One of the more intriguing aspects of tomorrow will be the first time the cars plunge down the hill towards Eau Rouge.
Although everyone says that the corner is easily flat these days, wet or dry, lap one will be an eye opener for most drivers. With this year’s full load of 150-160kgs of fuel on board the cars might behave a little differently, and the question of ride height could be an issue. Then there’s the matter of tyres not being in their optimum working window, and the fact that in traffic, cars ahead will take downforce off those behind. If the track is wet, that will add another dimension.
Obviously the reconnaissance laps to the grid will give drivers a little idea of what to expect, albeit not necessarily at full racing speed, but it could still be quite exciting up there.
“Don’t get me wrong, pole position is the place everybody wants to be,” said Sebastian Vettel when this blog asked him what he might expect. “But it’s probably better with our top speed not to be the first car, or in my case not to be the first car. You never know what happens in the first corner, you never know if it will be wet or dry, if there will be a start behind the safety car or not.
“Should it be dry and all normal I’m quite happy, I don’t have to use my mirrors too much, and I can focus on what’s happening in front of me, and using the tows of the cars ahead. But yeah it will be quite difficult, still a little bit of cold tyres, when the pressures are not yet up to target. And as you said, around 150, 160 kilos in the car.”
Vettel admitted that RBR hasn’t actually tackled Eau Rouge with a full tank yet.
“I think no one really has. Yesterday, if anyone tried to do a long run, I think he did one lap! I think we should be fine, I don’t expect any surprise. But for sure it will be an adventure once you get there.”
In fact Jenson Button did have a brief go with heavy fuel yesterday. It’ll be interesting to see if that gives him a little more idea of what to expect…
Adam Cooper F1 