Formula One - Belgian Grand Prix Preview
The cars are ready to pour action and drama at the Spa track, as they return re-energised from the three week long summer break of the season. The teams left for the vacation after the Hungary Grand Prix, leaving the race lovers in a nail biting situation for twenty one days that seemed like eternity. The suspense-stricken fans waited anxiously for the thirteen episode of the season, which is now ready to unfold in Belgium this weekend.
The most remarkable happening of the summer break is the conflict that rose between the old driver Niki Lauda and his former team Ferrari, as he condemned the team-ordering seen at the German Grand Prix, which was taken very offensively by Ferrari management.
Moreover, the break also saw a great performance by Jenson Button at the London Triathlon, while Nico Rosberg followed his footsteps by taking part in a Triathlon at Kitzbuhel, Austria. At the same time, several other drivers also worked hard one way or the other, in improving their fitness levels during the summer break.
As now the teams return back to the track, all seem hopeful and high-spirited. The top three teams, Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari are ready to put in their best to grab the championship of the season, while the other teams that follow them in the charts are striving to end the season by bagging as many points as possible.
The top places of both the charts stay very uncertain until now, although twelve races of the season have already gone. As per analysts, the top three positions of the Constructors’ Championship by the end of the year would be occupied by three of these four teams, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, while Mercedes is not expected to finish any place above third.
Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP is expected to give some more great finishes before the season ends, while much is not expected from Michael Schumacher the expert of the Spa track, as earlier in his career he had been able to bag six race wins here. But now expectations are low from him, firstly because he had not been able to finish at the podium all through the season and, secondly because he already has to fight with a 10-place grid penalty for this race.
As far as the cars are concerned, Ferrari is expected to have the best pace at Spa, while Red Bull would only be able to go fast at the middle sector. While McLaren has yet not declared if it would be running their F-Flap on this low-downforce circuit or not, one might not say if they would be as competitive as other two toppers.
Once again Ferrari is likely to keep favouring Fernando Alonso over his teammate, Felipe Massa so that the team could keep their lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Moreover, a great racing spectacle is expected by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button as the former would try to edge his teammate to keep his lead, while Button had always been good in Spa, despite the fact that last year was not a great one for both the drivers.
Another team that is immensely looking forward for Belgian race is Force India, which did do pretty well last year securing a podium with its driver Giancarlo Fisichella. This year Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi are expected to prove their mettle again, especially Sutil. Moreover, Rubens Barrichello who had gained his form back in last few rounds is also thought to carry away some good points.
Another good addition in this race is Nigel Mansell, who would be among the line-up of stewards, thus one could hope to see fair and unbiased decisions.
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