Spa GP

[cromwell]

In wet practice and qualifying, Mercedes are one and two on the grid, nearly two seconds quicker then everyone else!

Spa is usually a good race and it's a fantastic track, can't wait!

[Workingman]

Just about everybody's favourite circuit. The forecast is dry but with a 33% chance of rain.

If it stays dry and without incidents the Mercs could lap everyone up to themselves.

[Workingman]

Well well, when a racing incident goes well for Hamilton it is brilliant driving, but when it does not it's everyone else's fault.

What I did not like to hear was Hamilton's constant moaning and wish to pull out of the race. It was given as a desire to preserve the engine, but there was a big hint of "I am not going to get good points so let me retire." I suppose a DNF looks better on a CV than 'Finished 16th'.

It's a good job drivers from Caterham, Marrusia, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Lotus, Force India and even McLaren don't feel that way, isn't it?

Drivers of the day: Daniel, Vatteri and Kimi. Good show lads, and thank you.

[cromwell]

I thought it was a racing incident too - usually when back wheels are hit by the car behind, doesn't the car behind usually come off worse?
Didn't like them booing Rosberg on the rostrum either.

Ricciardo is having a great season.

[Workingman]

Did anyone notice Bottas overtake Vettel at Les Combes chicane?

It was almost an exact replica of Hamilton v Rosberg. The difference was that Vettel knew that to keep the best line into the the left-hand second part could take them both off, so he stayed right.

Just a thought.

[miasmum]

The booing was disgusting and the inflammatory comments by Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda were also disgusting.

So they shouldn't overtake each other on the first few laps???? Well in that case how come Lewis was in front of Nico when Nico started on pole?

and if Lewis is so proud of his "British" fans, why does he speak with an American accent?

[Workingman]

Good question. I always thought that "the race" was from the beginning of lap one to the end of the last lap.

Rumours are rife that Rosberg could be hauled before the FIA. This is because Hamilton claims that Rosberg admitted he had hit him on purpose. Wolff, however, says that Rosberg felt that he was entitled to hold his line.

Talk about a Hornet's nest! I cannot imagine them being team-mates next year.

[miasmum]

I have been thinking and I think it is time to do away with the drivers championship and just have the constructors championship, and make it a team sport.

You constantly hear the comments "for the good of the team" so lets just stop pretending and accept the days of 'racing' drivers are over, they are just drivers now. They are not allowed to race, the stewards slap every overtake with a penalty, team orders dictate who leads and ultimately who wins. It would also stop the need for the ridiculous double points end race, which is going to throw a complete spanner in someones works.

[Workingman]

Shell, I don't think that your idea will work. Points for the Constructor's championship have to be awarded somehow, and that will inevitably be on a team's cars finishing positions in a race. Fans, and possibly drivers, would use those points to create a de facto driver's championship anyway.

I would like to see the whole thing made simpler, but you already know that.

[cromwell]

I do think that Mercedes have handled the situation poorly. After the first race of the season it was pretty obvious that either Hamilton or Rosberg was going to be world champion. When you have that situation and two Number One drivers in your team, recent history suggests that you will have trouble.
Especially when Lewis is one of them; remember his season with Alonso, at McLaren? Lewis also has a history of banging wheels with people (Button in Canada a few years ago when the were both at McLaren, Raikkonen and Button again this season when has carving through the field from a low grid position, whilst Rosberg had to avoid an accident with Hamilton in the first race of the year).
So given this situation, when you give team orders out during a race, those orders have to be obeyed. Instead Mercedes gave the orders, Hamilton ignored them and after the race Mercedes said that he was right to do so! That decision was always going to cause trouble, and it has.

Look at last year; Vettel disobeyed team orders to overtake Webber and was (rightly) cast as the villain. Hamilton disobeys team orders this year and he's the hero. It's illogical.