F1 Fanatic

Bruno Senna, Renault, Spa-Francorchamps, 2011

There were some stand-out performances in mixed conditions in qualifying at Spa.

Jaime Alguersuari claimed a career-best sixth on the grid for Toro Rosso.

And Bruno Senna beat his team mate in his first race for Renault.

Qualifying times in full

• Fernando Alonso had his worst qualifying performance of the year, at a track where he also qualified poorly last year. He blamed traffic for his Q3 time: “Unfortunately, I hardly ever managed to get a clean lap because on both my second and third laps I found Perez ahead of me and on the last one I had to slow at the entrance to the chicane to let Webber pass, otherwise I might have been penalised.”
• Stefano Domenicali said the team also had their usual problem with tyre warm-up in cool temperatures: “We managed to get through the first two sessions in the wet in one piece but then, once we switched to the dry tyres, the chronic problem that has characterised our season was clear to see, even more so here than elsewhere, namely the difficult in getting the tyres to work well in low temperatures and on a damp track.”

Team mate comparisons

Compare the best times of each team’s drivers in the last part of qualifying in which they both set a time.

• Jaime Alguersuari qualified an excellent sixth for Toro Ross. Technical director Giorgio Ascanrlli said: “for the race, we are experimenting with two very different trims on the cars.”
• Bruno Senna out-qualified Vitaly Petrov in his first race, something Nick Heidfeld only managed three times in 11 attempts. Petrov spun during one of his attempts in Q3.
• The gaps between drivers were generally much larger owing to the conditions. But there was only a tenth between the Sauber and Toro Rosso team mates in Q2, and in both cases it was the difference between which was knocked out and which one stayed in.

Sector times

Here are the drivers’ best times in each sector.

• Interestingly, the fastest time in the downforce-critical middle sector was not set by a Red Bull, but Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren. It suggests their new rear wing, designed to give a greater benefit when using DRS and allow them to run more downforce, is working as intended.
• The Mercedes-powered cars have been very fast through the first sector where straight-line speed is all important, and sure enough Nico Rosberg was fastest here.
• We didn’t get to see what the Force Indias might have been capable of in Q3 after their strong performance in practice. Keep an eye out for them in the race.

Speed trap

Here are the drivers’ maximum speeds.

• Red Bull are running noticeably thinner rear wings than their rivals, which may explain their rare appearance near the top of the fastest speeds. The speed trap at Spa is positioned close to the exit of Eau Rouge, and the higher speed they can carry through the corner will also play a role.
• Both Mercedes as well as Jenson Button have said they are running dry weather set-ups.

2011 Belgian Grand Prix

• Rate the race result: 2011 Belgian Grand Prix
• In the Paddock Club and in the stands at Spa
• Leimer’s crash and in the pits at McLaren – fans’ videos from Spa
• 2011 Belgian Grand Prix: complete race review
• Vote for your Belgian GP driver of the weekend
• Red Bull: Newey relieved after “scariest race ever”
• McLaren: Button hit by debris in first-lap scare
• Ferrari: Harder tyres still the car’s weakness
• Mercedes: Schumacher climbs 19 places to fifth
• Renault: Petrov buoyed by R31 upgrades

Image © Renault/LAT