Jenson Button believes "big b***s" will be required to tackle one of the most fearsome corners in F1 this weekend.The legendary Eau Rouge represents a different challenge to the 24 drivers on the grid for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix around Spa as they will have up to 150 kilos worth of fuel on board.
That makes the uphill left-right sweep an even more hair-raising proposition than normal, particularly if running side-by-side with a rival.
Due to the weight there is a serious risk of bottoming out, the car losing grip and with it increasing the chance of a collision should there be a duel through the corner where speeds can hit 180mph.
"With 140 to 150 kilos in the tank it's going to be pretty tough, really tricky," said Button.
"We need to make sure people know where the edge of the circuit is because you're going to get a lot of people trying to go straight.
"They'll be thinking it won't get noticed because it's a massive benefit, so we need to make that clear to (FIA race director) Charlie Whiting beforehand, which I will do.
"The first lap is pretty manic anyway, with a wide start but then it narrows up at turn one.
"Then you have Eau Rouge, side by side through there on 150 kilos hitting the floor, it's going to be pretty crazy.
"It will be a buzz. You have to have big b***s, and I've brought them this weekend.
"It will be F1's version of chicken going through there. It will be a case of how stupid can you be, rather than how brave.
"But at least there is a bit of run off on the exit and if you do have to go side by side you can take avoiding action.
"Hopefully I'll be so far in the lead that it won't really matter."
Button goes into the race 14 points behind Championship leader Mark Webber and without a win since mid-April, a run of eight races, when he took the chequered flag in China.
There is hope, that despite being trounced by Red Bull in the last outing in Hungary almost four weeks ago, that McLaren can claw back some of the deficit so glaringly lost in Budapest.
The reason being that Spa is a relatively low downforce circuit, so aiding the McLarens in comparison to Red Bull and Ferrari.
The flipside is that if McLaren are not as strong as they hope here and in Italy, then the titles will start to slip away from them.
After recovering from the tonsilitis he suffered during the recent summer break, reigning World Champion Button added: "This is a good circuit for us, as well as Monza for the next race.
"I'm very happy these two races have come at this point because it gives us time to work on developing the car for the last five where you have to run a lot more downforce.
"I can't see any reason why we can't be competitive here because we don't have the excuse that we don't have enough downforce.
"So if we don't score heavily at these next two races then it will hurt us a lot.
"It doesn't end the Championship if we don't score well here and we're not leading, but they are important, and it will make the last five even more difficult."
Source: Planet F1
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