F1 » Raikkonen puts Ferrari back on top at Spa.

The Q-n-A with Stefano Domenicali of Ferrari shows, to me, that Ferrari had the turn 1 strategy planned. Kimi was asked this in the full press conference and denied it. He said he went to the runoff to avoid contact. But Domenicali commenting about Kimi's race complimented him on his performance during the critical periods of the race, specifically the start. He said Kimi drove masterfully at those critical moments and that was the key to the win. hats off to Kimi. At Spa, seems if you can't be P1 on the grid, P6 is the next best spot. P1 can take a pure line. P2/P3 must keep to the course, and risk contact. P6 can take the runoff, and say "I had to avoid contact".

F1 » Raikkonen puts Ferrari back on top at Spa.

Stop please.

F1 » Belgian Grand Prix - Race result

Alonso is so dumb, why didn't he think of the "save fuel and speed up" plan himself?

F1 » Raikkonen puts Ferrari back on top at Spa.

No way Kimi did not draw advantage from his off-course excursion at La Source. But he did not take a position. The advantage was: a clear track, free of traffic for 2 seconds. No risk of collision. He didn't pass anyone, but very clearly he took an advantage. And had the runoff NOT been there for him, there's no way he could have approached the entrance to turn 1 with the speed he used. With gravel runoff at turn 1, Kimi would not have won. He knew he was going for the paved runoff when the green light went on. I'm not complaining. I respect him for doing it. FIA allowed it last year. It would be simpleminded to NOT take advantage of the opportunity if it is given.

F1 » Belgian Grand Prix - Race result

regarding whether Kimi gained an advantage on lap 1 at La Source... It is not clear to me that Kimi took a position. In the replay, tinyurl.com/lzk9dq (3m56s) Kimi was in 4th and challenging for 3rd at the apex of the turn. He left the track for the runoff after the apex, and when he returned to the track he was still challenging for 3rd. After he returned to the track he took 3rd. On Kammel straight he took 2nd. You can say he took an advantage (but not a position) in going for the runoff. But you could also reasonably say he avoided a crash in taking the runoff.

F1 » Belgian Grand Prix - Race result

10 disagrees? They should get rid of the wheel spats, they're always breaking and causing problems and danger. Maybe they were introduced to clean up the air flow, in the interest of encouraging ovevrtaking? If that's the case, then it gets more complicated.

F1 » Raikkonen puts Ferrari back on top at Spa.

DampMongoose - not to get into 2008 again, your observation that Kimi was never going to make turn 1 seems right to me. But it makes Kimi seem awfully savvy. He knew the escape road would be available to him on lap 1, just because of the traffic. He knew there's no way he would get penalized.

F1 » Raikkonen wins Belgian GP at Spa

The other foulup in the US TV coverage - on lap 18 Webber swerved twice as he was dicing with Nakajima just after Eau Rouge. Hobbs said Webber blocked twice. But it was clear that he blocked only once - on the 2nd move. Webber's first move was clearly in advance of Nakajima's first move, and so can't be called a block. Nakajima swerved after Webber, because Nakajima was trying to draft him. That's just racing. The stewards didn't look into it and Williams didn't lodge a complaint. It seems like the TV guys let their personal opinions of the drivers bias the coverage.

F1 » Raikkonen wins Belgian GP at Spa

What I find curious is that the KERS system allowed Raikonnen to *easily* take 3 spots on the start, and another spot on Kammel on lap 1. Then on the restart, KERS allowed him to take another spot on Kammel. But thereafter he could not pull away. Toward the end of the race Fisichella had consistently the same times in sector 1 - with the big straights - as the Ferrari. That's what makes me think KERS, as it is now, is most beneficial as an offensive technology on starts and restarts. During normal racing it seems to be primarily defensive - preventing overtaking by drivers from behind.

F1 » Raikkonen wins Belgian GP at Spa

It is not clear that Kimi took a position on the runoff at La Source on lap 1. In the replay, tinyurl.com/lzk9dq (3m56s) Kimi was in 4th and challenging for 3rd at the apex of the turn. He left the track for the runoff, and when he returned to the track still he was still challenging for 3rd. After he returned to the track he took 3rd. On Kammel straight he took 2nd. Then the incident, SC deployment, and so on. The incident with Button Hamilton Grosjean and Alguesuari at Les Combes was clearly caused by Algu slamming Button from behind. Kimi had nothing to do with it. Peter Windsor apparently does not like Raikonnen.