Belgian GP - Circuit of the Americas

I can still vividly recall how this weekend unfolded.

First Practice Session:

1. Felipe Massa Ferrari (B) 1:47.284 26
2. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari (B) 1:47.623 + 0.339 26
3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:47.878 + 0.594 27
4. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:47.932 + 0.648 24
5. Fernando Alonso Renault (B) 1:48.104 + 0.820 26
6. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing (B) 1:48.428 + 1.144 29
7. Sébastien Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:48.557 + 1.273 31
8. Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:48.958 + 1.674 24
9. Timo Glock Toyota (B) 1:48.997 + 1.713 26
10. Nelson Piquet Renault (B) 1:49.068 + 1.784 25
11. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:49.139 + 1.855 25
12. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:49.185 + 1.901 26
13. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:49.611 + 2.327 30
14. Jarno Trulli Toyota (B) 1:49.625 + 2.341 14
15. David Coulthard Red Bull Racing (B) 1:49.849 + 2.565 18
16. Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:49.986 + 2.702 27
17. Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:50.117 + 2.833 19
18. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:50.125 + 2.841 30
19. Jenson Button Honda (B) 1:50.464 + 3.180 25
20. Rubens Barrichello Honda (B) 1:50.905 + 3.621 25

Kimi Räikkönen! Kimi Räikkönen! Kimi Räikkönen! 🎉

fadedpanther4 said:Kimi! Kimi! Kimi! 🎉

Kimi? I mean, I agree, but I didn't realize you were such a massive Kimi Räikkönen fanatic yourself! 😵

It really makes you wonder, doesn't it? How incredible those Honda engines are... though honestly, the Williams cars aren't far behind.😂

Frank Collins85 said:Kimi? I agree, though I don't think I ever mentioned that you were such a huge Kimi Räikkönen fan yourself. 😵

What did you think? Who do you suppose I'm rooting for? 😲

fadedpanther4 said:Kimi! Kimi! Kimi! 🎉

👍

With the season winding down, it’s finally time for Kimi Räikkönen to go on one of those unstoppable tear-through-the-field runs just like he did last year. 😉

Finally, we get a real track 🙏🙏

fadedpanther4 said:What on earth were you thinking? Who exactly did you imagine I was rooting for? 😲

I mean, what do I know? It seems like most of you ladies just can't help yourselves when it comes to that Latin lover, Fernando Alonso...😛

Frank Collins85 said:I don't know... I guess most girls just have a thing for that Latin lover, Fernando Alonso.😛

I don't really fit into the standard categories. 😛

Here are two legendary moments from this incredible circuit:

The tragic passing of Stefan Bellof— http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgtZe-iQH1U
And the 1998 F1 Grand Prix—honestly, one of the greatest races ever run! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKbQQA_8BnE

1998 F1 GP - easily the greatest race ever!!! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKbQQA_8BnE

Man, talk about an opening act. What a brutal way to knock out the competition. That collision between David Coulthard and his own teammate—absolute legend status right there. And honestly, their little "chat" in the pits afterward? If they hadn't been on camera, I’m pretty sure it would've just devolved into a full-on fistfight. Pure chaos.
I mean, seriously, how is this season even going to be interesting without DC shaking things up? 😢

1 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:48.454 ☕absolute beast
2 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:48.504 0.050
3 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.740 0.286
4 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.805 0.351
5 1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:49.328 0.874 👎still struggling big time
6 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:49.405 0.951
7 15 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:49.427 0.973 🙏🙏🙏words are useless here😍expecting a top 6 spot in qualifying
8 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:49.585 1.131 👍
9 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:49.715 1.261
10 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber-BMW 1:49.725 1.271
11 4 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber-BMW 1:49.875 1.421
12 9 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:49.922 1.468
13 14 Sébastien Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:49.948 1.494
14 12 Timo Glock Toyota 1:50.281 1.827 228.638 24
15 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:50.364 1.910
16 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:50.740 2.286
17 16 Jenson Button Honda 1:50.925 2.471
18 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:51.238 2.784
19 6 Nelson Piquet Renault 1:51.334 2.880
20 10 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing 1:51.640 3.186

Anything can happen, and Kimi is once again totally off the pace. Honestly, I'm just worried about how much Red Bull Racing seems to be falling off👎 It looks to me like they completely screwed over Vettel, and right now, Toro Rosso actually feels better than Red Bull Racing—unless that famous KERS gives them a massive boost next year, or if they finally swap out the engine🙄 because this Renault is clearly in deep trouble🙄

silentbear49 said:What a way to start. Total carnage. A massive collision between the Race Winner and David Coulthard—absolute legend stuff. Honestly, watching them go at it over the radio, you’d think they were one step away from a full-blown brawl in the pits. That would have really completed the picture.
What a boring season this is going to be without DC. 😢

I'm with you on that.😢 They really ought to stick him in a seat with either Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton.😈 Well, let's see who actually walks the walk.😁 There wouldn't be any tabloid drama if DC Comics could just focus on being a solid teammate on the track without all the noise.🤣 Whether they're in a box or whatever, it doesn't really matter. It would've been a once-in-a-lifetime show, period.😍

stormybadger8 said:Everything’s going to play out as usual, with Kimi struggling once again, but what really keeps me up at night is watching Red Bull Racing go into this obvious downward spiral. It honestly feels like they completely botched things for Sebastian Vettel, and if you ask me, the STR looks legitimately better than the RB right now—unless, of course, that famous Hybrid energy recovery system gives them some massive edge next year, or they finally decide to swap out the engine.👎 Because let's be real, this Renault setup is clearly in a massive hole right now.🙄 🙄

From some pretty shaky sources I've been hearing that Toyota is going to be the absolute powerhouse next season.
🤷
And apparently, my beloved red car is headed for a total nose dive.
😢 I’m really hoping those rumors are nothing but nonsense.

Just a heads up, though—I’m betting Felipe Massa Ferrari takes the top spot at this track.😍

Third practice results:

pos. driver team fastest time
laps
1. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber
1:47.876 19😲😲😲
2. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.165 10
3. Fernando Alonso Renault 1:48.307 19
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.356 10
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:48.692 6
6. Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari
1:48.768 6🙏🙏🙏
7. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:48.815 0
8. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:48.836 13
9. Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault 1:48.946 17
10. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
1:49.054 14
11. Trulli Toyota 1:49.057 16 12.
12. David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault
1:49.125 11
13. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber
1:49.250 12
14. Bourdais P1 Toro Rosso-Ferrari
1:49.256 19
15. Timo Glock Toyota 1:49.535 18
16. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:49.830 12
17. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari
1:49.949 16
18. Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari
1:49.949 16 18.
1:50.034 16
19. Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:50.061 17

Vettel during practice 😁
first practice 8
second practice 7th
Third practice 6
meaning qualifying 5
and race 4 😍

stormybadger8 said:Third practice results:

pos. driver team fastest time
laps
1. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber
1:47.876 19😲😲😲
2. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.165 10
3. Fernando Alonso Renault 1:48.307 19
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.356 10
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:48.692 6
6. Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari
1:48.768 ¸6🙏🙏🙏
7. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:48.815 ¸0
8. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:48.836 13
9. Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault 1:48.946 17
10. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
1:49.054 14
11. Trulli Toyota 1:49.057 16 12.
12. David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault
1:49.125 11
13. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber
1:49.250 12 14.
14. Bourdais P1
1:49.256 19
15. Timo Glock Toyota 1:49.535 18
16. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:49.830 12 17.
17. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:49.949 16 18.
1:49.949 16
18. Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari
Force India-Ferrari
1:50.034 16
19. Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:50.061 17

Vettel during practices 😁
first practice 8
second practice 7th
third practice 6
meaning qualifying 5
and the race 4 😍

heh, if your prediction actually holds water, you can buy me a whole case of Budweiser

Yo, did anyone else catch that and confirm that Heмиć actually has a block in
qualifying too? 😁 Seriously, please just pay attention so I don't have to dig through God knows what archives just to prove my points... whoever this is about knows exactly who they are... 😁

Burdais P1 at the end of round one🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

STR 🙏

Hey placidsurfer9

Basically, someone's trying his best
but lately, both this race and the last one, he’s actually started putting in some real effort when it comes to braking😉

Sure, Felipe Massa Ferrari made a mistake
but on the flip side, that Frenchman is absolutely flying through the first stint

I’ve got a bad feeling that this Sebastian Vettel guy is going to end up looking like the biggest loser of the decade once he makes his move (supposedly by choosing to Advance)

Exactly looks like it. Next year, Sebastian Vettel is coming for that World Champion 100 title.☕

I'm 100% sure about it.☕