It looks like it’s going to be a struggle this weekend for the Brawns – if you really can take anything from practice times – with both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello only managing 17th and 18th respectively today.
The Red Bulls of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are living up to expectation, however, with the Australian in particular dominating the middle section of the undulating, twisty circuit.
Vettel completed the least laps of all drivers today, in an attempt to preserve his recycled engine, but still managed 10th spot.
They are looking like the ones to beat this weekend. But if it rains – which is likely in Spa – then the field will be leveled, and the race will be anyone’s.
And McLaren are well placed to be up there, their updates again proving their worth, with Lewis Hamilton posting the fastest time of the day during afternoon practice – a tenth of a second quicker than his pole lap here in 2008.
Vettel, Button and Hamilton seem to have the best form in the wet, so it’s likely to be those three fighting for it either way, with a bit of Webber and Barrichello thrown in for good measure.
Rather interestingly, rookie Renault driver Romain Grosjean posted the fifth fastest time of anyone today, which is impressive.
As for Ferrari’s Luca Badoer, he’s still, er, struggling for a bit for pace.
Give us your pole and race predictions, and check out BBC Sport’s F1 site for the full rundown from both practice sessions.
I guess it will be McLaren on Pole -
1. Hamilton
2.Kovalainen
3. Vettel
4. Webber
I don´t see that the Brawns are competitive this weekend in Spa
Hamilton
Vettel
Kimi
Hahahaha, that practice was a mess for Brawn!! Lest see what happens next!!
Ohh yeah forgot,
1) Hammy (Just gunning it)
2) Alonso (He is very deadly)
3) Kimi (In the mix)
4) Vettel (Only a few laps)
This just for today, it will change, I am sure.
Pole: Hamilton
Race weather: wet, drying, dry, then shower at the end.
Winner?: Vettel
since when has button been good in the wet?
if it race my bet in hamiton and dry… perhaps kimi raikkion!
I hope the weather condition & start will be the same as in 1998 and both Force Indias & Badoer will be the only ones that escape the crash.
A bit far fetched.. but it’s possible.
Button is good in the wet. In the Honda, he showed perhaps some of his best drives in the wet compared to te dry
Pole: Hamilton
Win: Hamilton or Kimi (depends on his Q)
I hope it rains on Sunday, every ‘classic’ Spa on the red button has been in the rain, so lets hope it rains and we get a huge crash
Since when has Hamilton been good in the rain either?
@El Roberto
SILVERSTONE 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE WON BY A MASSIVE AMOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
He IS good in the rain!
It is slightly odd they’re so low down, but Button sounds equally strangely upbeat about it on Autosport. I think they may just have an ace up their sleeves, or at least do better than everyone expects them to do on a ‘Red Bull track’.
You realize Brawn is too far ahead for Red Bull or Mclaren. One more race victory for brawn to make sure. Right now they already are champions at this rate.
I think Hamilton will get pole.
And I want Vettel to win.
But I’m not so sure…
Maybe Hamilton could clinch another win here…
Or maybe Webber could again out perform vettel in the race.
Oh and it always rains in Spa.
I just hope it doesn’t end up in any of those annoying controversies and dramas like it did last year!!
Aston 008. Forgot about that race. well done, u told El Roberto
It is just practice. Many times early this year when Button won, his times sucked in practice. So there is nothing to read in it.
I am just hoping Red Bull can close the gap so it is down to the last race like it has been for the last few years.
And if would be a warm fuzzy feeling if Vettel can win the championship with 2 engines out of 6 races.
If it rains, Red Bull will have even more of an advantage because they can get heat into the tires better than anyone else, which is one of the two things you need to go well in the wet. (That, and a driver with awesome car control, i.e. Hamilton, Vettel, Kubica.)
If it’s a mixed conditions race, which Spa usually is, it could suit Hamilton individually quite well, as he has traditionally been very, very good on intermediate tires.
please, let vettel win followed by hamilton then webber
Vettel will win he is the best young driver in F1
how wrong was everyone fisechella on pole
Fishichellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a
Enough said.
Force India on Pole!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just now actually read the text and it’s wrong on everything , except Buttons struggles & Badoer & Vettel engine saving .
GO FORCE INDIA!!!!!!
Awesome job done by Fisichella. As for tomorrows race, Kimi will simply destroy the opposition.
Even Bernie has placed a 500 pound bet on Kimi´s win. I guess there´s no reminding anyone that Bernie didn´t earn his billions by making bad desicions..
If start to rain, there is only one pilot able to beat Barrichello, but he’s already dead and his name is Ayrton Senna. Except Senna, nobody in that track can beat Barrichello in the wet. I can’t wait…