The pendulum swung firmly back in Sebastian Vettel’s favour when the German’s Ferrari loved the low-speed Hungaroring and claimed a 1-2 for the Italian team.
Vettel now leads Lewis Hamilton by 14 points in the World Drivers Championship standings (202 to 188) with Vallteri Bottas a further 19 points adrift. At this stage, one DNF suffered by any of these three drivers could prove fatal to their championship aspirations.
Before accidents, gremlins and almost inevitable component changes play their part in making this fiercely competitive season all the more unpredictable, Vettel has to visit two circuits which will test his car to the max while playing into the hands of the Mercedes.
On all known form it is very conceivable Hamilton could eat away 20 points from his rival, by spearheading a Mercedes 1-2 in both Spa and Monza. These two races make up the next two rounds of the 2017 season and are the final European contests of the year. Both venues are high-speed layouts requiring low-downforce configurations and plenty of horsepower. Carrots and mash to the mighty Mercs.
Spa is Special
The Belgium GP is guaranteed to serve up something altogether different to what Hungary gave us (a mindless procession) because if God really is a racing driver then this circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, is probably what heaven looks like.
Ironic really as the Belgian circuit has sent 51 people back to their maker. July 21, 1973 was its darkest day with three people killed during the Spa 24Hour. Forty years hence, in modern day F1 safety, the tail doesn't merely wag the dog, it has wrapped itself around Fido's neck, slithered under his collar and is dragging him in circles around the living room floor.
But this place is different, it’s the one that got away, it is stuck in a time warp taking us back to the halcyon days of when, and to quote former McLaren team manager Alastair Cadwell: “sex was safe and motor racing was dangerous.”
In 2012, amidst opening bend chaos, Romain Grosjean attempted to decapitate Fernando Alonso and when it rains here, like it invariably does, to petrol heads the ensuing carnage is like a fully-fledged wet dream.
You have to love Spa, from the 150 degree opening bend throughout the ensuing four miles featuring track parts possessing names which simply evoke romantic thoughts of a whack-off load of F1 lifestyle homogenised with adrenaline filled wheel-to-wheel racing.
The Kemmel Straight evokes visions of a Middle Eastern battle ground. La Source: A cross between a downtown Los Angeles ghetto and high-class gentleman’s club. Pouhon: A martial arts weapon designed to break your leg clean in two without you knowing it had happened. Rivage: An outrageously expensive fine silk shirt from an Italian haute couture fashion house purposely made to make women fall at your feet regardless of the misshaped torso it’s draped around.
Sincerely the synthesis of speed, undulation, and challenging corners gives the genuine opportunity to race and therein Spa symbolizes the very best of what the sport has to offer.
Enjoy…
