F1 2026: Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps (July 19)

Car-Addicted wrote

I do like me some Checo:

"There are many drivers in Formula 1 who are going to leave the sport without even a win or a podium, and it's not because they didn't perform or didn't deserve it. They're fantastic drivers. I mean, it's crazy that Hulkenberg has only one podium in his career. I grew up with him, he's one of the best drivers, but he hasn't had the opportunity, he hasn't been in the right place at the right time. That's how Formula 1 is."

So much truth, Hulkenberg deserved a quality ride earlier in his career.

Stavelot

M5Rick wrote

Bring it on !!

Eau Rouge backwards (!)

Useless to say who it was...

https://twitter.com/i/status/2076730124716965913

.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Eau Rouge backwards (!)

Useless to say who it was...

https://twitter.com/i/status/2076730124716965913

I can only think of Webber and not the finger

///M Power-Belgium wrote

.

That forest is so imposing, reminds me of the Green Hell.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Eau Rouge backwards (!)

Useless to say who it was...

https://twitter.com/i/status/2076730124716965913

M5Rick wrote

I can only think of Webber and not the finger

It was #UnLeashTheLion , as you can see ...

M5Rick wrote

That forest is so imposing, reminds me of the Green Hell.

The Belgian Ardennes look fantastic ..
When I drive on the roads through the Ardennes , it feels like like our ///M cars are made for it..
It feels wonderful to drive there through the forests

But when I see a road sign with a deer on it ,It's like a wake-up call for my right foot and my S65 high rpm's drops..

Spa has to be the best track. #1. The only think close is Nurburgring but there are no F1 races.

#2 Probably a tie between Suzuka and Monza with Suzuka probably better. After that kind of meh. Interlagos and Silverstone are pretty good. I really do not like Monaco. I don't know about the A Ring. Imola is not bad. The new tracks or Tilke dromes are pretty awful. Miami was built in a parking lot but it does get fast as some parts. Best racetrack in the USA is Road America in Wisconsin.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

The Belgian Ardennes look fantastic ..
When I drive on the roads through the Ardennes , it feels like like our ///M cars are made for it..
It feels wonderful to drive there through the forests

But when I see a road sign with a deer on it ,It's like a wake-up call for my right foot and my S65 high rpm's drops..

Some time ago driving the CLK cab in SW Poland was motoring along three up through a dense forrest during the daytime on a narrow road and for some reason something felt wrong as if the forest was closing in on us and I slowed to well under half the speed I was going then a little further up the road a young deer jumped across the road in direct line that would have been the side windows of the car. Had I continued at the speed I was going before then a catastrophe would have happened.
We continue slowly with h/lights on full beam with the born blaring intermittently until we reached the end of that particular stretch with no signs of deers.

M5Rick wrote

///M Power-Belgium wrote

.

That forest is so imposing, reminds me of the Green Hell.

What is so amazing about some of these tracks is that it can be raining in one spot and not raining in another. Spa, N Ring, even Silverstone, Suzuka or Interlagos.

Spa is incredible and a beautiful spot. Images of Kimi Raikkonen not lifting at Eau Rouge. Sadly, also thoughts of Stefan Bellhof trying to pass there in a 956.

I like watching videos by Aidan Millward about F1.

Here is a good video with robot AAI voice and stock footage about a Belgian driver. He who was much better then most people realize. He was also a very good sports car driver.

Thierry Boutsen

///M Power-Belgium wrote

It was #UnLeashTheLion , as you can see ...

Would love to see that Webber/Vettel multi 21 moment again with Vettel refusing team orders to let Mark past and after getting out of his wrecked car the finger pointing to his head posing that his teammate was mad !!!

FrankL wrote

Spa has to be the best track. #1. The only think close is Nurburgring but there are no F1 races.

#2 Probably a tie between Suzuka and Monza with Suzuka probably better. After that kind of meh. Interlagos and Silverstone are pretty good. I really do not like Monaco. I don't know about the A Ring. Imola is not bad. The new tracks or Tilke dromes are pretty awful. Miami was built in a parking lot but it does get fast as some parts. Best racetrack in the USA is Road America in Wisconsin.

Right there with you. My top 3 tracks:

1. Suzuka
2. Spa
3. Interlagos

M5Rick wrote

Would love to see that Webber/Vettel multi 21 moment again with Vettel refusing team orders to let Mark past and after getting out of his wrecked car the finger pointing to his head posing that his teammate was mad !!!

Vettel could be a A$$ on occasion. Always respect but never a fan.
Malaysian Grand Prix (2013)
Turkey (2010)
Baku (2017)
Canada (2019)

Formula 1 monitoring Middle East situation as WEC decision loomsFormula 1 says it continues to monitor developments in the Iran war and its potential impact on the 2026 season, as the World Endurance Championship (WEC) considers changes to its race calendar.
The F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were postponed in April as a result of the conflict, and RACER understands that plans were then put in place to reinstate one of the races at a later date in the season. The most viable date that did not involve moving other events is the first weekend of October, creating a triple header of races that would begin in Azerbaijan and end in Singapore.
For that date, a final decision would be required ahead of F1's August shutdown. However, with an initial ceasefire having been followed by both the United States and Iran trading strikes in recent weeks – including Iran targeting military facilities in Bahrain – there is growing uncertainty over whether reinstating a race in the region in under three months’ time can happen.
Later in the year, F1 is due to end its season in the Middle East, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events forming a triple-header with Las Vegas. The race in Qatar is scheduled for November 29, and Abu Dhabi for December 6. An F1 spokesperson says the championship is continuing to “monitor and assess the situation”.
Focus on F1’s calendar has increased following WEC putting a contingency plan in place that could lead to its rescheduled races in Qatar and Bahrain, on October 25 and November 7 respectively, replaced by European-based rounds in Barcelona and Monza.
As reported by RACER on Monday, the plan was presented to teams during the 6 Hours of São Paulo weekend, but is not yet finalized and would need ratification from the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

If they cancel the end of the Formula One season then I hope they drop every bunker buster in the arsenal on those pesky moooslems.

Some history to start the SPA week off: Dan Gurney wins SPA
Grand Prix (1967)

Car-Addicted wrote

BREAKING: F1 will be replacing Bahrain with the I-95 Grand Prix. Maine to Florida. 2 laps. Everyday traffic is still on the road. No speed limits. Every bridge is a Straight Mode zone. If you get a penalty you have to go through the cash only toll booth. Good luck.

Maybe not in his county... :bellyroll

Straykiwi wrote

Maybe not in his county... :bellyroll

''I'll get them Duke's...by hook or by crook'

FrankL wrote

What is so amazing about some of these tracks is that it can be raining in one spot and not raining in another. Spa, N Ring, even Silverstone, Suzuka or Interlagos.

Spa is incredible and a beautiful spot. Images of Kimi Raikkonen not lifting at Eau Rouge. Sadly, also thoughts of Stefan Bellhof trying to pass there in a 956.

I like watching videos by Aidan Millward about F1.

Here is a good video with robot AAI voice and stock footage about a Belgian driver. He who was much better then most people realize. He was also a very good sports car driver.

Thierry Boutsen

There has been and lot of guessing why Boutsen speared off the track at the start of the last F1 race at Brands back in '86 hitting the barrier then back onto the track already being blocked by Mansell's slow Williams adding to causing a pile up of cars behind, with the Belgian even shaking his head to his Arrows team boss afterwards not knowing why he went off. Studying the footage you can just about see for a couple of seconds that his R/F steering rod was broken with the wheel flaying about before the impact with the barrier.

The F1 TV talking idiots have chimed in on the "Where will Max go" saga.

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer cautioned Mercedes about the potential pitfalls of signing Max Verstappen to partner with Kimi Antonelli. Speaking to media, Palmer remarked:
“The only thing I see with Mercedes is this: if George were to leave and decide he wants to start afresh somewhere else, which is a big if, does Toto Wolff want to partner his great talent, Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen? That feels like a recipe for disaster now.”
“So I think Kimi has almost raised his level to the point where, if George goes, Max is no longer the ideal replacement.”

And the day would not be complete with out Juan Montoya's views.

Juan Pablo Montoya advised Max Verstappen to reconsider any potential move to McLaren, emphasizing that life at the Woking-based team would not be simple.
For Gianpiero, the move is also a completely new world. New programmes, new mentalities. A totally different way of doing things. And Gianpiero still has to learn all of that too."
“Right now, everyone can see that McLaren is completely built around Lando. How comfortable is that? You know what I mean? Max has the advantage that he's at Red Bull, and everything revolves around him.”

Reminder that F1 TV is owned by Liberty Media.

Car-Addicted wrote

The F1 TV talking idiots have chimed in on the "Where will Max go" saga.

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer cautioned Mercedes about the potential pitfalls of signing Max Verstappen to partner with Kimi Antonelli. Speaking to media, Palmer remarked:
“The only thing I see with Mercedes is this: if George were to leave and decide he wants to start afresh somewhere else, which is a big if, does Toto Wolff want to partner his great talent, Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen? That feels like a recipe for disaster now.”
“So I think Kimi has almost raised his level to the point where, if George goes, Max is no longer the ideal replacement.”

And the day would not be complete with out Juan Montoya's views.

Juan Pablo Montoya advised Max Verstappen to reconsider any potential move to McLaren, emphasizing that life at the Woking-based team would not be simple.
For Gianpiero, the move is also a completely new world. New programmes, new mentalities. A totally different way of doing things. And Gianpiero still has to learn all of that too."
“Right now, everyone can see that McLaren is completely built around Lando. How comfortable is that? You know what I mean? Max has the advantage that he's at Red Bull, and everything revolves around him.”

Reminder that F1 TV is owned by Liberty Media.

It just goes to show that Wolff's 'We would love to have MAX' is idle pub talk coming out of him, just meaningless chatter box stuff or does he mean 'have him' in the sense of to keep beating him. I wouldn't trust tricky Toti with a barge pole.

M5Rick wrote

It just goes to show that Wolff's 'We would love to have MAX' is idle pub talk coming out of him, just meaningless chatter box stuff or does he mean 'have him' in the sense of to keep beating him. I wouldn't trust tricky Toti with a barge pole.

The newly built Uhoda Tower looks great

///M Power-Belgium wrote

The newly built Uhoda Tower looks great

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It certainly looks different, more drone attack proof than the previous Englebert one