Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - “The Hungaroring was clearly a good track for us from a performance and point-scoring point of view. Spa will be much harder as it doesn't suit our car that well, but we will make sure we work hard to achieve the best result possible. The P4 in Hungary definitely gives us all extra motivation! I raced (at Spa) last year during my F3 season and we won all three races that weekend, it felt great! So hopefully we can score some more points and continue with our good performances in Spa! It's such an amazing track to drive, it's unique! It has some very challenging and fun corners, like Eau Rouge, and the home crowd just make it even more special. I am really looking forward to the weekend ahead.”

Carlos Sainz - “After Hungary, we are one step closer to our target of finishing fifth in the championship. We are all working flat-out together and this is a very good sign! We will need a kind of race like the one we had in Hungary to be able to be competitive in Spa. Well, hey, maybe not exactly 100 percent the same. We know we'd be strong in sector two if we could run all the down force we have, but the problem is that the straights in sectors one and three are so long, that we will have to take all that down force off to be competitive. So we are hoping for some rain, that's for sure!

Anyway, we will do our best to extract the maximum out of the car whatever the conditions are and try and do what we did in Canada; it was a solid weekend even if we didn't have a competitive package. In the Renault World Series last year in Spa I won back-to-back races in a very solid way and it really consolidated my championship chances as well as my position within the Red Bull Junior Team. It will be emotional to go back there! The good memories will definitely give us a lot of energy and I will try and perform at the same level as I did there last year.

There's no doubt it's my favourite track together with Silverstone, I really, really like it for so many reasons, it's difficult to pick just one! Also, the fact of doing well there makes you like the circuit even more. I especially enjoy all the downhill section from the big long hairpin to Pouhon, the right-left at the end of sector two. It's just a really exceptional track."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “It's been good to take a break from racing and spend some time relaxing, training and recharging the batteries. But, of course, there's always that flame in the back of your mind that just wants to get back out there and get on it - especially after a race like Hungary. Spa is a great track to kick off the second part of the season too. It's one of the really great, old-school circuits with so much history. It's mostly medium to high speed corners, so you're pretty much pedal to the metal the whole way round which is a lot of fun. It's always special to come out on top at a classic race like this so I remember winning here well. I love this track and I'll be gunning for that top spot again.”

Nico Rosberg - “The summer break is a great chance for the team to recharge after a tough start to the year and they definitely deserve it for all the hard work in making the incredible car we've had so far this season. But for me, personally, it's time I'd rather be spending in the car! Hungary was a big disappointment and I've been itching to get back to racing ever since. When you're in such a close battle for the Championship, any opportunity to gain points is crucial and it's up to me to take those chances - but also to make them for myself. That's definitely the target for the second half of the year. We're only halfway through the season, so it's all still to play for. Spa is a fantastic circuit - a track that I think every driver enjoys and one that always produces spectacular racing. I'm looking forward to it.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - “The summer break was very relaxing for me. My schedule has been extra busy this year so it was nice to stay at home for a few weeks and just switch off and relax. Even though it’s only been a month since the last race, you miss being in the car and the buzz of racing, so I’m definitely ready to begin the second half of the season.

Spa is a favourite for all the drivers. When I think of driving there it just makes me smile because it’s got so many special high-speed corners - the corners you want to experience in a Formula One car. You’ve also got the history of the place and the unpredictable weather which often helps spice up the racing. We go there hoping to bounce back from a tough race in Hungary. The improvements we’ve made to the car will really help us in Spa, especially through the high-speed corners. The engine also plays a big part around the lap. We are competitive and I am confident we can start the second part of the season strongly.”

Sergio Perez - “The break was a good opportunity to recharge my batteries and spend some time at home with my family. The calendar is pretty busy and we don't often get the chance to have some time for ourselves. However, I am really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel and doing what I really love.

Spa is an amazing track and I enjoy racing there. The first sector and the run through Eau Rouge feel very special in a Formula One car and it’s definitely a highlight of the year. The track can also produce really good racing because there are a few corners where you have a good chance to overtake. I think the characteristics of the track and its emphasis on power and top speed should suit our car. You also have to expect wet weather at some point during the weekend so it could be quite unpredictable. We have shown some good pace in the last few races and we should be in a position to get a good result.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - “I am really looking forward to driving at Spa-Francorchamps in general and Eau Rouge, Blanchimont and Pouhon in particular. This traditional Grand Prix weekend at this historic track is purely about racing, and the fans are really into our sport and passionate about it. The atmosphere is great there. In comparison to other circuits, the track is quite long with some interesting corners and long straights. Engine power is the crucial factor, which fits well with our engine update. It’s one of those tracks which is like an adventure, it goes up and downhill. Always an important aspect of Spa is the weather. You never know what is going to happen, one part of the track can be wet and the other can be dry. This is also what makes Spa so special.”

Felipe Nasr - “Spa is my favourite circuit on the calendar. The track is unique, having a lot of high-speed corners and a great corner combination. As a driver you get a nice flow going through these corner combinations. It is a track on which you need a stable car in the high-speed corners. I would say the combination of low down force and traction is essential to be competitive. Going through Eau Rouge flat out will be tricky and, for sure, a challenge. It will be my first time driving this circuit in a Formula One car. We do have our engine update there, but, as we haven’t run it yet, we don’t know what it is going to be like. We are all looking forward to it and hope this will be a benefit for us.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo - “When I was a kid I played the racing games quite a bit and Spa was always the track I played - it was my favourite - and when I got to drive there for real, every bit was as good as I thought it would be. My first race was in Formula Renault 2.0 and I can still picture the first lap, thinking ‘wow’ as I went through Eau Rouge.

To win the Grand Prix last year was really, really cool. It was pretty tough to drive. We ran really low downforce, pretty much Monza-spec. It made it tricky: tail-y but fun. Trying to keep up the rhythm when the car is moving around is not always easy - but I think it was the best package we had for the weekend. When Spa’s sunny, it’s great. A proper old-school Grand Prix for the real racing enthusiast. Great atmosphere, great fans, great beer and definitely the place to come if you like the frites. Only drawback is that it’ll be 30 degrees C with blue skies one minute and hosing down the next.”

Daniil Kvyat - “Spa is one of my favourite tracks of the year. I think that’s a bit of cliche but I think it’s a favourite for all the drivers. It’s really long, really challenging, there are some proper fast sections and some properly balls-out corners. At Spa, more than anywhere, you feel that you’re really driving an F1 car.

With these cars Eau Rouge is back to being a bit of a balls-out corner - especially in the wet. Pouhon is pretty much and Blanchimont still, but really only in the wet. It’s full of great, flowing, interesting sections. There’s great history (at Spa-Francorchamps); the atmosphere is amazing. To be honest it’s quite hard to put into words. I like the weather. It always feels like one of the freshest weekends of the year, if that doesn’t sound strange, but it’s cold at night, and the mist and everything adds to the atmosphere. It’s a great circuit and I think it brings out the true fans and that’s quite special.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus

Romain Grosjean - “What a fabulous race circuit! Spa as we all know is one of the best tracks we go to, if not the best of them all. As a driver it is like a dream circuit with elevation change, quick corners, medium-speed technical corners and some good straights for overtaking. It’s a circuit with a soul. I always enjoy racing here, as do most of the drivers. What I find memorable about Spa is not only the track but also the beautiful surroundings in the Ardennes forest. From the cockpit you get a very real sense of being at a living, breathing track at Spa and the fans are really close to the action. You can almost smell the frites! It’s a great track as there’s so much to think about over a lap. That’s true if you’re on a qualifying lap trying to maximise your speed at every point, or in a race where you’re either defending or attacking, and maybe both over the course of a lap. It’s the type of place where the differences between cars can be highlighted and sometimes you see a car go really well here - let’s hope that’s our car this season!

You need good grunt from the engine and a well set-up and forgiving car. We can definitely deliver on both those counts so it’s going to be interesting to see how we fare against our rivals. You also need an element of luck sometimes as the weather in the Ardennes can present a challenge. It’s almost a cliche to talk about the possibility of rain on one part of the track when it’s dry on another, but this can happen. If it happens during qualifying, it’s a massive challenge to make the right call with timing for your lap. If it happens during the race, then the call of when to pit and change your tyres for wet weather ones or back to slicks has a massive impact as it’s a long, long, long lap if you’re at Spa on the wrong rubber.

I won in the GP2 Series in 2008 which was a fabulous feeling and I’ve certainly missed the Spa podium since then. I’ve always had good pace but my best result in F1 so far there is P8. I don’t see why we can’t improve on that this year. I think the circuit could well play to some of the strengths we have in the car and I’m certainly ready for more points. Me and the team will be doing everything we can to go well and get the strongest result possible, after all that’s what we’re here to do!”

Pastor Maldonado - “Where do you start with Spa? It is an amazing circuit and for sure one of the best on the planet. The sensations a driver experiences at corners like the Eau Rouge / Radillon combination, Pouhon and Blanchimont are not like you feel anywhere else in the world. It is unique in every way and to think you are competing on parts of the track that were used back in the first Grand Prix season in 1950 makes it very special indeed. Every track has its own challenges. For Spa, it’s a long lap and this can present some set-up challenges. You want low drag for the straights but decent down force for the corners. This is the same at any track, but with the longer lap at Spa the different requirements are highlighted. Sometimes the best set-up for the fastest lap is not necessarily the best in a race. It’s easier to overtake on the straights, so a car fast here, but maybe relatively slower in the corners could be the preferred race set-up. This year we have a car we know to be very quick in a straight line, so this could help us. Then, of course, you never know if you’re going to get rain at Spa, and when it comes, it can come very quickly. There’s always something to keep you on your toes at Spa.

Spa is the type of track where you get great memories whenever or whatever you are racing. But of course the ones that really stick in the mind are the victories and I am lucky that I have won here a few times. I first raced at Spa in 2004 in Formula Renault. In 2006 I won in World Series by Renault at Spa, taking pole, fastest lap and the victory. Then in 2008 I won in the GP2 Series for the first time. Then I took another win in my championship year in 2010 which was a sweet moment. In Formula One I qualified sixth in 2012. So all in all I have great memories of the track and feel that I have a special relationship with it going back many years.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Belgian GP: Circuit Preview

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As the teams prepare to head to Belgium for the next race, it's time to go ahead and take a look at the iconic circuit.

"Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps" is located in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium and is one of the oldest circuit, dating back to its opening in 1922. It's also one of the longest circuits with a distance of 4.352 miles. Because of it's length, the F1 race only runs for 44 laps. 

The circuit has 20 turns, runs clockwise and has a capacity of 70,000. Weather can also be quite unpredictable & Very often can be cloudy with rain. Humidity is also usually quite high.

In 2014, it was Nico Rosberg who started on Pole Position, but the Mercedes driver was unable to win. Instead, it was Daniel Ricciardo who held the 1st Place trophy high. Rosberg ended up finishing 2nd while Williams driver, Bottas, finished 3rd.

Retirements included: Pastor Maldonado (Exhaust), Andre Lotterer (Electronics), Romain Grosjean (Power Unit), Lewis Hamilton (Collision Damage) & Jules Bianchi (Gearbox - Qualified As Finished) 

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Belgian GP: Schedule

With Summer Break nearly over, the teams prepare for the next stop on the F1 calendar - Belgium! Continuing the European portion of the season, Spa is one of the most iconic and oldest tracks on the current calendar and is home to many other motorsport events, including the 24 Hours Of Spa.

Here's the schedule for the upcoming F1 week.

SCHEDULE: 

August 20th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

August 21st / Friday

08:45 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:50 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

August 22nd / Saturday

08:30 - 09:15 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
08:30 - 09:35 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3
13:00 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:00 - Qualifying

August 23rd / Sunday

12:25 - 13:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:30 - Drivers Track Parade
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race Start

(Times subject to change)

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Hungarian GP

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Sebastian Vettel. Not mainly because he won, but because of how he won. He didn't have an easy time making it across the finish line first. There were plenty of obstacles, but he really proved that he's helping Ferrari climb to the top this year and it's also great to see Vettel having a good time on the team and still enjoying the sport.

From the beginning of the race, you could tell he wasn't going to let this one slip away. He fought every lap to take the win & there were so many moments where it looked like someone else would catch up. Then there's always that horrible chance that there could be a bad pit-stop or a mechanical issue. But.. In the end, he did it and it was incredible."

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Feature: Hungarian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead writer & Editor) - "It's been quite a rough time with the sad news of Bianchi's passing and it definitely made for a tough race weekend. Everyone raced for him for sure. The whole community really came together in his honour.

As for the race itself, it was everything anyone could have asked for in a race. From the moment it started, I knew things were going to be interesting. To see the Mercedes not have their usual pace was interesting. A huge congrats to Vettel, Kvyat and Ricciardo. Definitely a special moment for Kvyat, being it was his first F1 podium. Also quite lovely to see everyone dedicating their points/race to Jules. 

Now is the Summer Break before the crew heads to Spa, (In Belgium), and it will be the last half of the season. Time to make these last races count. So much to fight for.

Cheers."

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