Speedcafe.com Race Guide - 2012 Belgian Grand Prix

Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, August 31-September 2

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Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren all duked it out for the lead in the opening laps last year, with Sebastian Vettel eventually taking the trophy

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Introduction

Taking stock The mid-season break, in which all teams are required to shutdown their factories for two weeks, naturally provides an opportunity to reflect on the season so far.

Spa Francorchamps EDITOR: Stefan Bartholomaeus DESIGN: Kirstie Fuentes SALES/MARKETING: Leisa Emberson IMAGES: Red Bull Racing McLaren Ferrari Mercedes Lotus Force India Sauber Toro Rosso Williams Caterham HRT Marussia PARTNERS: Castrol EDGE, IRWIN Tools, Money Choice, Orrcon Steel, Pirtek, Vodafone,

There has been more to muse over than usual in 2012, with seven winners from the first seven races typifying the unpredictable nature of the competition.

Remarkably, tyres have been an even bigger talking point than they were last year, with results largely dictated by each car’s ability to ‘switch on’ its Pirelli rubber in the prevailing track conditions.

The now traditional heavy-hitters McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari have all looked the goods at various points of the year, while Lotus continues to be the ‘nearly team’.

Refreshingly, Sauber and Williams have also had their time in the sun, with the latter chalking up a memorable drought-breaking win through Pastor Maldonado at Barcelona.

What we have been left with after 11 races is a tasty looking Drivers’ Championship equation that sees Fernando Alonso with a 40 point advantage over the squabbling Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen are also far from out of it in fourth and fifth respectively, but closing the near 50 point deficit to Alonso will require some misfortune for the Spaniard.

Should the Ferrari pilot go on to win his third world championship crown it will surely be one of the greatest victories in the history of the championship.

The completeness of the 31-year-old’s skill set is currently unmatched by any other on the grid, and has helped make what seemed an impossible dream for Ferrari at the beginning of the season look like an achievable reality.

In what continues to prove a difficult time for Spain, Alonso has been one of several sporting stars to lift the spirits of his nation with what on occasion have seemed super-human performances.

Red Bull will undoubtedly be pushing as hard as ever as they chase a third consecutive Drivers’/Constructors’ Championship double, but at this stage at least, Alonso has the look of a man that will not be denied.

Green means go!

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Journalist, Speedcafe.com Editor, Speedcafe Race Guides

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Lewis Hamilton snapped a disastrous three-race run to head into the mid-season break with his second win of the season. The Briton was keen to let the world know about it, too.

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Cover Story

Head 2Head Who is really winning the intra-team battles?

W

hen it comes to professional motor racing, the term team-mate is somewhat of a misnomer.

The idea that the first goal of any driver should be to beat their team-mate is as much a truism as it is a cliché. Due to the differences between equipment team to team, the concept is perhaps even more pertinent in Formula 1 than any other championship.

Formula 1’s history is littered with examples of cracking head-to-head team-mate tatea-tates. For every Mansell vs Piquet, Prost vs Senna, and Alonso vs Hamilton that spring immediately to mind, there were dozens more that took place further down the field.

Over the mid-year break leading into the Belgian Grand Prix, Speedcafe.com took a closer look at who has really been getting the job done so far in season 2012. The numbers provide some interesting insights, telling a far greater story than simply the championship points table...

Drubbings The most eye-catching numbers from the team-mate comparison data are undoubtedly that concerning Ferrari, McLaren and the HRT. The overall picture, of course, should be of no surprise to those who have taken even a passing interest in the season, but the magnitudes involved are undoubtedly alarming.

The traditional role of the second driver at Ferrari has been one of back-up to the outfit’s true championship challenger, but even Michael Schumacher found himself outshone by Rubens Barrichello once in a while. So far in 2012, Felipe Massa has yet to qualify or finish ahead of Fernando Alonso in a single qualifying session or race. While that is partially a testament to Alonso’s mercurial ability to drag big results from a car not quite up to the level of his fellow front-runners, sitting 13 places - and 139 points - behind your team-mate after just 11 races is hardly a sustainable situation for the

squad. No wonder the Scuderia chased so hard for the signature of one M.Webber...

At McLaren, the qualifying discrepancy is almost as devastating. Lewis Hamilton has been out-pacing Jenson Button at a rate of 10:1, and while the race comparison is a more respectable 7:4, it’s a considerable change from last year’s form (which saw Button finish ahead in 11 of the races on the way to second in points - three places higher than Hamilton). While Hamilton now appears to be McLaren’s only hope for the Continue on page 10 >>

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Drivers (champ pos in brackets)

Qualifying

Races

Sebastian Vettel (3) vs Mark Webber (2) Jenson Button (7) vs Lewis Hamilton (4) Fernando Alonso (1) vs Felipe Massa (14) Michael Schumacher (12) vs Nico Rosberg (6) Kimi Raikkonen (5) vs Romain Grosjean (8) Paul di Resta (13) vs Nico Hulkenberg (16) Kamui Kobayashi (10) vs Sergio Perez (9) Daniel Ricciardo (18) vs Jean-Eric Vergne (17) Pastor Maldonado (11) vs Bruno Senna (15) Heikki Kovalainen (19) vs Vitaly Petrov (20) Pedro de la Rosa (24) vs Narain Karthikeyan (23) Timo Glock (21) vs Charles Pic (22)

6:5 1:10 11:0 5:6 4:7 5:6 6:5 9:2 9:2 9:2 11:0 6:4

6:5 4:7 11:0 4:7 9:2 6:5 5:6 6:5 4:7 6:5 9:2 7:3

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Cover Story >> Continuation from page 8

Drivers’ title, Button has some serious socklifting to do if the team is to overhaul Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings.

Meanwhile, the less said about Narain Karthikeyan’s position alongside Pedro de la Rosa at the HRT the better...

Swings and roundabouts The stories at Toro Rosso, Williams and Caterham have all followed a similar plot so far this year, with one driver clearly dominant on Saturdays, but not so much on Sundays.

Daniel Ricciardo, Pastor Maldonado and Heikki Kovalainen have all out-qualified their respective team-mates nine times over the opening 11 encounters, with the Australian and the Finn holding down narrower 6:5 race advantages. The phenomenon at Toro Rosso can largely be put down to the tyre strategy advantage Jean-Eric Vergne has often enjoyed after failing to progress from Q1, while mechanical issues - and the odd incident - for Kovalainen have somewhat flattered Petrov.

Maldonado, meanwhile, has only finished in front of Bruno Senna four times, despite

the qualifying discrepancy. Maldonado may be four places ahead of his team-mate in the Drivers’ standings, but aside from his outstanding win in the Spanish Grand Prix, a litany of incidents have ensured that the Venezuelan has just one points finish to his name. Senna, by contrast, has six scores on the board, repeatedly turning mid-teen starting positions into minor points finishes.

The Lotus story, meanwhile, is somewhat opposite that of Williams, with Romain Grosjean holding down a not insignificant

7:4 advantage in qualifying, but being towelled to the tune of 2:9 in the races. In this case, Grosjean’s occasionally erratic race performances are being made to look worse by his exceptional one-lap speed.

Completing the sea-saw, Raikkonen’s average finish is nearly a full three places better than his average grid slot - a gap he’ll be hoping to close with improved Saturday runs in the second half of the season.

Tight Tussles Undoubtedly the closest team-mate battles so far this year have taken place at Red Bull, Force India and Sauber.

Mark Webber’s competitiveness against Sebastian Vettel has been a pleasant surprise for Australian fans after the pain of 2011, where the German hammered home a 16:3 advantage in both qualifying and the races. Vettel remains marginally in front on >> Continue on page 13

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Cover Story

>> Continuation from page 10

the head-to-head charts this year, but his mechanical failure in the European Grand Prix ensures that Webber has the edge, for now at least, in the points standings.

The battles at Force India and Sauber meanwhile are being waged between two pairs of talented young drivers that are each

showing the potential to be genuine future prospects for the big teams. Perez and Di Resta may enjoy notable points buffers over their team-mates in the championship table, but in a season where a midfield team can mount the podium when the strategic stars align, the points standings fail to tell the whole story.

Turning Tides It’s hard to know what to make of the duos at the two remaining teams, Mercedes and Marussia, at this point of the year.

The championship standings and headto-head stats both give the nod to Nico Rosberg and Timo Glock over their respective team-mates, but results leading into the mid-season break indicate that the battles have been far from won.

Michael Schumacher trails Nico Rosberg 5:6 in qualifying, 4:7 in the races and 29 points to 77 in the championship standings. The seven-time world champion’s season has, however, been dogged by six retirements, meaning only once has he finished behind Rosberg on the road. Additionally, Schumacher has bested his team-mate in three of the last four races - a period in which he has scored all but two of his total points. Whether or not that trend continues will be something to look out for in the coming races...

Likewise at Marussia, Timo Glock has shaded team-mate Charles Pic in the majority of qualifying sessions and races thus far.

The French rookie, however, continues to improve with experience, and his Saturday efforts leading into the break in both Germany and Hungary leaves this squabble as very much a case of ‘watch this space’.

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Track Details

Circuit Details Spa Francorchamps Technical preview with Lotus F1’s trackside operations director Alan Permane

THE CAR Rear wing We’ll be taking a similar specification of front wing to that of Melbourne, Sepang, Bahrain and Barcelona, which all have relatively high speed sections as we see here.

Brakes This is not a circuit with heavy braking demands, however good feedback from the brakes is required to help the drivers avoid locking up into turns two and six.

Turn eight is another place where good feel on the brake pedal is rewarded, with front wheel locking on turn in a common occurrence.

Suspension There isn’t a great deal of kerb usage or anything which relies on any particular aspect of the suspension here. You need a stable car through the quick change of direction in turns three and four, which can be achieved through a combination

of aerodynamic balance and suspension settings.

Tyres Soft and medium compound Pirelli tyres have been allocated here; the same combination as used in Australia, China, Bahrain and Valencia so far this season.

Front wing The high speed sectors of the track are the priority here, with set up aimed at the faster corners such as turns seven, ten and twelve.

Engine Overall power is the focus over low end driveability here thanks to a relatively fast circuit layout, particularly from the exit of turn two down to turn six.

THE Circuit Turn 2 A stable car under braking is needed into Turn 2 to allow a clean exit and good traction on to the fastest part of the track.

Turns 3 & 4 Turns 3 and 4 demand good change of direction from the car, with the rear end nicely settled on the exit of the latter to enable good acceleration on to the straight.

Turn 6 Turn 6 is an important corner, with drivers braking from high speed into what is the slowest turn on the circuit, then requiring good traction on exit.

Turn 7 Turn 7 is taken at high speed; flat out on low fuel, but is slightly more tricky with heavy fuel loads.

Turns 10 Turn 10 is off camber and quite tricky to get right. Towards the end of the race it can be taken almost flat out depending on how good the car is, but will not come close to that on heavy fuel.

Turns 12-17 High downforce is needed through the low speed stadium section of Turns 12 to 17, which are very narrow making overtaking difficult.

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The Bagman

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Red Bull Racing Base: Milton Keynes, UK Team Principal: Christian Horner Technical Chief: Adrian Newey Chassis: RB8 Engine: Renault RS27-2012

Debut: Albert Park, 2005 Constructors’ titles: 2 Wins: 30 Pole Positions: 42 Fastest Laps: 25

2012 FORM Sebastian Vettel

Championship Position: 3 Best Qualifying: 1 Average Qualifying: 4.8 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 6.0

Mark webber

Championship Position: 2 Best Qualifying: 2 Average Qualifying: 6.5 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 5.1

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

Red Bull Racing enters the second half of the 2012 season in the somewhat unfamiliar position of being the ‘hunted’ in the Constructors’ Championship while having its drivers in the position of ‘hunters’ in the Drivers’ title.

It’s been a largely consistent season so far for Mark Webber, who sits two points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, partially thanks to two costly non-scores from the German (one accident and one mechanical).

Straight-line speed has not been a strength of the Red Bull package in recent years, but Vettel’s win at Spa last year indicates that both drivers should be well in the fight for the this weekend.

Sebastian Vettel Nationality: German Date of Birth: 03/07/1987 Debut: Indianapolis, 2007 World Championships: 2 Wins: 22 Poles: 33 Fastest Laps: 13 Career Highlights: 2010 and 2011 World Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2006 F3 Euro Series, 2nd 2004 Formula BMW ADAC

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Mark Webber Nationality: Australian Date of Birth: 27/08/1976 Debut: Albert Park, 2002 World Championships: 0 Wins: 9 Poles: 9 Fastest Laps: 13 Career Highlights: 3rd 2010 and 2011 World Drivers’ Championship, 2nd 2001 International F3000, 1st 1996 British FF Festival

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes Base: Woking, UK Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh Technical Chief: Paddy Lowe Chassis: MP4-27 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 108Z

2012 FORM JENSON BUTTON Championship Position: 7 Best Qualifying: 2 Average Qualifying: 7.8 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 9.3 LEWIS HAMILTON Championship Position: 4 Best Qualifying: 1 Average Qualifying: 2.9 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 7.5

Debut: Monte Carlo, 1966 World Championships: 8 Wins: 178 Poles Positions: 150 Fastest Laps: 149

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

McLaren has endured a massively inconsistent 2012 thus far. Appearing to have the best sorted car preseason, the team dominated the season opener in Australia, but failed to hammer home the results in subsequent races while they still held the advantage.

A mini slump for Lewis Hamilton was broken just prior to the midseason layoff with a cracking win in Hungary. The 2008 champion is far from out of the hunt for a second title and will fancy his chances at Spa, especially if the race is run in mixed weather conditions.

Jenson Button meanwhile has struggled with qualifying this year, and may soon find himself asked to play rear-gunner to Hamilton’s title bid.

Jenson Button Nationality: British Date of Birth: 19/01/1980 Debut: Albert Park, 2000 World Championships: 1 Wins: 13 Poles: 8 Fastest Laps: 7 Career Highlights: 2009 World Drivers’ Champion, 1st 1998 British FF Festival, 1998 British FF Champion

Lewis Hamilton Nationality: British Date of Birth: 07/01/1985 Debut: Albert Park, 2007 World Championships: 1 Wins: 19 Poles: 22 Fastest Laps: 11 Career Highlights: 2008 World Drivers’ Champion, 2006 GP2 Champion, 2005 F3 Euroseries Champion

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

SCUDERIA FERRARI Base: Maranello, Italy Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali Technical Chief: Pat Fry Chassis: F2012 Engine: Ferrari 056

2012 FORM FERNANDO ALONSO Championship Position: 1 Best Qualifying: 1 Average Qualifying: 6.4 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 3.7 FELIPE MASSA Championship Position: 14 Best Qualifying: 5 Average Qualifying: 11.2 Best Finish: 4 Average Finish: 11.5

Debut: Monte Carlo, 1950 World Championships: 16 Wins: 219 Pole Positions: 207 Fastest Laps: 227

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

Fernando Alonso enters the second phase of the season with a 40 point advantage over his nearest pursuer Mark Webber, a remarkable feat considering the fact that his Ferrari was more than a second off the pace at the season opener in Australia.

The Spaniard may have finished a relatively lacklustre fifth last time out in Hungary, but consistent finishes may prove all that’s necessary in order to ensure what would be one of the greatest championship triumphs of all time.

Team-mate Felipe Massa meanwhile has endured a shocking year and may struggle to hang onto his drive if performances don’t improve, beginning with this weekend.

FERNANDO ALONSO Nationality: Spanish Date of Birth: 29/07/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2001 World Championships: 2 Wins: 30 Poles: 22 Fastest Laps: 19 Career Highlights: 2005 and 2006 World Drivers Champion, 1st 1999 Euro Open by Nissan

FELIPE MASSA Nationality: Brazilian Date of Birth: 25/04/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2002 World Championships: 0 Wins: 11 Poles: 15 Fastest Laps: 14 Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 World Drivers’ Championship, 1st 2001 Euro F3000, 1st 2000 Formula Renault Eurocup

Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Base: Brackley, UK Team Principal: Ross Brawn Technical Chief: Bob Bell Chassis: F1 W03 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108Z

Debut: Albert Park, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Pole Positions: 2 Fastest Laps: 2

2012 FORM MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Championship Position: 12 Best Qualifying: 1 Average Qualifying: 7.5 Best Finish: 3 Average Finish: 15.5 NICO ROSBERG Championship Position: 6 Best Qualifying: 1 Average Qualifying: 7.7 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 7.9

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

The season started full of promise for Mercedes, with early hype surrounding its ‘double DRS’ invention quickly followed by a fine victory in China.

The overall picture, however, has been one of disappointment, with the W03’s use of the Pirellis proving too temperature sensitive. Monaco has been the only circuit around which the car looked genuinely capable of challenging the frontrunners since.

Seemingly destined to score fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, recent form suggests that Rosberg will have trouble finishing higher than seventh in the Drivers’. Schumacher, meanwhile, is yet to crack the top 10 having been dogged by misfortune thus far.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Nationality: German Date of Birth: 03/01/1969 Debut: Spa, 1991 World Championships: 7 Wins: 91 Poles: 69 Fastest Laps: 77 Career Highlights: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 World Drivers’ Champion, 1990 German F3 Champion

NICO ROSBERG Nationality: German Date of Birth: 27/06/1985 Debut: Sakhir, 2006 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 3 Place of Birth: Wiesbaden Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, 2005 GP2 Champion, 1st 2002 Formula BMW ADAC

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

LOTUS F1 TEAM Base: Enstone, UK Team Principal: Eric Boullier Technical Chief: James Allison Chassis: E20 Engine: Renault RS27- 2012

2012 FORM KIMI RAIKKONEN Championship Position: 5 Best Qualifying: 5 Average Qualifying: 8.2 Best Finish: 2 Average Finish: 5.5 ROMAIN GROSJEAN Championship Position: 8 Best Qualifying: 2 Average Qualifying: 6.7 Best Finish: 2 Average Finish: 14.1

Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 3

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

By contrast to Mercedes, Lotus has impressed markedly in 2012, doing everything but actually winning a race.

With Romain Grosjean still ironing out his occasionally erratic style and Kimi Raikkonen having yet to completely master the art of qualifying since returning from a two-year layoff at the beginning of the season, it looks likely that the team will take a win somewhere in the remaining eight races.

For a squad that has struggled in recent seasons to maintain the development pace of its rivals, sitting just one point off the second-placed McLaren at the midseason break has been an impressive feat.

KIMI RAIKKONEN Nationality: Finnish Date of Birth: 17/10/1979 Debut: Albert Park, 2001 World Championships: 1 Wins: 18 Poles: 16 Fastest Laps: 37 Career Highlights: 2007 World Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2005 World Driver’s Championship, 2000 British Formula Renault champion

ROMAIN GROSJEAN Nationality: French Date of Birth: 17/04/1986 Debut: Valencia, 2009 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 1 Career Highlights: 2011 GP2 and GP2 Asia Series Champion, 2010 Auto GP champion, 2007 F3 Euro Series Champion

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM Base: Silverstone, UK Team Principal: Vijay Mallya Technical Chief: Andrew Green Chassis: VJM05 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108Z

2012 FORM PAUL DI RESTA Championship Position: 13 Best Qualifying: 8 Average Qualifying: 12.0 Best Finish: 6 Average Finish: 10.9 NICO HULKENBERG Championship Position: 16 Best Qualifying: 5 Average Qualifying: 11.3 Best Finish: 5 Average Finish: 11.4

Debut: Albert Park, 2008 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 1

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

The ‘head-to-head’ team-mate statistics tabled elsewhere in this Race Guide emphasise that the two young drivers at Force India are really ringing everything there is to find out of the 2012 Force India package.

Although the car has been far from uncompetitive, the team sits three places - and some 60 points - behind its targeted position of fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Unable to achieve the occasionally stellar results of the likes of Williams and Sauber, the Force India drivers have been fighting for minor points all season.

Spa is a circuit that has traditionally suited this squad, but the top five still seems a long way away.

PAUL DI RESTA Nationality: Scottish Date of Birth: 16/04/1986 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2010 DTM Champion, 2006 Formula 3 Euroseries Champion, 1st 2006 Masters of F3

NICO HULKENBERG Nationality: German Date of Birth: 19/08/1987 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: Pole Position for 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, 2009 GP2 Series Champion, 2005 Formula BMW ADAC champion

Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

SAUBER F1 TEAM Base: Hinwil, Switzerland Team Principal: Peter Sauber Technical Chief: Matt Morris Chassis: C31 Engine: Ferrari 056

2012 FORM KAMUI KOBAYASHI Championship Position: 10 Best Qualifying: 4 Average Qualifying: 11.5 Best Finish: 4 Average Finish: 12.9 SERGIO PEREZ Championship Position: 9 Best Qualifying: 6 Average Qualifying: 13.3 Best Finish: 2 Average Finish: 10.6

Debut: Kylami, 1993 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 4

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

It’s been a stellar season so far for Sauber, with two podium finishes and both of its drivers sitting in the top 10 of the points standings after 11 races.

The results have been achieved with a car that has proven light on its tyres in the races, but often lacking the qualifying speed in the highly competitive battle to make Q3.

The team will be out to score its fourth double points finish of the season this weekend at Spa. Whether the squad can keep up the development race over the second half of the season however is yet to be seen.

KAMUI KOBAYASHI Nationality: Japanese Date of Birth: 13/09/1986 Debut: Interlagos, 2009 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 1 Career Highlights: 2008/09 GP2 Asia Series Champion, 4th 2007 F3 Euroseries, 1st 2005 FRenault Eurocup

SERGIO PEREZ Nationality: Mexican Date of Birth: 26/01/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 1 Career Highlights: 2nd 2010 GP2 Series, 4th 2007 British F3 Championship Class, 1st 2007 British F3 National Class

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO Base: Faenza, Italy Team Principal: Franz Tost Technical Chief: Giorgio Ascanelli Chassis: STR7 Engine: Ferrari 056

2012 FORM DANIEL RICCIARDO Championship Position: 18 Best Qualifying: 6 Average Qualifying: 14.0 Best Finish: 9 Average Finish: 13.5 JEAN-ERIC VERGNE Championship Position: 17 Best Qualifying: 11 Average Qualifying: 16.9 Best Finish: 8 Average Finish: 14.1

Debut: Sakhir, 2006 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 0

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

Toro Rosso’s season so far has been nothing but disappointing, and there appears little chance that things will turn around in the second half.

Cemented in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with almost no chance of improvement, the squad’s focus is already said to be on its 2013 car. The recent removal of technical director Giorgio Ascanelli marks the end of an era for the team, and serves to underline Red Bulls displeasure with its performance.

Jagging occasional unexpected results over the remaining eight races appears all that’s left to do in 2012 for relative rookies Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, and a potentially wet Spa may provide the best opportunity in which to shine.

DANIEL RICCIARDO Nationality: Australian Date of Birth: 01/07/1989 Debut: Silverstone, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2009 British Formula 3 Champion, 2nd 2010 Formula Renault 3.5, 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 Champion

JEAN-ERIC VERGNE Nationality: French Date of Birth:25/04/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: – Wins: – Poles: – Fastest Laps: – Career Highlights: 2nd 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, 2010 British Formula 3 Champion, 2nd European Formula Renault 2.0 series

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

WILLIAMS Base: Grove, UK Team Principal: Frank Williams Technical Chief: Mike Coughlan Chassis: FW34 Engine: Renault RS27- 2012

2012 FORM PASTOR MALDONADO Championship Position: 11 Best Qualifying: 2 Average Qualifying: 9.2 Best Finish: 1 Average Finish: 14.2 BRUNO SENNA Championship Position: 15 Best Qualifying: 9 Average Qualifying: 14.4 Best Finish: 6 Average Finish: 13.1

Debut: Aires, 1978 World Championships: 9 Wins: 114 Pole Positions: 127 Fastest Laps: 130

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

Williams’ results in the second half of the season are likely to be dictated largely by which Pastor Maldonado turns up to race. The former GP2 Series champion’s impressive drive in Barcelona has almost been overshadowed by a series of clangers since, leaving him with just two points finishes from 11 races.

By contrast to Maldonado, team-mate Bruno Senna has proven a largely safe pair of hands in the races - repeatedly recovering from poor qualifying performances to score minor points. His first Q3 showing of the season last time out in Hungary will no doubt boost the Brazilian’s confidence heading into this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix - the circuit where he returned to F1 with Lotus last year.

PASTOR MALDONADO Nationality: Venezuelan Date of Birth: 09/03/1985 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2010 GP2 Champion, 3rd 2006 Formula Renault 3.5, 1st 2004 Formula Renault 2000 Italia

BRUNO SENNA Nationality: Brazilian Date of Birth: 15/10/1983 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 GP2 Series, 3rd 2006 British F3 Championship, 5th 2008 GP2 Asia Series

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

CATERHAM F1 TEAM Base: Hingham, UK Team Principal: Tony Fernandes Technical Chief: Mike Gascoyne Chassis: CT01 Engine: Renault RS27-2012

Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships : 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0

2012 FORM HEIKKI KOVALAINEN Championship Position: 19 Best Qualifying: 16 Average Qualifying: 18.5 Best Finish: 13 Average Finish: 17.3 VITALY PETROV Championship Position: 20 Best Qualifying: 19 Average Qualifying: 19.6 Best Finish: 13 Average Finish: 17.9

THE BAGMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SAY...

Caterhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sights over the last eight races will be firmly set on increasing the pressure on the struggling Toro Rosso.

Heikki Kovalainen has been as motivated as ever this year, mixing impressive on-track performances - including the occasional Q2 visit - with the age-old art of talking his stocks up in the paddock. Whether or not he will ever make a return to a competitive outfit, the Finn has shown his superiority over team-mate Vitaly Petrov during the first half of the season, with the qualifying time gap between the pair likely to be at its largest on the daunting Spa layout.

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN Nationality: Finnish Date of Birth: 19/10/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2007 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 2 Career Highlights: 1st 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, 2nd 2005 GP2 Series, 1st 2004 World Series by Nissan

VITALY PETROV Nationality: Russian Date of Birth: 08/09/1984 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 3rd 2011 Australian Grand Prix, 2nd 2009 GP2 Series, 3rd 2008 GP2 Asia Series

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

HRT F1 TEAM Base: Madrid, Spain Team Principal: Luis Perez-Sala Technical Chief: Jean-Claude Martens Chassis: F112 Engine: Cosworth CA2012

2012 FORM PEDRO DE LA ROSA Championship Position: 24 Best Qualifying: 21 Average Qualifying: 22.3 Best Finish: 17 Average Finish: 20.9 NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN Championship Position: 23 Best Qualifying: 22 Average Qualifying: 23.6 Best Finish: 15 Average Finish: 21.3

Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 WIns: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0

THE BAGMAN’s SAY...

Although this team has been the greatest improver over the season so far in terms of the time gap to pole position, that doesn’t say much for how it started the year in Australia.

Like fellow minnows Marussia, the 2012 HRT car has been designed without a KERS, while the Spanish-owned team has also struggled to produce a competitive DRS. Well and truly cemented at the back of the field, continuing to qualify and provide a mild challenge to Marussia in the races are the only realistic aims for this team in the second half of the season.

PEDRO DE LA ROSA Nationality: Spanish Date of Birth: 24/02/1971 Debut: Albert Park, 1999 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 1997 Formula Nippon F3000 Champion, 1995 Japanese Formula 3 Champion

NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN Nationality: Indian Date of Birth: 14/01/1977 Debut: Albert Park, 2005 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 4th 2005 US Grand Prix, 4th 2000 British F3 Championship, 4th 2003 Formula Nissan WS

Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Driver Profiles

MARUSSIA F1 TEAM Base: Banbury, UK Team Principal: John Booth Technical Chief: Pat Symonds Chassis: MR01 Engine: Cosworth CA2012

2012 FORM TIMO GLOCK Championship Position: 21 Best Qualifying: 20 Average Qualifying: 21.5 Best Finish: 14 Average Finish: 18.3 CHARLES pIC Championship Position: 22 Best Qualifying: 21 Average Qualifying: 22.0 Best Finish: 15 Average Finish: 19.3

Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0

THE BAGMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SAY...

Sadly, the horrific accident that befell test driver Maria de Villota in July has been the only notable occurrence for this team so far this season.

The performance of the Marussia has slotted the team fairly comfortably in between Caterham and the HRT, often leaving Timo Glock and Charles Pic to fight among themselves.

The young Frenchman has impressed many with his rookie season so far, and will head to Spa keen to further show his wares in a team that is yet to hang onto a second driver for more than one season in its short history.

TIMO GLOCK Nationality: German Date of Birth: 18/03/1982 Debut: Montreal, 2004 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 2 Fastest Laps: 1 Career Highlights: 2nd 2009 Singapore Grand Prix, 2007 GP2 Champion, 1st 2001 Formula BMW ADAC

CHARLES pic Nationality: French Date of Birth: 15/02/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 4th 2011 GP2 Series, 3rd 2008 and 2009 World Series by Renault FR 3.5

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Race Stats

Championship Standings World Drivers Championship NO

Driver

Nat

Car

Points

1

Fernando Alonso

Spain

Ferrari

164

2

Mark Webber

Australia

Red Bull

124

3

Sebastian Vettel

Germany

Red Bull

122

4

Lewis Hamilton

Great Britain

McLaren

117

5

Kimi Raikkonen

Finland

Lotus

116

6

Nico Rosberg

Germany

Mercedes

77

7

Jenson Button

Great Britain

McLaren

76

8

Romain Grosjean

France

Lotus

76

9

Sergio Perez

Mexico

Sauber

47

10

Kamui Kobayshi

Japan

Sauber

33

11

Pastor Maldonado

Venezuala

Williams

29

12

Michael Schumacher

Germany

Mercedes

29

13

Paul Di Resta

Great Britain

Force India

27

14

Felipe Massa

Brazil

Ferrari

25

15

Bruno Senna

Brazil

Williams

24

16

Nico Hulkenberg

Germany

Force India

19

17

Jean-Eric Vergne

France

Toro Rosso

4

18

Daniel Ricciardo

Australia

Toro Rosso

2

19

Heikki Kovalainen

Finland

Caterham

0

20

Vitaly Petrov

Russia

Caterham

0

21

Timo Glock

Germany

Marussia

0

22

Charles Pic

France

Marussia

0

23

Narain Karthikeyan

India

HRT

0

24

Pedro de la Rosa

Spain

HRT

0

World Constructors Championship Pos

Constructor

Points

1

Red Bull Racing

246

2

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

193

3

Lotus F1 Team

192

4

Scuderia Ferrari

189

5

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

106

6

Sauber F1 Team

80

7

Williams F1 Team

53

8

Sahara Force India F1 Team

46

9

Scuderia Toro Rosso

6

10

Caterham F1 Team

0

11

Marussia F1 Team

0

12

HRT F1 Team

0

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Race Stats

Recent Belgian GP Winners Year

Driver

Car

Location

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1970 1968 1967 1966

Sebastian Vettel Lewis Hamilton Kimi Räikkönen Felipe Massa Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Mika Häkkinen David Coulthard Damon Hill Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Damon Hill Damon Hill Michael Schumacher Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Alain Prost Nigel Mansell Ayrton Senna Michele Alboreto Alain Prost John Watson Carlos Reutemann Didier Pironi Jody Scheckter Mario Andretti Gunnar Nilsson Niki Lauda Niki Lauda Emerson Fittipaldi Jackie Stewart Emerson Fittipaldi Pedro Rodríguez Bruce McLaren Dan Gurney John Surtees

Red Bull-Renault McLaren-Mercedes Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes Ferrari Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes Jordan Mugen-Honda Ferrari Ferrari Benetton-Renault Williams-Renault Williams-Renault Benetton-Ford McLaren-Honda McLaren-Honda McLaren-Honda McLaren-Honda McLaren-TAG Williams-Honda Lotus-Renault Ferrari Renault McLaren-Ford Williams-Ford Ligier-Ford Ferrari Lotus-Ford Lotus-Ford Ferrari Ferrari McLaren-Ford Tyrrell-Ford Lotus-Ford BRM McLaren-Ford Eagle-Weslake Ferrari

Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Zolder Spa-Francorchamps Zolder Zolder Zolder Zolder Zolder Zolder Zolder Zolder Nivelles Zolder Nivelles Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps Spa-Francorchamps

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Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Race Stats

Previous World Dri

Year

Driver

Nat

Constructor

Wins

Poles

Points

2011

Sebastian Vettel

GER

Red Bull

11

15

392

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

Sebastian Vettel Jenson Button Lewis Hamilton Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Mika Häkkinen Mika Häkkinen Jacques Villeneuve Damon Hill Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher Alain Prost Nigel Mansell Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Alain Prost Ayrton Senna Nelson Piquet Alain Prost Alain Prost Niki Lauda Nelson Piquet Keke Rosberg Nelson Piquet

GER GBR GBR FIN ESP ESP GER GER GER GER GER FIN FIN CAN GBR GER GER FRA GBR BRA BRA FRA BRA BRA FRA FRA AUT BRA FIN BRA

Red Bull Brawn McLaren Ferrari Renault Renault Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari McLaren McLaren Williams Williams Benetton Benetton Williams Williams McLaren McLaren McLaren McLaren Williams McLaren McLaren McLaren Brabham Williams Brabham

5 6 5 6 7 7 13 6 11 9 9 5 8 7 8 9 8 7 9 7 6 4 8 3 4 5 5 3 1 3

10 4 7 3 6 6 8 5 7 11 9 11 9 10 9 4 6 13 14 8 10 2 13 4 1 2 0 1 1 4

256 95 98 110 134 133 148 93 144 123 108 76 100 81 97 102 92 99 108 96 78 76 90 73 72 73 72 59 44 50

Round 12 - Spa Francorchamps I Race Stats

riversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Champions

Year 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950

Driver Alan Jones Jody Scheckter Mario Andretti Niki Lauda James Hunt Niki Lauda Emerson Fittipaldi Jackie Stewart Emerson Fittipaldi Jackie Stewart Jochen Rindt Jackie Stewart Graham Hill Denny Hulme Jack Brabham Jim Clark John Surtees Jim Clark Graham Hill Phil Hill Jack Brabham Jack Brabham Mike Hawthorn Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Juan Manuel Fangio Giuseppe Farina

Nat AUS RSA USA AUT GBR AUT BRA GBR BRA GBR AUT GBR GBR NZL AUS GBR GBR GBR GBR USA AUS AUS GBR ARG ARG ARG ARG ITA ITA ARG ITA

Constructor Williams Ferrari Lotus Ferrari McLaren Ferrari McLaren Tyrell Lotus Tyrell Lotus Matra Lotus Brabham Brabham Lotus Ferrari Lotus BRM Ferrari Cooper Cooper Ferrari Maserati Ferrari Mercedes Maserati/Mercedes Ferrari Ferrari Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo

Wins 5 3 6 3 6 5 3 5 5 6 5 6 3 2 4 6 2 7 4 2 5 2 1 4 3 4 6 5 6 3 3

Poles 3 1 8 2 8 9 2 3 3 6 3 2 2 0 3 6 2 7 1 5 3 1 4 4 6 3 5 6 5 4 2

Points 67 51 64 72 69 64.5 55 71 61 62 45 63 48 51 42 54 40 54 42 34 43 31 42 40 30 40 42 34.5 36 31 30

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Nothing says Spa like rain and Eau Rouge

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