Video: Sky Sports - Belgian GP - Hamilton clear about crash

Lewis Hamilton says it is clear who caused the crash at Spa but is refusing to name names

 

Source: NinetyBucks

Kimi: Car was not to our liking

Kimi Räikkönen admits he is happy to have picked up a good haul of points in Belgian following a difficult race

The Lotus driver qualified fourth fastest on Saturday afternoon, but found himself up in P2 on lap one following a massive shunt involving four drivers.

However, he never quite managed to hold on and had several battles with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg throughout to race as he struggled with straight-line speed.

In the end he managed to finish third place to take his points tally for the season to 116 points - 48 behind Championship leader Fernando Alonso, who was taken out on the opening lap.

The 32-year-old Finn conceded after the race that the E20 just wasn't up to the team's liking on Sunday.

"It is nice to be back here at Spa, but it was not very nice racing today for us," he said.

"It was not the easiest day for me as the car was not exactly to our liking. I was fighting to get the best out of it and we managed to get some key points, so that was the main thing. It was a difficult one and next week we will try to be better."

Source: Planet-F1

Fernando Alonso: A bit of back pain

Fernando Alonso reckons he was "lucky" to escape serious injury in the first corner carnage at Spa although does have a "bit" of back pain

Arriving at Spa, the Championship leader was the only driver to have scored points in every race this season. His run, though, came to an end when he was taken out in a first lap accident through no fault of his own.

Starting fifth on the grid, Alonso was vying for track positions when he was hit from behind. Added to that, Romain Grosjean narrowly avoided hitting his head when his Lotus became airborne in the shunt.

Alonso, who was slow to get out of his stricken F2012 and was assisted by the marshals, later revealed that his back had been hurt in the crash.

"I have a little bit of pain on my back because of the hit," he said. "It is a shame I could not continue the race. I did not know what happened until I saw the TV.

"The cars behind me touched and lost control, and they were in front of us.

"It was a disappointment to see points lost but in five days I can be in the car in Monza.

"You can have an injury in your hand or your head with a crash like that, so I am lucky in that aspect.

"I felt a train coming with a big, big hit. I stayed in the car due to the hit. There was a bit of fire in the car and I could not breathe because of the smoke so I jumped out."

Alonso's DNF cost him a chunk of his Championship lead as Sebastian Vettel, who finished second, is now just 24 points behind with Mark Webber a further 12 off the pace.

Source: Planet-F1

Belgian GP: Button Survives Carnage To Win

Jenson Button put his pole position to great use to get ahead of the lap one carnage and storm to his first Spa win ahead of Sebastian Vettel

The 44-lap grand prix started with a bang as Romain Grosjean cut across the track and into Lewis Hamilton, catching the McLaren side-on.

The ensuing accident caught out Fernando Alonso, who had the Lotus chassis narrowly miss his head after it was launched into the air when it hit Sergio Perez's Sauber. Kamui Kobayashi, Pastor Maldonado - who was under investigation for jumping the start and later retired - and Pedro de la Rosa all pitted for repairs.

The race resumed on lap 6 after the marshals cleared the debris at the La Source hairpin with Button quickly pulling out a lead, first over Kimi Raikkonen, then Nico Hulkenberg, then Michael Schumacher and then Sebastian Vettel.

As the laps counted down the McLaren driver put in a faultless performance, pitting on lap 20 with a gap big enough to see him emerge back at the front.

The second half of the grand prix begun with Raikkonen leading the charge for second. He was 15.7s behind Button when he came in for his second stop, elevating Vettel to second with Schumacher third. Vettel set about trying to haul Button back but was unable to prevent the McLaren driver from claiming his second win of the season and the much-needed 25 points.

Raikkonen took third place after an incredible overtaking move on Schumacher through Eau Rouge. The German pitting shortly after when it became apparent his W03 could not complete the grand prix on one stop.

Hulkenberg was fourth ahead of Felipe Massa, Mark Webber and Schumacher.

The race ended with three investigations on the go; Caterham for an unsafe release and hitting HRT in the pits; Schumacher and Vettel for another unsafe move when the former pitted and Webber for an unsafe release that almost put him into Massa in the pits.

Results
01 Button McLaren-Mercedes 1h29:08.530
02 Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 13.624
03 Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 25.334
04 Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 27.843
05 Massa Ferrari + 29.845
06 Webber Red Bull-Renault + 31.244
07 Schumacher Mercedes + 53.374
08 Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 58.865
09 Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:02.982
10 Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1:03.783
11 Rosberg Mercedes + 1:05.111
12 Senna Williams-Renault + 1:11.529
13 Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:56.119
14 Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
15 Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
16 Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
17 Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
18 De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap
19 Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 30
20 Maldonado Williams-Renault + 5
21 Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1
22 Alonso Ferrari + 1
23 Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 1
24 Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 1

Source: Planet-F1

Qualifying: Button Bags First McLaren Pole at Spa

Jenson Button claimed his first pole position since his 2009 Championship-winning season, taking the coveted grid slot at Spa

Qualifying has often been Button's Achiles this season, however, after a few changes to his rear wing in Q2 there was no sign of that as the Brit crossed the line with a 1:47.573.

That was quick enough for his first pole position since as a McLaren driver.

In an interesting grid with Kamui Kobayashi making history as he secured his first front row starting position and the first ever for a Japanese driver as he was 0.298s off the pace

Pastor Maldonado was third ahead of Kimi Raikkonen while Sergio Perez completed a great Saturday for Sauber with a P5 ahead of Fernando Alonso.

Mark Webber, who qualified P7, will line-up 12th after a gearbox penalty.

Meanwhile, last year's Belgian GP winner Sebastian Vettel failed to make it into Q3 for only the second time this season, qualifying down in 11th place.

But it was Nico Rosberg, who will also have a five place gearbox penalty, who was the biggest loser, qualifying down in 18th place after crossing the line mere seconds too late to start another lap.

Times
01. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m47.573
02. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m47.871 + 0.298
03. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m47.893 + 0.320
04. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m48.205 + 0.632
05. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m48.219 + 0.646
06. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m48.313 + 0.740
07. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m48.392 + 0.819
08. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m48.394 + 0.821
09. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m48.538 + 0.965
10. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m48.890 + 1.317
11. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m49.722 + 0.472
12. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m49.362 + 0.112
13. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m49.742 + 0.492
14. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m49.588 + 0.338
15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m49.763 + 0.513
16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m49.572 + 0.322
17. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m49.958 + 0.708
18. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m50.181 + 1.188
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m51.739 + 2.746
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m51.967 + 2.974
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m52.336 + 3.343
22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m53.030 + 4.037
23. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m53.493 + 4.500
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m54.989 + 5.996

Source: Planet-F1

Video: BBC - Belgian GP - Mark Webber on stunning Fernando Alonso overtake

Belgian Grand Prix runner-up Mark Webber on the stunning overtake that took him past Ferrari's Fernando Alonso through Eau Rouge.

The Australian Red Bull driver, who signed a new contract this week, retains second place in the driver standings, 92 points behind Championship leader and Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel



Source: SixtyBuckss

Risk-averse Vettel admits Spa was 'scary'

Sebastian Vettel has admitted that he was uncomfortable going into the Belgian GP with concerns over the safety of his tyres

Sebastian Vettel has admitted that heading into the unknown with tyres at the Belgian Grand Prix played against his new-found aim of minimising risks in pursuit of a second F1 championship title.

The German was 85-points clear of the field heading to Spa-Francorchamps and, knowing that he did not need to win another race in 2011 to clinch the crown, was determined not to take any unnecessary risks at one of the more formidable venues left on the schedule. However, when several of the frontrunners suffered blistering on their Pirelli tyres in qualifying, he admits that it added another, unpleasant, dimension to the race.

"We had a lot of concerns going into the race after the damage we had on the tyres from qualifying, so we weren't quite sure [what would happen]," he confirmed, "We took quite a lot of risk. We had reason to be confident that it should be fine, but you never really know and there is no-one walking up and down in the paddock giving you a guarantee.

"We didn't feel too comfortable and both of us stopped fairly early, right at the beginning of the race. The main target was to see how the tyres were after a couple of laps and to go from there. [We were] not thinking too much about the outcome but, surprisingly, the pace was very, very good in the race. I was feeling very comfortable in the car and, without too much effort in the beginning, I was able to keep up with the guys and get back into the lead.

"I think that, in that regard, [the safety car] helped us as much as it helped other people, [such as] Fernando [Alonso], who was in the lead, to give his tyres a break, which allowed him to make his set last longer. Obviously, I was able to conserve the peak of the tyre and use it a bit longer afterwards but, as I say, others gained some advantage and could cool down the tyres a bit as well.

"It was pretty scary to go around with blistering issues. It's not very comfortable, especially on the way down to Eau Rouge and then through Blanchimont, when you really look at the tyre and it doesn't look like being in great shape. You feel quite a lot of vibrations [and], if you ask anybody on the grid, we all suffered the same kind of problems. I followed Nico [Rosberg] at some stage at the end of his first stint, and he had the same problem on the front left. It's not really the idea, because it's driving into the unknown and it's not comfortable for us because, in the end, we sit in the car.

"The alternative would have been to change the set-up and start from the pit-lane. Maybe it would have been a completely different race, but we took that risk. We had some long discussions straight after qualifying, yesterday night, and this morning. Now we are sitting here, it all went well and we finished one-two, but it wasn't an easy decision to make and not an easy race, especially at the beginning, to manage.

"You are driving into the unknown. No-one has really had a lot of laps around here, in particular on Friday with the conditions, so everyone was a bit in the same boat. Those [top] ten cars in qualifying got a little bit of an idea. For some it turned out to be a problem, for others not - I saw [from] the cars I passed, people who thought they might not run into any problems had the same problems as we did, so we need to learn from that and see for the next races."

Mindful of the fact that he appeared to have jeopardised his chances of the 2010 world title when he collided with, and retired, the McLaren of Jenson Button, Vettel revealed that he was being extra careful when it came to pulling off passing moves this year, even though his early stop had dropped him down the order and behind potential title rivals Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. He was also forced to pass Button later in the race, after the Briton ran a long middle stint on the harder tyres, and Vettel confessed that he had picked his passing spot with care.

"We could get the [early] stop and not lose too much but, on the other hand, I think I was six or seven seconds in the lead at the time [the safety car appeared], so we lost the lead and lost that gap that we had," he reflected, "I don't think it made a big difference at the end as, fortunately, with the new regulations, there are very few possibilities that someone gains a big advantage.

"But, all in all, I agree with Jenson, it is good to finish the race and not to crash this year. When I came close to him, I was going to target to pass him at the long straight, not into the chicane, just to make sure.

"It was pretty busy in the beginning, then I was fighting my way back to the same group. It was a bit funny, as I had just pitted and then caught them up again, so I had to pass Nico one more time before he went in. That manoeuvre was quite good fun - the outside of Blanchimont. I think it was very fair from both of us and he gave me enough room, so it was nice.

"It was tricky race for tyre management but, when the chance is there to win, we go for it. When I was driving around, passing people around the outside here and there, then I don't think about the championship. If I think there's room to overtake, I go for it. If the risk is too high then, naturally, I think you shouldn't do it. I think I've done it in the past when it didn't work, as Jenson can tell you, so it's not necessary to take that risk."

Winning for the seventh time in 2011 increased Vettel's championship advantage to 92 points but, with 175 still on offer, he reuses to accept that he is a shoo-in for the title.

"I've got more points than after the last race, and of course I'm very happy with today's result as I know that it's very important to finish ahead of those guys and anybody else, and it brought us closer to our final target, but it's still a long way [to go] and, if you just look at last year, at how quickly things can change, all we do is try to get the optimum every time, like today."

Source: Crash.net

Video: BBC - Belgian GP - I was ahead of Kamui Kobayashi - Lewis Hamilton

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is despondent following his collision with Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The British driver believes the crash was not his fault. Hamilton admits that McLaren were struggling with the condition of their tyres before his race was ended prematurely.

UPDATE via Lewis Hamilton on Twitter:

"After watching the replay, I realize it was my fault today 100%. I didn't give Kobayashi enough room though I thought I was past. Apologies to Kamui and to my team. The team deserves better from me. Best wishes, Lewis"



Source: SixtyBuckss

Schumi: Wife said it could be good

Michael Schumacher had no complaints with his Belgian GP result on Sunday, which his wife, Corinna, had predicted would be a good one

Schumacher celebrated 20 years in Formula One at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend as it was here that he made his F1 debut back in 1991 and a year later claimed his first grand prix victory.

However, after qualifying it didn't look as if it would be a good weekend for the German after he crashed out in the opening minutes of the Saturday afternoon session, putting him at the very back of the grid.

But, as Schumacher said after qualifying, the only way left was forward and forward is where he went.

The seven-time World Champ was P15 by the end of the first lap and continued fighting his way up the order, making good use of the power of his Mercedes engine around the Spa track.

Three laps before the end of the grand prix, sitting on his team-mate Nico Rosberg's rear wing, Schumacher overtook the younger German to claim fifth place, his best result of the campaign.

"I'm happy about the result," said the seven-time World Champion.

"It was a good battle with my team-mate Nico Rosberg. I was on the softer tyres while he was on the harder tyres and it gave me the chance to overtake him.

"This is a special weekend for me and although it wasn't too good yesterday, luckily it finished well.

"I had a good feeling earlier in the day my wife is here and she said it would be a good race."

Source: Planet-F1

Webber bemoans shocking start

Mark Webber admits his pedestrian start put him on the back foot during the early stages of the Belgian Grand Prix

The Australian produced another battling display at Spa on Sunday to finish second behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

He started third on the grid, but was down in eighth place by the end of lap three and made a pit stop on lap four for a new set of tyres. He fought back and eventually caught up with the front-runners.

The Red Bull veteran says his start wasn't up to standard.

"My start was shocking - I dropped lever and the car stalled, so that was disappointing," he said.

"It put me on the back foot knowing we would stop early to get rid of the set of tyres. The team handled things really well. It was not an easy grand prix for the crew on the pit wall. But it was a good result and I enjoyed the race."

Webber had a couple of close shaves when he was battling Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

"Most of the race was charged with frustration from the start," he said. "We were obviously very, very close through Eau Rouge, I used some KERS, got a tow and thought I might have a chance.

"We didn't give much easy, it was a good battle. It was rewarding that it worked okay, but it takes two guys to get it right. You can do it with Fernando - he is a world class guy and knows when enough is enough."

The 35-year-old added that the result was one of the best for Red Bull following some pre-race concerns. Several teams wanted to use fresh rubbers during the first stint due to blistering problems in qualifying, but the request was denied.

Red Bull were forced to pit both Webber and Vettel very early due to the problems, but still managed to claim a 1-2.

"The team result today was probably one of our best results ever as a team," he said. "It was stressful last night, and a stressful morning, handled very well - putting drivers right in the discussions to understand how we can get through the grand prix as safely as possible, us giving them feedback on how tyres looked."

Source: Planet-F1

Video: BBC - Belgian GP - Fernando Alonso disappointed not to make podium

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso admits his car could not compete with the pace of the Red Bulls at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Spanish driver says he had a "fun race", especially the battle he had with Mark Webber



Source: SixtyBuckss

Seb Vettel Wins A Thrilling Belgian GP 2011

Sebastian Vettel claimed the victory in a thrilling Belgian GP, which saw six different drivers each lead a lap or more

Blistering tyres, a lack of dry running, different strategies and the sweeping corners of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit all played a crucial role in what proved to be one of the best races of the season.

Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber all had a turn at the front of the pack but, after 44 laps, it was Vettel who was in the P1 slot.

The reigning World Champ finished ahead of Webber and Button, who had started P13.

As for Hamilton, he retired on lap 13 after contact was made between himself and Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi, which pitched the McLaren driver into a spin and into the barriers.

And as he hit one of the boards, spewing debris all over the track, the Safety Car also made a brief appearance for three laps.

Alonso eventually finished P4 as he just didn't have the pace in the latter stint to hold off the fast-closing Button.

Rosberg could only manage P6 after he was overtaken by his team-mate Michael Schumacher just a few laps from the end of the grand prix. It was a fitting end and a fantastic performance from the seven-time World Champ, who started P24 and finished P5 as he celebrates 20 years in F1.

Results
01. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h26.44.893
02. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 3.741
03. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 9.669
04. Alonso Ferrari + 13.022
05. Schumacher Mercedes + 47.464
06. Rosberg Mercedes + 48.674
07. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 59.713
08. Massa Ferrari + 1m06.076
09. Petrov Renault + 1m11.917
10. Maldonado Williams-Cosworth + 1m17.615
11. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1m23.994
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1m31.976
13. Senna Renault + 1m32.985
14. Trulli Lotus-Renault + 1 lap
15. Kovalainen Lotus-Renault + 1 lap
16. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
17. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap

Did Not Finish
Perez Sauber-Ferrari 27
Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 13
Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 12
Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1

Source: Planet-F1

Alonso: Eighth on grid definitely not good

Fernando Alonso: I hardly ever managed to get a clean lap because on both my second and third laps I found [Sergio] Perez ahead of me and on the last one I had to slow at the entrance to the chicane to let [Mark] Webber pass, otherwise I might have been penalised. That's how it was, but definitely there is a sense of regret...

Fernando Alonso has blamed traffic after only qualifying eighth today for Sunday's F1 2011 Belgian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard admitted there was a real 'sense of regret' after not getting a better place on the grid, but he hasn't given up and is confident he will be able to fight back in his Ferrari.

Indeed he has vowed to give his all in a bid to get onto the Spa-Francorchamps podium.

“Eighth is definitely not a good result, but we have to accept it and try to make up for this bad qualifying in tomorrow's race. I am confident because I know the car's true potential is definitely better than this position,” Alonso said.

“We did a good job of managing Q1 and Q2, even if the red flag in the second part put us under a bit of pressure because there were only seven minutes left and at that time I was not through to Q3. In the dry I don't think I could have fought for pole position, but I could have been at least on the front two rows.

“Unfortunately, I hardly ever managed to get a clean lap because on both my second and third laps I found [Sergio] Perez ahead of me and on the last one I had to slow at the entrance to the chicane to let [Mark] Webber pass, otherwise I might have been penalised. That's how it was, but definitely there is a sense of regret, as I could have got a better place.

“No one is really sure what the relative strengths are down the field: all weekend long we have seen very big gaps of seconds not tenths, depending on when the cars were out on track and also, we don't have an idea about tyre degradation.

“We will see what happens: I am voting for a dry race and we will do all we can to get on the podium.”

Felipe Massa meanwhile had a much better day and out-qualified his team-mate for the second race in succession. He will start from fourth.

“At the start of the session, when the rain came down, if I had been offered a fourth place, I would have signed for it on the spot. My result isn't bad, even if the cars ahead of me have shown a much quicker pace,” he added.

“However, it's true that conditions in Q3 were the worst possible for us: we could not get the best grip level right from the start, because we struggled a lot to get the tyres up to temperature. I think that tomorrow, if we have a dry track, we could be more competitive and I hope to be fighting with the drivers who are ahead of me today.”

Source: Crash.net

Video: BBC - Belgian GP - Lewis Hamilton relieved not be injured after Maldonado collision

Lewis Hamilton believes his collision with Williams driver Pastor Maldonado during Q2 could have been a lot worse, and is happy to come away unscathed.

The McLaren team were able to repair Hamilton's car and the British driver qualified in second for Sunday's race



Source: SixtyBuckss

Vettel still has the winning instinct

In order to seal his consecutive title Vettel doesn't even have to win anymore. Although he would everytime settle for 2nd position, nobody would win the WDC's points even if they won all remaining 8 races.

– I rather take two victories and drive off in a few races than start to ensure my lead, Vettel assures.

– The most important is not to lead now, only after the last race. Last year taught that. Now the situation in my case is different than back then, but I haven't even wanted to know what my difference to the others is.

When Vettel was asked if he is worried when three last races weren't victories, he gives a wide smile.

– Not at all. It's how one wants to see these things. I think it's the media who is starting to be concerned. We have had difficult races but yet got an okay result. There hasn't really been any dramatic turn here.

Vettel celebrated each victory with different hand gestures. They created all sorts of buzz in the opponent's camps but Vettel assures that he hasn't intended to annoy anyone with his finger tricks.

– They are all my own choreography. And I have new hands left when I win again, Vettel promises.

Webber's continuance still not confirmed

Webber's contract was supposed to be signed in the middle of July and 'sure sources' claimed that it would be announced during the break in August. Yet nothing has been heard. The whisper on Spa paddock and Red Bull's VIP-premises is that they still wouldn't have made the final decision.

In the rumour mill they have been grinding Kimi Räikkönen to replace Webber although Christian Horner has time after time denied that the Finn would be an option to drive alongside Vettel next year.

Ferrari's development work stops in Monza

Red Bull uses a smaller rear wing in order to compensate for their loss of powers on long straights. When the track was dry the lead McLaren and Ferrari achieved on long straights only grew bigger.

In Ferrari they have made a guideline that they will work on 150 Italia -car to Monza and charge everything to next year after that. However if it would happen that Fernando Alonso would reach Vettel's 50 points lead, then the plans could change.

Turun Sanomat, Spa

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Photos: Happy Birthday Mark Webber

Mark Webber celebrates his 35th birthday with a cake and members of the team at Belgian GP 2011

Before the third practice session (and the rain) Mark Webber was presented with a cake for his birthday so the media had the chance to quiz him about his day and his contract for next year.

Asked about passing the milestone, Mark said: “It’s a good day, and this is a sensational venue to celebrate my birthday, they come along every year, but I feel good for 35 and still going to go around next year – I’m looking forward to it.”

And his reasons for continuing to race were fairly self-explanatory… “I still think I’m driving well, the team’s performing at a very, very high level so that’s attractive and I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy racing against these guys at the front at this level; you’re at the top of your game and that’s the enjoyment of being a competitor, so looking forward to continuing.”

The final question concerned his place within the team. Presumably he was assured everything will be exactly the same as it always has been between him and Sebastian, both in the car and on track? “Everything’s absolutely fine there. You know I wouldn’t be super-happy if it wasn’t like that so yeah, it’s all good and that’s why I’ll be going again.”

Source: YallaF1

Alonso: We've nothing to lose

Fernando Alonso has once again urged Ferrari to take risks in the final stint of this year's World Championship

The Spaniard, who was fighting for the World title up until the final lap of last season's finale, currently finds himself down in fourth place in the Drivers' Championship, 89 points behind reigning World Champ Sebastian Vettel.

And Alonso reckons the only way Ferrari have any chance of beating the Red Bull driver to this year's crown is to go all out.

"We didn't program anything to be conservative at the beginning, or more aggressive now," said Alonso.

"It's just that the way things have worked out in the last couple of races, we've been lucky with strategies and they've worked out okay.

"With this year's tyres and the degradation, you need a bit of luck with strategy because tyre behaviour is very unpredictable from lap to lap.

"With 70 to 80 pit stops in general for the whole grid, you catch people when they go into the pits or they're coming out.

"There is nothing we can lose now if we take risks, like in the last race in Hungary where it was wet and dry, so you can take a bit more risk.

"In the past, if you want to fight for the Championship, normally you wait for someone to put on dry tyres when it's wet, or vice versa.

"Now we can be the first because we've nothing to lose."

But, however, Ferrari play it in the final eight races, Alonso admits his chances of success rest on him claiming maximum points at as many races as possible.

"Until the maths say otherwise, and if there is a possibility, then we will fight," said Alonso.

"We've seen many times in Formula One strange things happen, and in two, three races with the new points system, anything could happen.

"So we will not give up at this point. We will try to win every race.

"With four or five races to go, if there is still a possibility we will try and go for it.

"At that stage, if it is not possible, then it will be time to give up, but not now with the amount of points still on the table."

Source: Planet-F1

Lewis: Together we can destroy the field

Lewis Hamilton admits everyone at McLaren need to cut out the mistakes if they want to "destroy the field"

Hamilton finds himself third in the Drivers' Championship, 88 points behind pacesetter Sebastian Vettel with just eight races left in the season.

The 2008 World Champion, though, insists he is not losing too much sleep over his position in the standings.

"I could easily get upset about it."

He added: "What's important is that I drive the best I have ever driven.

"I think at the last race I wasn't at the top of my game, so I want to make sure I am at my best, and that's what I'm working towards.

"The team are also working towards being at their best so together we can destroy the field."

The 2008 World Champion will no doubt feel he should be a lot closer to Vettel as individual as well as team erroris cost him dearly. At the Hungarian Grand Prix a poor strategic call from the pit wall, a spin and a drive-through penalty saw him finish fourth instead of battling it out with team-mate Jenson Button for the victory.

The Brit adds that he will be striving for consistence in the latter stages of the season.

"I had the realisation a long, long time ago I could not afford to make any more errors, but we've still had them," he said.

"That's why I'm kind of relaxed. What will be, will be. We'll have some ups and downs for the rest of the season, that's the way it has gone.

"I've just got to take it one race at a time and see how it goes because you can have a good race here, a bad race there.

"So many things can affect it, not just your driving, but things you are affected by in the car, decisions made by the team.

"So I have to keep a lot of energy to make sure I make the right decisions. Everything has to come together, to be on point.

"We have not been as consistent in that area as we would like to be and that's something else we are working on.

"But if we're consistent for the rest of the season, like the time when I was always on the podium in 2007, that would be beautiful.

"I would definitely take that."

Source: Planet-F1

Mark Webber: All to play for in F1 title race

As F1 returns from its summer holidays, Mark Webber is ready for a fight: the racing is going to be tight, he says, and the Drivers’ Championship is still up for grabs

by Matt Youson, Aug 26, 2011

While most drivers spent their free time chilling at the beach, Mark Webber spent his on a bike racing four times F1 World Champion and semi-professional cyclist Alain Prost up the fearsome Alpe D’Huez.

It’s proof, if it were needed, that Webber is a competitor to the core, and despite being in second place, 85 points behind team-mate and championship leader Sebastian Vettel, he believes there is still plenty of racing ahead before the season is done. Here’s what he has to say…

Mark, what’s going to happen this weekend?
MW: It’s always great to come here: the drivers love Spa – because thankfully it hasn’t been designed in the last 10 years. So, it’s got some real corners and a beautiful, undulating layout. You feel pretty remote out there in the forest, just you and the car.

I see the weekend being tight, to be honest. I see Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull with no clear advantage. I think it’ll be like the last three or four grands prix – very, very tight, nip and tuck around the pitstops. It’s going to be tight between all of the teams.

This hasn’t been a good track for Red Bull Racing…
MW: In the last couple of years there’s a few places where we have been very strong, like Budapest and Silverstone, Barcelona too, whereas this year you’ve had Seb practically pushed over the line in Barcelona by Lewis. So the tracks have tightened up in terms of us having an advantage at what we’d call our better tracks – but let’s see what happens on the tracks that have been a little bit difficult for us, like this one here and obviously Monza. Canada [where Red Bull have also struggled previously] wasn’t too bad this year. So we’ll see how we go here. It is in our minds a bit but not full-on.

you think it’s possible for a driver to dominate the end of the season like Seb did at the start?
MW: No. I think that’s over. To have five, six, seven victories on the bounce, that’s not going to happen. I think it’ll be more spread out. The same people though, and I’d love to get involved myself.

So, does is the [Drivers’] Championship is over?
MW: No. Not if Seb fails to finish in two races. Seb’s in a great position, no question about it, but it’s not completely comfortable for him yet.

It has seemed in recent races that the RB7 has been struggling with its tyres. Has something changed?
MW: It’s a big question and it is a challenge. We had a strange month with those cooler temperatures. Silverstone was very cold, Germany, Hungary… it was a bizarre little month. We saw Valencia be normal, and McLaren in the shit on Sunday, but the other races they’ve been very, very, very strong – so clearly there’s a lot to understand.

We knew from winter testing that [temperature and tyres] was going to be a big part of the racing, but now it’s really getting down to a fine line, and a fine part of how you manage to pull everything together.

We do everything we can to understand it and develop to suit it. We’ve had a successful recipe for the last few years where Adrian [Newey] sometimes isn’t even looking at the results. He’s still just looking at performance and how can we make it better irrespective of guys closing in on us.

Source: Red Bull

Lewis: It's cool that Schu's still racing

McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have lauded F1 legend Michael Schumacher ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix

Seven-time World Champion Schumacher celebrates 20 years at the highest level of motorsport this weekend as he made his debut for Jordan on August 25, 1991, at the Spa circuit. Sunday's race will be the German's 280th, placing him second on the all-time list behind Rubens Barrichello.

"It is a great achievement for Michael. I think it is quite cool he is still here, so good on him," Hamilton said.

Button, who celebrated his 200th grand prix in Hungary with a win, also hailed Schumacher's longevity.

"This is my 12th year in the sport, but 20 years...to be at the top of his game for that long is very impressive," the 31-year-old said.

"For a driver, with the stresses and pressures that are on you, 20 years is a long time in the sport for anyone.

"Looking at it I'm only eight years behind. I can't see myself racing when I'm in my 40s, but there is always a possibility."

Schumacher won't be the only one looking forward to this weekend's Belgian GP as McLaren have a good record at Spa, winning 12 races. The Woking team are also on a good run of form as they won the two races before the summer break.

Hamilton admits he can't wait to get going again at one of his favourite tracks.

"After nearly a month out of the cockpit, I think every driver on the grid is really looking forward to racing on a track like Spa, which is easily one of the greatest circuits in the world," he said.

"Spa's always been one of my favourite tracks. It's a place where you really feel on the limit, which is pretty awesome in a Formula One car.

"I'm already looking forward to my first flying lap on Friday, and corners like Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont that are fantastic, just because they're so fast.

"Pouhon, in particular, is incredible, because you're really at the limit of the grip level.

"You're gently playing with the throttle and trying not to scrub off too much speed with the steering. Getting it right is an amazing feeling."

He added: "We go into the race weekend in a pretty good place as we've won the last two grands prix and the car feels strong.

"We've worked hard to improve the set-up, so it's really inspiring confidence at the moment, which means you can push it that little bit further, particularly in qualifying.

"Of course, the weekend is likely to be affected by the weather, which is always somewhat unpredictable at Spa.

"I'd prefer a dry race, but to be honest, I'll take any track condition. I just can't wait to get back out in my car."

Source: Planet-F1