In the round-up: Lando Norris suspects he went off on the first lap because he hit fluid left by his team mate’s car.
What they say
Carlos Sainz Jnr failed to start the Belgian Grand Prix after suffering a power unit problem which caused an exhaust failure on his reconnaissance lap. Norris thinks that also had an effect on his race:The first half of the race was extremely tricky. My first lap wasn’t great. My start was okay. I think there was some oil or water on track from Carlos’s car and I seemed to hit it on lap one at the end of the back straight and made a big mistake and lost some positions.
The car was was very tricky to drive in the first half for some reason – the wind or the set-up with the tyres. I don’t know, it was just very, very tough and I couldn’t do anything. I felt like our pace was very bad.
But halfway through I got some clean air, I looked after the tyres for 10, 15 laps and I decided to push. I caught Stroll, pushed up past him and caught the last two guys towards the end of the race. But one lap too late to be able to get past Albon.
So a little bit frustrating, I could have had a little bit more. But for the whole race perspective I’m quite happy.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
A slight change in @ScuderiaFerrari's fortunes after the race as the stewards clear @Charles_Leclerc having investigated him for driving too slowly on his reconnaissance lap. They found he stopped to perform a practice start which extended his lap time over the maximum limit. #F1
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) August 30, 2020
We now understand that this is a network event due to a common IP transit provider failure in the United States.
We are continuing to work with our partners to mitigate the impact on our services.
— The Official F1® Help Channel (@F1Help) August 30, 2020
Race day #BelgiumGP, view across Bus Stop to Eau Rouge and not a fan in sight. Sad. pic.twitter.com/PTnGymkaTN
— Fritz-Dieter Rencken (@RacingLines) August 30, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Cyril Abiteboul: "Today’s result is dedicated to Anthoine Hubert who we think of on this particular weekend. We knew Spa would suit our package and there were big points at stake."
Mattia Binotto: "We are disappointed and angry, as indeed are our fans and with good reason."
Double points from challenging Spa weekend (Racing Point)
Sergio Perez: "It’s important we go away and review the strategy, but I don’t think it had a big bearing on the race as we were able to get both cars into the points – which is the positive from today. The task now is to go away and understand why we weren’t able to maintain the pace we had at the beginning of the weekend through qualifying and the race."
Romain Grosjean: "We did the best behind Vettel and Leclerc; Alfa Romeo did a good job being in front of them."
Chipping away at it (Alfa Romeo)
Antonio Giovinazzi: "A disappointing ending to my race: I was pushing a lot to keep within DRS range of Sebastian (Vettel) and the car just snapped on the exit. I was on the limit and when you’re there, sometimes mistakes can happen. I feel sorry for the team as they deserved a good result this weekend, and of course also for George (Russell) as his race was compromised as well, although I couldn’t do anything about that."
Changing F1 tracks: Spa-Francorchamps (RaceFans via YouTube)
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Comment of the day
Nikita Mazepin’s conduct after the Formula 2 feature race wasn’t the first example of poor behaviour in the junior categories, says Neel:
We’ve seen significant anger and behavioural issues with many of the drivers in junior categories. Although the pressure to perform and showcase yourself is high, they need to understand that such issues can also put off some teams in the higher categories if you’ve a history of such behaviour.
Nikita Mazepin was already banned for punching Illot during F3 days and his behaviour in parc ferme was punishable.
FIA needs to really be strict on junior drivers to ensure we see better behaviour otherwise someday, it’ll not show Formula 1 in good light when the juniors graduate.
An example of what we saw between Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon.
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Liedra, Fritz Oosthuizen and Elhombre!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
- 40 years ago today Nelson Piquet moved within two points of Alan Jones in the title fight by winning the Dutch Grand Prix after his rival damaged his car
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
31st August 2020, 1:24
I dont think I’ve seen a worse weekend performance from Ferrari in all my years as an F1 fan. This was absolute shambles.
The team is completely lost, I’ve not been convinced by Binotto, nor the team’s structure. The results are there for all to see. Ferrari need to seriously look at themselves, as their management and engineering decision making processes and tools are proving to be total rubbish.
For the sake of competition, I hope F1/FIA will ditch the token system and adopt some sort equalisation to take place over the winter. Otherwise, we might as well give Mercedes and Lewis the 2021 title as well.
Balue (@balue)
31st August 2020, 7:53
@jaymenon10 I believe Horner is right to say Ferrari’s “focus has been in the wrong areas in previous years”, meaning the engine was so good they didn’t care much about downforce, efficiency and so on. Ironically in many ways the Enzo’s credo of “aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines” was in play.
Kasim
31st August 2020, 17:51
I always thought this notion was somewhat forgetting the need to balance the two but it seems that he was always right.. although (as you mention) now for ferrari it means that they’re struggling, it was pretty much proved right last year.. a strong engine will provide gains everywhere in a sense.. but as we know,it just might mask underlying problems with aero and efficiency..
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
31st August 2020, 8:55
It is Ferrari’s responsibility to catch up with the rest of the grid, there isn’t any obligation on the part of the rest of the grid to help the Ferrari powered teams by slowing down. The FIA shouldn’t have anything to do with Ferrari and their lack of pace, their responsibility is to make sure F1 races are carried out fairly and safely.
Carlos
31st August 2020, 8:01
I’m not sure where RP’s pace went either, surely Mercedes sent a user manual along with the drawings?
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
1st September 2020, 14:40
Of course not!
KaIIe (@kaiie)
31st August 2020, 9:23
“They found [Leclerc] stopped to perform a practice start which extended his lap time over the maximum limit.” I thought you are not allowed to stop on the track (for practice starts)? Or was this at the exit of the pitlane?
WHITEDOG
31st August 2020, 9:41
Typical Ferrari exemption rules perhaps they gave a secret punishment
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
1st September 2020, 14:42
@kaiie There’s a practise start area next to the pit exit. Part of that area at this circuit is after the merge line…
Adam (@rocketpanda)
31st August 2020, 13:15
I’m sorry, Mazepin punched Illott?! Even if that was in F3 how is he still around now?
nickthegreek (@nickthegreek)
31st August 2020, 13:30
Verstappen pushed Ocon on 2018. I guess he would still be around even if he’d punched him
Coventry Climax
31st August 2020, 13:49
I’m much more worried about this: We saw the EXACT same situation on the EXACT same spot on the circuit with Mazepin in F2 and Verschoor in F3. Mazepin got a 5 sec penalty which cost him his first place, Verschoor was cleared. I’m fine with Verschoor not punished, I’m not fine with the difference in punishment.
There’s been so much talk on equal treatment, and it still isn’t happening. Shame. I can absolutely understand why Mazepin is angry.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
1st September 2020, 14:46
I think Verschoor only hit his rival once. Mazepin did it twice, so it was parsed as more than a racing incident and therefore penalty-worthy.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
1st September 2020, 14:45
@rocketpanda Mazepin got banned from the paddock for a day (which meant he missed the next F3 race). He served his penalty, teams were still willing to hire him, hence he’s still in motorsport.
melanos
31st August 2020, 23:39
F1 drivers have come to punches many times, though not lately
As recently as Singapore 2011, Felipe Massa yanked Lewis’s shoulder after the umpteenth time Lew t-boned him in the race that year.
At Spa 2008 Schumacher got brake-tested in the rain by Coulthard, lost one wheel, got out of the car and went in a blind rage after Coulthard (but couldn’t reach him and was dragged away). This one could have been real ugly.
Back to Japan 1993, Eddie Irvine’s debut race, where he managed to unlap himself (quite legally) from the alpha bully of F1, a certain Ayrton. Who punched him afterwards at the Jordan paddock, throwing him off the table.
Spa 1987: Ayrton again, after crashing against Nigel Mansell. Nigel sort of tried to strangle Ayrton, while getting plenty of punches from him
Canada 1982, maybe the closest F1 has ever come to a boxing match, between Chico Sierra and Raul Boesel after Raul blocked Sierra’s flying lap at the quali: Raul wisely kept his helmet on.
Germany 1982, probably the most famous of all. Nelson Piquet was lapping Eliseo Salazar but they collided. Nelson threw punches, kicks and everything at Salazar who didn’t try to defend himself.
And last but not least, James Hunt “The Shunt” who had it against the marshals. In Canada 1987, after crashing with his teammate Jochen Mass, Hunt punched a marshal pretty hard without apparent reason. Previously, in Monaco 1975, after Patrick Depailler shunted The Shunt, James punched both Patriack and a marshal who tried to come between them.
And the Ocon push by Max, Brazil 2018. Any other one I have forgotten?