Belgian GP 2008 predictions

4 September 2008 by Keith Collantine
My tip for Spa - Felipe Massa to win a second Grand Prix in a row

My tip for Spa - Felipe Massa to win a second Grand Prix in a row

Who to back for the Belgian Grand Prix? Felipe Massa’s the form man at the moment but Kimi Raikkonen is superb around Spa.

Ferrari reckon the harder tyres being used at Spa this year could hand an advantage to McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen. The BMW pair will be poised to capitalise on any mistake by the top four - especially if it rains…

Predicting the top three for this race may be harder than usual. Two readers managed to get the prediction right for the top three at Valencia - find out who below.

Kimi Raikkonen’s record at Spa is formidable - three wins in the last three races at the circuit. It’s tempting to say if he can’t win here, he will not be able to defend his championship. Raikkonen has been struggling in qualifying recently and that has in turn compromised his race pace.

He will start the Belgian Grand Prix with a fresh Ferrari V8 engine following his failure at Valencia. But what about Massa? He will be on his second race with the unit - and Ferrari have had a con rod-related engine failure in the last two races.

Massa can change his engine without penalty (under the new-for-2008 ‘one free change’ rule) but it’s not an easy decision for Ferrari: the next two races are the toughest for the engines with the highest percentage of flat-out running. And Ferrari simply cannot afford another failure, especially with McLaren closing in on them in the constructors’ championship.

Engine concerns aside Massa, who is shrugging off almost every concern about different aspects of his performance this year, must be favourite for victory. I say ‘almost’ because I’m still not convinced of his wet-weather credentials after his awful drive at Silverstone. And Spa-Francorchamps, deep in the Belgian Ardennes, often sees mixed weather conditions.

In wet weather, my first choice for victory would be Hamilton, closely followed by Robert Kubica. In dry conditions Hamilton will likely run Massa very close but, even given Ferrari’s suspicion that the harder tyres will favour McLaren, I think Ferrari’s apparent power advantage should tip the balance in their favour.

So, based on the assumption that the weather will stay dry and the Ferraris will finish, my prediction is:

1. Felipe Massa
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Kimi Raikkonen

Two readers correctly predicted the Valencia podium of Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica. Toncho and Becken, stand up and take a bow!

Can they get it right two weeks in a row? Post your podium predictions below. And if you can’t decide who to go for, copy Toncho and Becken…

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Read more: Articles in full | BMW | Belgian Grand Prix | F1 Tracks | F1 drivers (past) | F1 races | F1 teams (active) | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | Heikki Kovalainen | Kimi Raikkonen | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | Robert Kubica | Spa-Francorchamps

77 responses to Belgian GP 2008 predictions

  1. Paige says:

    I’ll go with Raikkonen, Massa, Hamilton.

    Spa was designed for Kimi Raikkonen.

  2. Becken says:

    Hey, I´m famous now! 

    …So I will use my crystal ball again to predict the next race:

    1º - Lewis
    2º - Kimi
    3º - Bob Kubitza

  3. Nick says:

    1. Kimi Raikkonen
    2. Sebastian Vettal
    3. Fernando Alonso

  4. chaostheory says:

    Considering it will be shower race: 1.Kubica; 2. Raikkonen; 3. Massa.

    Remember me! :D

  5. Rui says:

    I almost agree with you chaostheory.Although i don’t believe Massa will be 3rd.Just a feeling :)

  6. diseased rat says:

    1. Kimi Raikkonen
    2. Lewis Hamilton
    3. Felipe Massa

  7. chaostheory says:

    @ Rui: yeah i know - Silverstone; but i hope he got better by now… BTW. if he will do one spin at Spa - then i’ll stop considering him a ‘08 World Champ candidate.

  8. James B says:

    A rainy race looks like a probability, rather than a possibility, but as always, I’ll do two predictions. (Wet and dry)

    Dry Race
    1. Raikkonen
    2. Massa
    3. Hamilton

    Wet Race
    1. Form book (Kubica)
    2. Thrown out (Hamilton)
    3. The Window (Heidfeld)

  9. Gman says:

    If it’s dry….
    1. Massa
    2. Hamilton
    3. Raikkonen

    If it’s wet….
    1. Hamilton
    2. Alonso
    3. Raikkonen

  10. Paige says:

    Raikkonen
    Massa
    Hamilton

    Is to be considered by dry prediction. My wet prediction is

    Raikkonen
    Hamilton
    Kubica

    People forget just how bloody good Raikkonen is in the wet, particularly in mixed weather conditions. He’s already owned Spa twice in these conditions, and I see no reason why he wouldn’t do it again.

    This is Raikkonen’s weekend.

  11. Lejos says:

    1.Hamilton
    2.Kimi
    3.Kovalainen

  12. Nirupam says:

    Kimi
    Massa
    Alonso

    Spa & Kimi..made for each other! Massa in the list because of apparent advantage of Ferrari engines(of course if it lasts!) and Alonso needs to be there simply because he is the best driver in the grid and he should be on podium even with a less competitive car!

  13. Tengil says:

    1. Hamilton
    2. Heidfeld
    3. Kovalainen

  14. Stubie says:

    Dry
    Raikkonen
    Hamilton
    Massa

    Wet
    Hamilton
    Kubica
    Heidfeld

  15. Denis says:

    Dry
    Hamilton
    Kimi
    Kovalainen

    Wet
    Hamilton
    Barrichello
    Heidfeld

  16. santori says:

    Alonso
    Heidfeld
    Piquet

    (Massa
    Bourdais
    Kubica
    Webber
    Vettel)

  17. Spencer says:

    Lewis
    Kubica
    Heikki

  18. Wesley says:

    Dry:
    1-Raikkonen
    2-Massa
    3-Hamilton

    Wet:
    1-Hamilton
    2-Heidfeld
    3-Kubica

  19. esse says:

    Dry:
    Kimi
    Massa
    Lewis

    Wet:
    Hamy
    Kub
    Kimi

  20. Terry Fabulous says:

    Webber
    Hamilton
    Vettel
    (Ah, what should have been at Fuji last year :))

  21. Terry Fabulous says:

    OK Serious

    Hamilton
    Raikkonen
    Kovaleinen (Love isn’t always on time!)

  22. Benny says:

    1. Hamilton
    2. Kovalainen
    3. Räikkönen

  23. DArcy says:

    1 Kubica
    2 Hamilton
    3 Kimi

  24. GDalcin says:

    1.Kimi
    2.Massa
    3.Lewis

  25. Polak says:

    Robert
    Kimi
    Felipe

  26. Paul says:

    01. HAM
    02. MAS
    03. KOV

  27. shery says:

    kimi
    heiki
    kubica

  28. qazuhb says:

    I can’t ever force myself to do the predictions. I will only say this time that if Santori’s guess comes true, I’ll pay the beer for the entire forum!

  29. Pink Peril says:

    Standard race:

    1. Hamilton
    2. Massa
    3. Raikkonen

    Wet or safety car:

    1. Hamilton
    2. Kubica
    3. Alonso

  30. nicho says:

    1. Robert Kubica
    2. Felipe Massa
    3. Lewis Hamilton

  31. matthew says:

    Dry:
    1 Kimi
    2 Lewis
    3 Massa

    Wet:
    1 Lewis
    2 Kimi
    3 Bobby K

    I reluctantly put Massa to finish third simply because of the prancing horse sitting behind him. And that is a generous prediction based entirely on his car. I am not in any way convinced that Mr. Massa has what it takes to conquer a beast like Spa-Francorchamps. Especially in the rain.

  32. verasaki says:

    extreme wet

    glock-just because i like his name
    alonso
    button

    1998-think about it.

  33. Owen says:

    1. Ham
    2. Kov
    3. Rai

  34. Rui says:

    @verasaki

    glock has been a really nice surprise at least for me (i didn’t follow gp2).I do hope he makes a nice race.
    Button on 3rd that’s a big stretch no?I’d bet more on Barrichelo.On Sylverstone he brought the Honda to the podium, even with those refueling problems.I’d love to see him winning again.

    extreme wet

    1 - Barrichelo
    2 - Glock
    3 - Heildfeld

    wet

    1 - Kubica
    2 - Raikkonen
    3 - Heiki

    sun

    1 - Hamilton
    2/3 - Raikkonnen/ Kubica

    I didn’t put Massa or Hamilton on the top if it rains..because i have a feeling if that happens they will both go out.

  35. Bog says:

    Kimi
    Massa
    Kovalainen

  36. kavana says:

    Qualifying
    1. Mas
    2. Ham
    3. Rai

    Race
    1. Mas
    2. Rai
    3. Ham

  37. Rob R. says:

    Number of spins for Massa: 11

  38. Juhhi says:

    Q:
    1. Hamilton
    2. Räikkonen
    3. Massa

    GP:
    1. Räikkönen
    2. Hamilton
    3. Heidfeld

  39. Juhhi says:

    Benny must be from Finland cause Räikkönen is written like it should be=)

  40. Harkirat says:

    Dry

    Kimi
    Felipe
    Lewis/Robert

    Wet
    Kimi
    Lewis
    Nick/Robert/Timo/……………………………Felipe

    Distant chance for Felipe…

  41. RaceStevil says:

    Dry weather:

    1 Ham
    2 Kov
    3 Rai

    Not an easy choice as I am a Kimi fan, but the change of tyres could be decisive.
    But I expect that Kimi will win in Monza. What they couldn’t do last year.

    Wet weather:

    1 Rai
    2 Kub
    3 Sut (wild card, liked his driving last year)

    In case of another monster crash as a few years ago, I’d go for

    Dry or Wet:

    1 Rai (he escapes because of his bad qualifying)
    2 Alo
    3 Vet

  42. Mick says:

    1. Massa
    2. Great Lewis/Kimmi fight… especially off the line.
    4. Alonso vs Piquet - yep I said it!

  43. maria says:

    1. kimi
    2. massa
    3. kubica

  44. Kester says:

    1. Kimi
    2. Massa
    3. Alonso

    DNF. Lewis

  45. Dorian says:

    This is perhaps a little more heart than head but….

    1. Raikkonen
    2. Massa
    3. Kubica

  46. Chalky says:

    I reckon it’ll be slightly wet.
    I hope santori is also correct, but only for the beer from qazuhb :)

    So I’ll go for:
    1. Hamilton
    2. Raikkonen
    3. Vettel

    Massas engine will “pop it’s clogs” as it’s his 2nd race with it. Seems to be a Ferrari pattern at the moment.

  47. Kazim says:

    My predictions

    Lewis
    Massa
    Kimi

  48. todd says:

    listening to kubica in practice, he really hates the feel of the car, handling like a pig, so i’m not putting anything on him… except that he wont make it into q3…

    1. massa
    2. kimi
    3. ham

  49. graham228221 says:

    Dry/damp:

    1) Massa
    2) Kimi
    3) Lewis

    Wet:

    1) Lewis
    2) Massa
    3) Vettel*

    * just because it would be nice to get almost every team on the podium this season, come on force india get in there!!!

    I kinda hope it rains just so massa can show that silverstone was just a really bad day for him.

  50. supillai says:

    my bet kimi , glock , trully

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