3%)
- 3 (2%)
- 2 (0%)
- 1 (2%)
Total Voters: 520
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1 = ‘Terrible’, 10 = ‘Perfect’
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- New 2011 rules produced best racing of last four years
- Canadian Grand Prix voted best race of 2010
- F1 Fanatic readers rate the last 50 races
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Image © Lotus F1 Team/LAT
Valentino (@valentino)
2nd September 2012, 14:35
The most boring of them all.
Vincent Ouwehand (@bazzek)
2nd September 2012, 14:39
I wonder what you look for in a race (not criticizing, just curious)
Amy Yong
2nd September 2012, 14:58
The English commentators and the crew are bias. I don’t understand why they have to focus on J Buton’girlfriend all the time?
Who cares she has got nothing to do with the race and a nobody.
We don’t want to see her being flashed on the screen so often.
They should show more of Vettel and the other drivers.
It is their show ,and some old girlfriend!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
3rd September 2012, 11:02
The ‘English’ crew don’t control the TV images.
Kiril Varbanov (@)
3rd September 2012, 14:29
@andrewtanner Indeed. Confirmed from the kitchen :) There’s a global TV feed you receive and just transmit through your frequencies.
For me, it was 9, because I was in the studio of the local national TV, commenting the race as tech analyst and second host, but it would otherwise be 7 – I expected more racing. Probably Romain took out most of the show …
Watch the Bulgarian F1 coverage, then .. We’re not biased :)
Mustalainen (@mustalainen)
2nd September 2012, 15:15
Alonso winning maybe…
AmirAnuar (@amiranuar)
2nd September 2012, 14:39
was hoping that all the tittle contender to battle it out on track…
Valentino (@valentino)
2nd September 2012, 14:42
Was very good till the first corner.
chase
2nd September 2012, 15:39
He did battle
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 14:53
Sucks to see your driver lose the race through no fault of his own, doesn’t it?
Valentino (@valentino)
2nd September 2012, 14:59
It would be easier for me if Alonso made a mistake and went out or if his engine exploded. This way an idiot hit him, and almost injured him. That Lotus was in the air so close to Fernando’s head.
JB (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:11
@f1fannl
I see where you are coming from with that message… and it´s different when it´s mechanical failure that takes out your driver and when it´s someone elses bone-headed driving that does it… I guess Hamilton and Alonso fans will agree with this…
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 16:00
How so. Was Vettel somehow to blame for the failure?
JB (@)
2nd September 2012, 18:28
@f1fannl
That´s just it man.. Vettel can´t blane anybody but Renault for that… Alonso, Hamilton and Perez in the other hand… have Grosjean for a very stupid start to blame…. So you see… these are 2 very different things… and it´s more frustrating to suffer this type of DNF than an engine failure…
Example: Carlos Sainz´ engine failure 4oo meters before the finish line in what could have been a world rallye championship… who do you blame?? See where I´m getting at? It´s different.
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 23:11
I disagree.
In Vettel’s case it was pretty much clear he was gonna win that race. So he lost a well deserved victory and 25 points after absolutely dominating the weekend. Alonso, Hamilton and Perez however had just started. So, in a way, Vettel’s misfortune was more cruel.
I know people say mechanical failure are part of F1 but nowadays having a car failure is just as rare if not less likely to happen than being taken out by another car.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
2nd September 2012, 15:23
it’s normal to fell that the race is boring when someone saw his favorite driver out of the first corner because of someone else’s fault for me the race was normal except for some Vettel’s overtaking i think this is the first time i saw Sebastian driving like crazy but without taking silly risks that was a brilliant dive by Seb
JB (@)
2nd September 2012, 18:31
@tifoso1989
I agree on that! And I also agree that we at least saw some very good overtake moves by a lot of different pilots but… it sort of loses something when the leader is not in the race…
Mr. T (@mr-t)
2nd September 2012, 15:26
I was at the track and inclined to agree. Not one of the best – Grosjean has a lot to answer for! As does the video feed director – everyone saw Kimi on Schumi at Eau Rouge but Kovy passing a Marussia there on lap 26 was completely missed! Hat’s off to Kimi and Seb for keeping it interesting
CC
2nd September 2012, 16:03
Three-time world champion Niki Lauda: “I have never seen such a stupid accident from Grosjean. I would stop him for two races to start thinking, it was the second time he has done something like this.”
JB (@)
2nd September 2012, 18:32
I could not agree more with Mr. Lauda…
Juij (@juij)
2nd September 2012, 18:03
The worst of this race people on the podium laughing off about the accident, too bad Jenson.
BasCB (@bascb)
3rd September 2012, 13:59
You must have switched it off after the SC came out then @valentino
Andre (@)
2nd September 2012, 14:36
Great race. Wished end had been a little more exciting.
Mads (@mads)
2nd September 2012, 14:36
Sadly no fight for the lead, but plenty of action all round with some stunning drives. Really good race I think. Gave it 8.
verstappen (@verstappen)
2nd September 2012, 19:20
Normally only fight for lead rewards a 10 in my book, but Kimi’s battle through eau rouge and the fact that it’s Spa we’re talking about made it a 10!
Jayfreese (@)
2nd September 2012, 20:15
9, my highest-ever mark round here. Belgian GP has and had everything running good for it, just missed a fight for the lead. What a GP!
xeroxpt (@)
2nd September 2012, 14:37
Great but not at the level of the past ones.
suka (@suka)
2nd September 2012, 14:38
7 for me. Grosjean should be taken out of racing for the rest of the season.
LJ
2nd September 2012, 14:41
agreed, he effectively ruined the race. Took out so many people. It looked like Maldonado jumped the start as well.
Andre (@)
2nd September 2012, 14:42
Maldonado and grosjen should be out of f1
mostcool (@mostcool)
2nd September 2012, 15:09
Karthikeyan as well
sorin (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:53
Schumacher as well
Rises
2nd September 2012, 19:57
@Sorin Schumacher as well??? ok i join this all the F1 drivers as well
David-A (@david-a)
2nd September 2012, 14:41
Well, that’s a bit much. Maldonado has had more crashes than Grosjean, and jumped the start, and crashed today as well.
David BR2
2nd September 2012, 14:57
Except that Maldonado hasn’t caused a multiple pile up. You can’t just sweep diagonally across the track from the grid at Spa and hope it will work out. Alonso was lucky to escape serious injury.
mylo (@mylo)
2nd September 2012, 16:06
Yet but im sure it wont be long
james2488 (@james2488)
2nd September 2012, 21:39
i agree maldonado is just dangerous, and its lucky that one of his crashes has ended up like grosjean, i think grosjean is unlucky to get all this abuse when there are worse drivers out there, but the race ban is fair, anymore and your just being silly,
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
2nd September 2012, 16:20
I can only assume Romain didn’t know Lewis was alongside. He had nothing to gain by swiping across like that & must have known it could only result in a crash. That’s why it’s bizarre. No-one would take that risk unless they didn’t know…
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii)
2nd September 2012, 16:45
So Lewis is in the wrong for not lifting off the throttle whilst being squeezed immensely? Honestly, they were something both drivers could’ve done to prevent the whole incident. Racing incident for me If Grosjean didn’t know that Lewis was in his blindspot whilst looking in the mirrors (If he did) but If any fault, then Grosjean’s the one that should have it.
8 for me quite frankly, +1 for the start, +1 for some great action & +1 for overtaking not being as easy as people anticipated due to different gear ratios used by teams, which might have been caused by limited dry running in Friday Practice.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
2nd September 2012, 17:32
Lewis did nothing wrong. Could have probably avoided it, but it’s the start & there’s a lot going on. Looks to me like an unfortunate accident.
smokinjoe (@smokinjoe)
2nd September 2012, 15:40
Replays show the lights went out before he visibly moved. It will be up to the stewards and Timing & Scoring to determine, but I say he did not jump early.
David BR2
2nd September 2012, 16:02
I understood that they factor in trying to anticipate the start: if the reactions are faster than humanly possible, it doesn’t matter if the lights went out a few fractions before. It’s a jump start.
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 16:42
LOL. What?!?
If the lights are off before the car moves it’s NEVER a jump start. It’s ridiculous you would even suggest that. As soon as the lights are off the race is officially underway. It doesn’t matter if someone starts 0.5 seconds or 0.5 milliseconds after the red lights go off.
Pan151 (@pan151)
2nd September 2012, 18:35
That’s the way it works in F1: You are only allowed to push your foot on the throttle once the lights have gone out. That’s different from the rules in, say, WRC, where it’s the car that must not accelerate before the lights go out.
I think it’s much better the way f1 does it – it should be about reaction to the lights going out, not about who can get the best timing. And to further discourage that, they even randomise the amount of time between the 5th light turning on and all lights turning off, so that if someone presses the gas before the lights go off, they have no excuse.
james2488 (@james2488)
2nd September 2012, 21:45
thats correct, if you react quicker than its humanly possible then its a false start
andae23 (@andae23)
2nd September 2012, 14:51
It’s not the first time he has not been paying attention at a start: of course the Monaco GP, but also the European GP was very reckless. But taking him out of racing is very harsh: I would rather recommend this to Maldonado…
Nigel Bates (@nigel1)
2nd September 2012, 15:14
That’s a bit harsh. Many other drivers have made similar mistakes early in their careers.
I do think a one race suspension might be in order though. Interlocking wheels like that is potentially very dangerous, and a grid penalty would not send a strong enough message.
erix
2nd September 2012, 16:19
I agree, FA also did stupid accident and red-flag in Brazil 2003..and I still learn to forgive him.
sorin (@)
2nd September 2012, 16:48
Forgive him for what? Because of him was red-flaged the race. For that you want to forgive him? Grosjean just tried to kill him today. This is uncomparable…
Mads (@mads)
2nd September 2012, 15:14
@suka
Not at all. Yeah sure he made a mistake, but it wasn’t a stupid or exstremely dangerous move as such. It was simply a misjudgement of the distance between him and Hamilton. The result was very unfortunate, but that wasn’t in his hands, that was simply just bad luck.
suka (@suka)
2nd September 2012, 15:30
I know it’s a bit harsh I only said so to emphasize him REPEATING over and over the same mistake. He did almost the same thing in Monaco.
He is not learning.
Mads (@mads)
2nd September 2012, 15:50
@suka
Ah okay, well I can understand that. But Maldonardo is also a repeated offender, and he hasn’t been punished with a race ban so far, and I don’t think Grosjean is more deserving of one.
David BR2
2nd September 2012, 16:08
Maldonado seems to strike with intent out of anger. Grosjean doesn’t seem malicious, but dangerously unaware of those around him. That said, my impression was that he was squeezing Hamilton deliberately in this case. Just checked the video: Grosjean sweeps across track towards Hamilton, PAUSES, then edges even further to the right. Definite atempt to shut the door, aware Hamilton was there.
sumedh
2nd September 2012, 15:16
A little harsh!
But I expect a 10-place penalty at the very least.
Mustalainen (@mustalainen)
2nd September 2012, 15:17
He did take out your favourite driver didn’t he?
suka (@suka)
2nd September 2012, 21:31
Actually, two of them, Lewis and Alonso; my third favourite (Scumacher) was okay. But, in Australia, Monaco and where else, I forgot, had taken others’s favourite drivers, too. It doesn’t matter whom he takes out, he is just dangerous and I’ve wanted to be patient as he is practically a rookie but 4 times it’s too much now.
Vincent Ouwehand (@bazzek)
2nd September 2012, 14:39
Lots of good overtaking. Bit boring for 1st, dramatic 1st corner. Without corner 1 the race would have been better with much closer racing at the top 3
Tango (@tango)
2nd September 2012, 14:39
Good entertainment, right to the Marussias !
Arrrang (@arrrang)
2nd September 2012, 14:41
+1
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
2nd September 2012, 14:39
Brilliant race, only fault with it was the lack of a challenge for the lead; to be honest though I don’t really care!
Ciaran (@ciaran)
2nd September 2012, 14:41
I loved it, plenty of wheel to wheel racing, which is the best thing about F1. Button’s dominant win wasn’t the most spectacular, but still a great performance.
JB (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:14
What was so great about it?? Running unchallenged is just plain boring!
Aimal (@aimalkhan)
2nd September 2012, 14:41
After the first lap it seemed that the whole life was taken out of the race. or maybe it was because i am an alonso fan.
HUHHII (@huhhii)
2nd September 2012, 15:03
That must be it.
callum (@095cal)
2nd September 2012, 15:22
I know how you feel mate. Im a Hamilton fan and after the first corner I was less than impressed haha. Just seemed boring to me. Yes there was wheel to wheel action but still I didn’t feel very entertained.
Hydro (@hydrouk)
2nd September 2012, 14:42
Grosjean spoiled the race in my opinion.
Sviatoslav Andrushko (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:49
And DRS too.
tmekt (@tmekt)
2nd September 2012, 16:09
But saved the WDC contest
bananarama (@bananarama)
2nd September 2012, 20:05
Taking out the driver who actually needs the point advantage to have a chance to get the title does not really help it very much…
Gdon (@gdon)
2nd September 2012, 16:52
Grosjean has been given a 1 race ban for that incident and seems rightly so.. endangering the lives of others is simply not acceptable.
James (@goodyear92)
2nd September 2012, 14:46
I’ll give it a five; average, in every sense of the word.
There were shimmers of excitement, mostly thanks to Vettel, who’s number of overtakes at the bus stop chicane I greatly enjoyed. However, the likelyhood of a serious challenge for the lead became minimal after Grosjean’s desire to merge with Hamilton’s car resulted in the loss of the ones who would most likely mount that challenge; Alonso, Hamilton, Perez, Maldanado (providing he was able to keep it together, he certainly had the pace) etc.
Great win for Button, happy for him. It must be said, though, it was made significantly easier, with him having a Force India as his main challenge for a large portion of the race. Still, it’s pretty likely he would have won regardless.
BasCB (@bascb)
3rd September 2012, 14:04
I think we saw a lot of tight battles @goodyear92. Between Kimi, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Webber and at times Bruno Senna, then DiResta, Rosberg, Vergne, Ricciardo and Massa were fighting all the way through the race. And even quite a lot of action between the Caterhams, with Kobayashi in there, and Pic and De la Rosa at times as well.
If that is average, then let the whole season be as average!
bosyber (@bosyber)
4th September 2012, 10:17
Well said @bascb, but isn’t that about average for this season so far? I would have liked to see a battle for the lead, but as you say @goodyear92, Button looks like he would have won it anyway.
nefor (@nefor)
2nd September 2012, 14:49
Really enjoyable but I can’t help but feel it should have been better had the accident not taken out so many drivers/ruined races.
BradFerrari (@brad-ferrari)
2nd September 2012, 16:02
Agreed, I would like to have seen what the two Saubers could have achieved.
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
2nd September 2012, 14:50
Could have been better if some of the best drivers hadn’t crashed out in the first corner.
Could have been worse if Raikkonen hadn’t been there.
All in all 8.
sorin (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:56
+1
tito bagus (@tito1790)
2nd September 2012, 14:51
Lot of great overtake good race
dirgegirl (@dirgegirl)
2nd September 2012, 14:51
Would have been just a 7, even though I am a Button booster, because the first corner shenanigans robbed us of a potential classic and it was too strung out by the end. But Jacky Ickx made it an 8 by telling Kimi that he was “finishing turd”. Awesome.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem)
2nd September 2012, 15:45
“Kimi, you Finnish turd” xD
dirgegirl (@dirgegirl)
2nd September 2012, 15:55
Exactly! I almost called shenanigans on Mr Ickx – it was all too perfect. :o)
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem)
2nd September 2012, 16:06
http://postimage.org/image/zbh7hgvst/
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 16:36
lol. … very funny…
Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
2nd September 2012, 14:53
I was really looking forward to racing challenges from the lesser names like Kobayashi and Perez. A shame that Grosjean’s moment of madness deprived us of two championship contenders as well.
Overall, not bad and good entertainment to see the Marussias trying to beat each other up! JB could not have done anything more to enliven the race apart from crossing trhe line backwards. 6 overall, I think.
Antonio Nartea (@tony031r)
2nd September 2012, 14:55
I’d say it’s worth an 8, 8.5. Quite entertaining all in all. Sure, not as great as other races here in the past. Most of them actually. But…still a good way to get back into business after the summer break.
That battle for 3rd and onwards between Schumacher, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Webber is not something you see everyday. Plus, it might have been just produced one of this year’s best overtakes – Raikkonen on Schumacher just into Eau Rouge.
Vergne’s campaign through the field – nice to watch as well. Those onboards might have convinced me he’s not such a bad driver afterall. Also, I could watch those onboards from Vettel all day as well.
Good to see Massa having another decent weekend.
Too bad Raikkonen didn’t find the pace to challenge for the lead, too bad the Saubers and Alonso got taken out of contention at the start, too bad Button looked like the only driver who managed to get 100% out of his car. All these things have definitely dialed down the quality of the race and the rating as well.
Still, we had more racing than technicalities this time. That can only be a good thing. 8.
andae23 (@andae23)
2nd September 2012, 14:56
9 for me: first corner took away a lot of the fun, but it did mix up the field. I loved to see Vettel fighting his way to second place, and the Raikkonen-Schumacher fight was pure brilliance. I mean: first time around, Raikkonenn doesn’t get past Schumacher despite DRS, second time around he passes him at the Bus stop, but gets passed again on Kemmel straight. This means he needs to think of something different, so he passes him at Eau Rouge, Webber-style. I don’t know if this is what he was thinking, but anyway you slice it, that was a brilliant move. Battles for every position except first, Jenson was just dominant this weekend so congrats to him!
smokinjoe (@smokinjoe)
2nd September 2012, 14:57
This race could have been really interesting but this sort of events happen when 1-2 crazy youngsters try to overtake all the field in 1 corner.
Great job,Grosjean….1 fault-4 cars out!
Keep it up with the great job you do !
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:15
Grosjean was definitely driver of the day. Almost as good as Liuzzi at Monza last year.
smokinjoe (@smokinjoe)
2nd September 2012, 15:21
he should be starting from the pit lane….i guess its his fourth first lap crash
andae23 (@andae23)
2nd September 2012, 16:08
It’s his third actually, the other ones being the 2012 monaco GP and the 2009 Belgium GP.
Slr (@slr)
2nd September 2012, 14:58
A generous 8/10. I enjoyed the battle for 3rd and 4th, and a good battle between the Marussias. Bloody hell though, the crash at the start was scary.
I must also say how sad I was to see both Saubers involved in the aeroplane crash at the start, which retired Perez and ruined Kobayashi’s race.
carl craven
2nd September 2012, 15:00
Funny, but if Vettel or Hamilton had driven like Button today, this race would be getting 10 from most people.
Thankfully it was very boring, hoping for a boring Monza also.
:)
aka_robyn (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:09
Wait — that’s a joke, right?
Guilherme (@guilherme)
2nd September 2012, 15:13
LOL, you must be new here. Vettel is the only driver who is not voted Driver of the Weekend when he dominates a race.
Mustalainen (@mustalainen)
2nd September 2012, 15:20
+1 :D
sumedh
2nd September 2012, 15:21
Hamilton yes! Vettel, Nope!
David-A (@david-a)
2nd September 2012, 15:38
You can stop joking.
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 15:03
Best driver: Vettel
Well done to Button. Grosjean again causes the crash, i would say it is his fault. That noob will never learn.
Very disrespectful reaction from Raikkonen on Schumacher. MSC did quite good with a crap car. Nothing more to be said.
tmekt (@tmekt)
2nd September 2012, 16:13
What reaction?
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 16:28
I am not sure if they showed that footage where you are, but after the race (just before they got up on the stage), Kimi was asked a question by Vettel on overtaking Schumacher. And Kimi rather unprofessionally expressed a puff, following with a comment on how Schumacher was slow, giving indication that he was more of a nuisance than a challenge. I rather disagree with that. I think MSC gave Kimi a good challenge and they had a good battle all the way through. Just seemed like zero respect by kimi there.
tmekt (@tmekt)
2nd September 2012, 17:39
I saw the footage yeah but didn’t get the same impression. I don’t remember the exact wording Kimi used though but Kimi has never seemed to be the person to disrespect other drivers …that’s the way I see it anyway
Schumi gave up a bit easily in Eau Rouge IMO but I guess his tires were pretty much dead at that point
bosyber (@bosyber)
4th September 2012, 10:22
I thought Kimi was referring to the car @maksutov & @tmekt, and they agreed Schumacher (Vettel said it?) is hard to pass anyway even if his car isn’t up to speed. Didn’t hear it fully though so might be wrong.
Asif (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:08
7 for me. Lots of action removed by Grosjean and Maldanado. Glad Fernando is well! Vettel driver of day for me.
petebaldwin (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:08
Great race but would have been better had Hamilton and Alonso not gone out…
MahavirShah (@mahavirshah)
2nd September 2012, 15:09
I quite enjoyed the race. What made it enjoyable was the fact that even with Hamilton and Alonso being taken out at the first corner, the racing quality and thrill was quite the same. Bruno Senna’s defence early on was quite fun to watch. True Button basically romped away to a win and that took out a bit of the fun, yet the fight between Kimi and Schumi and Nico and Webber was quite tense and thrilling. And what would F1 be without Pastor doing something or the other wrong every race. For a second I actually thought that 23 cars had stalled on the grid with only Pastor who had drive.
Ron (@rcorporon)
2nd September 2012, 15:09
Well, Hamilton and Alonso were both on the side of the road after turn 1 and Seb put on a clinic for the entire race. 10 from me.
DC (@dujedcv)
2nd September 2012, 15:09
Kimi, you finished turd …. Jacky is the BEST
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 15:53
rofl. I read that as: Kimi, you Finnish turd.
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 16:52
That’s the way he said it. Finnish turd, that is.
DC (@dujedcv)
2nd September 2012, 15:12
And Maldonado going like a pro at the start
F1fanNL (@)
2nd September 2012, 15:13
Magnificant race. Lots of good overtakes outside the DRS zone and battles from 2nd to 12th for most of the race.
I would have given it a 10 if Button was in the action as well but this deserved a 9.
Nick (@npf1)
2nd September 2012, 15:15
8/10. Not on the edge of my seat the entire race, but never a dull lap either.
Mr. T (@mr-t)
2nd September 2012, 15:19
I was at the track and inclined to agree. Not one of the best – Grosjean has a lot to answer for! As does the video feed director – everyone saw Kimi on Schumi at Eau Rouge but Kovy passing a Marussia there halfway through the race was completely missed! Hat’s off to Kimi and Vettel for keeping it interesting though.
smokinjoe (@smokinjoe)
2nd September 2012, 15:29
“As does the video feed director – everyone saw Kimi on Schumi at Eau Rouge but Kovy passing a Marussia there halfway through the race was completely missed!”
What about Button i only saw him on the last lap…i guess so far ahead of the field that video feed director doesnt care to show him
Mads (@mads)
2nd September 2012, 15:54
@smokinjoe
That is how it is all the time. If the leader is out in front, we don’t see him. And why should we? With a big lead they will just cruise it home, so they wont drive particularily fast, nor will they fight anyone. Pretty boring to look at I think, at least if there is something else going on.
bosyber (@bosyber)
4th September 2012, 10:26
Well said @mads, I recall a lot of people (including me) being unhappy early last year when the director was too prone to show Vettel going it alone up front while we missed interesting fights behind him. I am thus quite glad we only saw Button occasionally, going smoothly and fast, driving without fault, and focussed more on fights behind him. It could have been even better if more attention went to cars further back than 12th, they too seemed to have good fights but we saw little of it.
Nigel Bates (@nigel1)
2nd September 2012, 15:19
7 – good race, but too many contenders were taken out at the start.
Without that crash it might just have been epic, with one of the Saubers challenging Button for the lead…
Chalky (@chalky)
2nd September 2012, 15:25
I love seeing Jenson Button win but it was only a 6 for me.
It’s been a while that I have managed to see a full live race, due to holidays or SKY having shown the live race. So why a 6? Well the incident at turn 1, although added an initial buzz, caused a detrement to the race quality later on. No Alonso or Hamilton to really push Button for the win. No Saubers up front after a real promising Saturday. The crash muddled the field too, furthering Buttons advantage as Vettel had more work to do.
So that left a race dominated by who could DRS pass (Schumacher) and who could not (Red Bull and Raikonen). I loved Raikonens pass into Eau Rouge and Vettels tenacity to push forward.
However, one of my other rules I go by is if I can stay awake after lunch for the whole race and unfortunatley I nodded off with 6 laps to go (I think) and saw Button crossing the line.
Between a 7 and a 6 it was. Due to so many missing after the first turn I went for a 6.
Postreader
2nd September 2012, 15:26
9 for awesome, -1 for insane Grosjean, so an 8 for me.
Aditya Banerjee (@chicanef1)
2nd September 2012, 15:31
I think what Domenicali said a few days ago was right, that lack of in-season testing is preventing us from finding new talents like the waft of newbies in the early 2000s(Button, Alonso, Raikkonen and Montoya). Apart from Montoya, the guys then were younger and made less errors. Maldonado-well I’ve got nothing more to say. He’s probably costing Williams more than the amount of money he is bringing into the team. Grosjean’s move deserves at least, a ten-place grid penalty and a fine on top of that, if not a one-race ban. It was a dangerous and totally unnecessary move on Hamilton, and he spoiled the races for some other drivers too-Perez, Kobayashi, Alonso. And this is not the first time he is having a first lap incident(Australia, Malaysia, Spain, Monaco as well).
foleyger (@foleyger)
2nd September 2012, 15:34
I give it a 5. DRS ruined it for me. I wudn’t call that overtaking
Poul Winther (@poul)
2nd September 2012, 17:46
Totally agree! I can’t for the life of me understand why everybody are clapping their hands just because positions change more often. You are exactly right; it is not overtaking and it is not racing. Schumacher taking back the position from a clearly faster Räikkonen is just another perfect example of how artificial DRS really is.
Brownerboy (@brownerboy)
2nd September 2012, 15:44
Again i will say, If they started the race on the other pit straight, none of this would have happened
Aditya Banerjee (@chicanef1)
3rd September 2012, 4:44
You mean the WTCC one?? The run down the hill to the Eau Rouge stream?
Shrieker (@shrieker)
2nd September 2012, 15:45
Good race, deserves a 6 i think. Could’ve easily been a 7 or even 8 without Grosjean going Igor.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
2nd September 2012, 15:52
7/10. At times there was simply nothing happening.
+ T1 mayhem
+ Kimi’s pass on Michael at Eau Rouge. Surely this makes him God of Spa now? One of the greatest tactical moves I’ve ever seen (deploy KERS out of T1 instead of waiting till DRS zone where Kimi’s top speed just wasn’t enough).
+ Plenty of passing, some different strategies
– DRS. Okay, there were some times when it worked perfectly (cars being alongside each other under breaking), but for most part it either didn’t work (RBR’s couldn’t pass anyone) or worked way too well (MSC driving past Kimi) or it was pointless (6 car train with everyone having DRS open).
Mads (@mads)
2nd September 2012, 16:01
@kaiie
The problem is that there is no way to make sure that every DRS overtake works properly.
The reason Schumachers worked like a dunk slam, and Vettel’s didn’t work at all was because they ran different gearings. With the DRS it will always be a game of trying to find the right balance. Some will be too much, some wont work, but some will be just right.
The only way to get around that is if the FIA desides the gearing, or at least the length of the last gear in order to control the speed difference more accurately, but that will have a lot of other problems, and mean that teams can’t take different approaches to gearing and downforce depending on the track and what they expect to be doing (overtaking, or just pulling away).
But I also think that DRS was a minus, but thats just because I don’t like the concept all together, so I have stopped letting it effect my rating unless it is way too powerful.
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 16:09
That move was largely possible because MSC was kind enough to leave room. I didn’t think anything special about that move.
erix
2nd September 2012, 16:31
Schumi kind? He hit civilian on the street and then got angry with it.
Aditya Banerjee (@chicanef1)
3rd September 2012, 4:47
?
Aditya Banerjee (@chicanef1)
3rd September 2012, 4:48
Schumi was missing 6th gear by then.
spartacus (@spartacus)
2nd September 2012, 15:54
The main point is that no driver got injured…Alonso could have been killed if he was about 1 foot further on.
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 16:14
Sadly, that is very true. I don’t understand why that incident isn’t being heavily investigated. Someone needs to get a good slap in the face for that one.
andrewf1 (@andrewf1)
2nd September 2012, 15:56
7 from me.
Best drives of the day: Vettel and Button.
Retard driver of the day: Grosjean
Maksutov (@maksutov)
2nd September 2012, 16:04
+1
Estesark (@estesark)
2nd September 2012, 16:03
I feel like I should be rating this race highly, but it just doesn’t feel right. There was overtaking everywhere you looked (some of it without DRS!), it was very difficult to predict the finishing order until there were only half a dozen laps remaining, and it has made the championship more interesting again. Yet it all felt a bit hollow without Alonso and Hamilton, in particular, on the track. The Saubers got very unlucky as well. Button, superbly as he drove, never really came under any serious challenge. All things considered, I can only give it a 7.
Yoshisune (@yobo01)
2nd September 2012, 16:07
9. It was a very good race, lots of overtakings, lots of action. Yeah, it’s a shame that we lost Kobayashi and Perez after the first corner: they would have been very interesting to watch.
But the accident allowed the Force Indias and the Toro Rossos in the top 10. It was amazing to see Hulkenberg fighting for the podium and great racing by both Vergne and Ricciardo.
Ron (@rcorporon)
2nd September 2012, 16:07
So much whining about DRS these days. I like it as it allows for more passing. Better than those woeful days of the 2 hour F1 parades with no passing.
Jason (@jason12)
2nd September 2012, 16:17
That was definitely an avoidable accident. Seems like Grosjean just closed his eyes, and said ‘the entire track is mine!’
:D
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
2nd September 2012, 16:20
In the good old days there would have been red flag and a restart in the spare cars. Much better for everyone in every way except of course for Bernies TV scheduling. Money ruins sport once again.
Chris (@chris)
2nd September 2012, 16:26
Let’s just do not prevent teams from spending too much money and they will have spare cars like in the old times ….
Lin1876 (@lin1876)
2nd September 2012, 16:35
That wasn’t a red flag though. The debris were mostly off the racing line (amazingly), so the safety car would have been deployed even 10 years ago.
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
2nd September 2012, 19:02
Possibly not a red flag although I was thinking pre-safety car days. If they could use spare cars at restarts we would have still had the pleasure of Hamilton and Alonso’s participation. I can’t help thinking we (and they) missed out because of the need to keep to the TV schedule.
By the way I’m not one of those guys who always say the good old days were better just for the sake of it. Modern safety standards and some of the 1970’s sporting ethic would be an ideal blend.
I give the race a 7/10 bit I think with Hamilton and Alonso running back to the pits for their spare cars (maybe setup for their team mate) and the prospect of another start would make it a 9/10. Just my opinion.
Chris (@chris)
2nd September 2012, 16:24
Imperial Jenson & McLaren !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lovely !!!!!!!!!!!!
On the other handf grosjean should be life-banned from F1 for madaness !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xjr15jaaag (@xjr15jaaag)
2nd September 2012, 16:25
9; I thought it was incredibly exciting to watch
icemangrins (@icemangrins)
2nd September 2012, 16:31
About Grosjean, didn’t he do the same with Michael at the start at Monaco
Lin1876 (@lin1876)
2nd September 2012, 16:32
8. Some good racing in the midfield, with a good amount of racing. DRS was okay, if a bit easy for my taste, I would personally put it on the exit of Blanchemont towards the Bus Stop. Vettel had a great drive to 2nd, Hulkenburg did well to get 4th, and Torro Rosso did well.
The shunt removed many of the drivers who might have challenged Button for the win, and I am gutted for Sauber. To have a change of an amazing result only for both cars to be wiped out in a crash where they were the innocent victims must be galling. Hope they do it again, because Kobayashi up front can only be an exciting thing!
Salcrich
2nd September 2012, 17:15
Give Button his due he was untouchable in qualifying and held the same margin in the race. Ifs buts and maybes are all very well but where were the guys who were eliminated going to find the speed to challenge Button? He drove away from the field as anticipated by his qualifying gap. As far as the race is concerned it was a 9 – loads of wheel to wheel action- definitely not one of those races where you could fast forward to the last 10 laps.
Poul Winther (@poul)
2nd September 2012, 17:56
Yes, as always Button is absolutely amazing – or at least when he has a diffuser or new rear wing that makes his a car a couple of seconds faster than the rest of the field, or the mains of it :-P
It could have a been a 7 but with the same leader from pole to finish and no title battle it can only be a 6.
Jorge Lardone (@jorgelardone)
2nd September 2012, 17:35
9 for me, great race. Sauber: “Best Unlucky Team” of the year.
f199player (@f199player)
2nd September 2012, 18:11
6 – Great racing throughout the field, but the TV director missed alot of the action which has lowered the rating from me
smifaye (@)
2nd September 2012, 19:51
Not a classic race by any means but it was fun to see the different strategies at work and to see a dominating performance from Jenson Button. Mostof the drama was at the first corner and we were robbed of some great fights through the field but on the whole there was some good overtaking moves. 7
F1Yankee (@f1yankee)
2nd September 2012, 19:55
i wanted to vote 7.5, but i didn’t feel like it justified rounding up to 8 still, good action, strong performances and a hell of a crash that will live in highlights for decades
i’m stingy with my 8’s and 9’s, 10 better blow my jaded mind. i wish i had some list of criteria for judging. for example, spa 2012 earns maximum crash points, and the uncontested victory scores high for performance but low in competition. whatever :D
shaggymike (@shaggymike)
2nd September 2012, 20:08
A big old fashioned pile up at the start is just what this season was missing! it mixed things up nicely, and no one was hurt. All that was missing was a fight for the lead. Great race!
Dimitris 1395 (@dimitris-1395)
2nd September 2012, 20:50
I might be a little biased as I watched it live but, overall, it was a very good race. Despite the crash which eliminate 4 favourite drivers, the race had a lot of battles and plenty of overtaking action. Behind Button, every driver made an overtake, which must be a kind of record. Also, I had the luck to see Raikkonen overtake Schumacher in front of me in Eau Rouge and I was ecstatic!
Fixy (@)
2nd September 2012, 22:21
I gave it 7/10 but I think it might be too much.
The DRS zone was crazy – in a negative way – apart from the Red Bulls, everyone cruised past the others. Some defended well and some attacked on the outside, but every lap there was a move – which made it look simple. Kimi passed Schumacher very well then with the DRS the German got past again. Then the opposite, then vice-versa, etc.
The start crash was scary but at least it took some contenders out of the race, which helped others like Hulkenberg, Massa and Vettel to score good results, which was nice to see although I hoped the Saubers would have finished on the podium.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
3rd September 2012, 2:52
7 from me, I though towards the end of the race the two stopper will have a good fight with the one stopper but it never happened,seems like the tyres brought were too conservative for this race.I still Perelli should still follow to bring Supersoft & Medium or Soft & Hard tyre combination to all circuits but the street circuits can be exception.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
3rd September 2012, 11:10
Good race. There was close fighting throughout which I don’t think we’ve seen so much this year since Monaco. Vettel was really entertaining and was definitely my driver of the weekend. The initial drama really opened up the championship fight even more and while I’m glad no one was hurt, it did help shake things up.
the_sigman (@sigman1998)
3rd September 2012, 13:34
8/10
Pamphlet (@pamphlet)
4th September 2012, 4:36
9. Second best race of the year.
There’s more to a race than first place. Vettel’s overtakes and Schumacher’s defenses were exceptional. We had a good number of battles across the entire grid. What’s more, Grosjean’s brain fade saved the championship.
tcf1
4th September 2012, 9:44
worst race in memory. a disgrace to sport and all open wheeler racing. grosjean and maldonado deserve to lose their seats and if i were in the paddock i would beat them both severely. 0/10.
tmekt (@tmekt)
4th September 2012, 16:24
Ham or Alo fan?
PJA (@pja)
4th September 2012, 17:31
A good race I gave it an 8. Although not much happened at the front there were plenty of battles further down the field to provide entertainment.
vho (@)
5th September 2012, 16:46
I gave it a 4 for the race. Bit boring without anyone being able to challenge the leader. But gave an extra 4 for being able to see more of Jenson’s girlfriend on TV…. Jessica Michibata – you are one hellava hot chick!