Belgian Grand Prix: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso Sets the Pace in Belgium
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso topped the time sheets at this Fridays Belgian Grand Prix practice session in rain drenched conditions. The Scuderia driver, although 5th in the current championship standings, is yet only a mere 20 points behind championship leader, Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber. Alonso set a lap time of 2 minutes and 0.797 seconds in a rain-marred first practice run. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who stands 4 points adrift of Webber, was second fastest. The Englishman will be looking to put his team’s recent dip in form behind him this weekend in Belgium as reports emerge of McLaren’s significantly upgraded MP4-25 machine.
Meanwhile, Renault’s Robert Kubica came third in the run, whereas the Hungarian Grand Prix winner, Mark Webber, came 7th at almost half a second’s disadvantage to Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel. Vettel presently occupies the 3rd spot in the battle for the Drivers’ title only a few points behind Hamilton.
Since teams are not required to divulge the fuel loads their vehicles are holding, it is tricky to deduce too much from practice times - even when the weather is clear. However, in view of the rainfall that blighted much of the first practice session in Belgium, the results are even less decisive and it is therefore difficult to deduce who will go into Sunday’s race with the greatest advantage.
The Formula One drivers have been back on the tracks for the first time since early August, when the community deserted the paddocks to take a well-deserved break from activity following the 2010 Hungarian campaign. Red Bull went into the traditional Formula One summer hiatus satisfied, leading both the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ championship. Moreover, the RB6’s blistering pace also gave the Austrian team plenty of reasons to be content. In the McLaren garage, however, there were scenes of panic as the MP4-25 was found falling off-pace compared to the ever improving form of the Ferrari F-10s and RB6s as the August break loomed closer. Although both McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, are still very much in the 2010 title contention, there were fears they might lose out in the fight if the team did not return to winning form soon.
The drivers will need to draw upon all their skill and experience to take on the highly challenging Spa-Francorchamps track. Nestled within the mountainous Ardennes terrain in Belgium, the circuit is known to harbour tricky weather conditions and the Friday morning practice session confirmed this reputation. Ferrari have come to Belgium clearly well-equipped, having incorporated considerable updates into their F-10. The F-10 has been equipped with a recently-revised floor and a number of other overhauls that designed to boost performance on the Belgium track, which hosts a fair number of straights and challenging turns.
Although slightly apprehensive about their cars’ performance on the straights, Red Bull hope to do well in Belgium, as Spa-Francorchamps circuit’s numerous high-speed corners are likely to be amenable to the RB-6 design. The MP4-25 and F-10, on the other hand, are expected to be at an advantage on the straights.
Meanwhile, there has been plenty of off-track drama that has been making the headlines in Belgium. Williams’ driver, the veteran Rubens Barrichello, looks to celebrate his record 300th Grand Prix appearance in Belgium this Sunday. The Brazilian, who has spent nearly two decades amongst the top echelons of the motor sporting world, was heartily congratulated for his exploit by the Formula One fraternity in Belgium. Barrichello has said that his thirst for the sport remains yet to be satiated and retirement is nowhere in sight for him. A protégé of the late, legendary Ayrton Senna, Barrichello remarked that he enjoyed Formula One racing more as time had passed. The Brazilian also accepted former Ferrari teammate and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s apology for endangering his life at the Hungarian Grand Prix, when the German had pushed him against the pit wall in an audacious and dangerous overtaking manoeuvre.
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