Webber: Spa will be super-quick
Jaguar's Mark Webber says the lap times will be slashed when the Grand Prix circus visits Spa-Francorchamps for the first time since 2002 for the Belgian Grand prix on August 29. The circuit was off the calendar last year and such has been the pace of car and tyre development that Webber believes there will be a monster leap in pace
"Spa is going to be very, very quick," Webber said. "We haven't been there for a while so I think we're going to be six or seven seconds a lap faster than we were last time. It's a sensational place to drive a Formula One car. There are many important sections to Spa. Obviously Eau Rouge is very important as you have a long run up the hill to Les Combes but every corner you look at is important. It's a very long track and very fast, so you have to be hooked up well and truly for the whole lap."
The Australian believes the quirky Ardennes weather will influence the outcome of the race this year. "As usual, I think the weather will play a part," he said, "and we'll have to keep a close eye on it. Your judgements and your reactions to that are sometimes crucial to the weekend's performance, so it's all to play for.
"The aim at Spa is to try and get into the back of the points if we can, as we did at Silverstone, the Nurburgring and Hockenheim. It's a massive horsepower track but Cosworth are doing a great job so we'll se how we go. We'll certainly be pushing as hard as ever and chasing every single point we can right until the last race in Brazil in October."
Previous article
New Rules Could Benefit Ferrari, Warns Brawn
Next article
Shock collusion allegations
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
The squandered potential of a 70s F1 underdog
A podium finisher in its first outing but then never again, the BRM P201 was a classic case of an opportunity squandered by disorganisation and complacency, says STUART CODLING
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
Italian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Two drivers produced maximum-score performances as, for the second year in a row, Monza threw up an unpredictable result that left several others ruing what might have been
