MATCHETT: Spa - One Of The Classics

Formula 1

MATCHETT: Spa - One Of The Classics

Spa-Francorchamps represents a truly daunting challenge for teams...

Steve Matchett | Posted August 30, 2012 Charlotte, NC

Spa-Francorchamps (Pictured) ranks alongside Monaco and Monza in terms of history and allure. (Photo: Getty Images)

Summer has officially concluded in Formula 1, and it is back to the grind for teams this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.

For the last few years, August has served as the summer break in Formula 1, a much needed respite. Not too long ago, our schedule consisted of a maximum of 16 Grands Prix, which slowly morphed to 20. Additional races aren’t the issue so much as associated travel demands. More races are long-haul events – Australia, India, Canada, Malaysia and now Austin, Texas, for instance – time spent on planes is ever increasing. The summer break is essential for exhausted teams in need of rest.

Teams wouldn’t take advantage of the downtime unless forced to, however, so the FIA mandates a 14-day shutdown in August. If given choice, Formula 1 teams would toil the summer away with nary a lull in manufacturing. Teams are required to cease manufacturing for two consecutive weeks, the timing of which is left to their discretion within those four weeks. Anyone involved with the design, assembly, manufacture or running of the cars is sent home for 14 days. Competition heightens each season and with it come longer hours and the proclivity to toil incessantly, so the FIA removed that temptation.

Rested and refreshed, teams are flat-out heading into the final nine races of the season beginning this weekend at Spa, one of the all-time classic Formula 1 tracks. Spa ranks alongside Monaco and Monza in terms of history and allure.

The venue represents a truly daunting challenge for teams. Spa relentlessly stresses engines, notably so during the long runs into and out of the daunting and wonderful Eau Rouge corner, although safety integrations in this area of the track have softened its bite over the years.

Weather will, without question, become a factor over the weekend. By virtue of its location (set amid the lush forests of the Ardennes) Spa assures a wet track at some point. If it’s not raining at Spa, it soon will. The capricious track can be bright and sunny in the pit lane but teeming with rain at the far end of the track. In seasons gone by, teams had to rely on their drivers to tell them it was raining at the far end, while mechanics were tanning in the pit lane. These days telemetry and computer systems alert teams to changing weather conditions, although teams must still react to Mother Nature’s challenges.

Speaking of the teams, Ferrari has to concentrate on following Red Bull’s lead, as it relates to RBR's ability to have both drivers finishing in the points each race. Red Bull has done a spectacular job of this in 2012, producing cars that consistently score points, and this has positioned the team well in the constructors’ championship. Conversely, the vast majority of Ferrari’s points have been earned by Fernando Alonso, a driver who continues to do a stellar job with a less-than-optimal car. Teammate Felipe Massa is becoming increasingly comfortable in the car, but we have hit the halfway mark in the season, and it is time for him to up his game both for himself in the drivers’ championship and for Ferrari in the constructors’.

Ferrari, however, is known for its philosophy that drivers compete for the team first and foremost, and must forsake the notion of working independently for their own end in the drivers’ championship.

Also impressive this season (and knocking on the door of a win) is Lotus; the team has been diligently working on its car throughout the year, while Kimi Raikkonen continues to impress in his return to Formula 1. The car continues to gain speed (while remaining reliable), although Lotus would benefit from an improvement in qualifying performance. Formula 1 competition has become so tight that teams (looking for a race win) can no longer afford to start from the third or fourth row. Qualifying results are impeding Raikkonen’s chances of staking his claim for the top step … but surely a win is just around the corner? Raikkonen likes Spa, and if Lotus can get its car to work well this weekend, chances are good that this could be his weekend.

Caterham has goals of its own at Spa. While certainly not fighting for a championship (or a race win), this relatively new team is busy chasing its maiden F1 point(s). I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team nab one at Spa. Caterham's Renault-powered car is getting faster and its reliability is improving, too. We shouldn’t discount the potential. Caterham has relocated its factory closer to the heart of the Formula 1 industry in Leafield, Oxfordshire, just a few miles outside of Chipping Norton, in an attempt to afford itself every opportunity of success. Finishing the season with but one point on the board would represent an unbelievable result for Caterham, in its relatively brief existence. Should STR or Williams fall by the wayside in Spa (perhaps hampered with reliability issues of their own), then Caterham waits poised to swoop in and grab a 10th-place point. Sometimes it’s the battles at the back of the race that become a lead story, and Spa can produce all sorts of surprises.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Matchett

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