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Fantasy Formula 1 - Belgian GP Preview
2:42 AM on August 18th, 2014 by Nathan Susanto

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The Belgian GP takes Formula 1 to one of the most revered circuits on the calendar, a venue that's been a site for motor racing since the 1920s. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, located in the unpredictable climate of the Ardennes forest, was designed in 1920, using the public roads that connected the towns of Spa, Malmedy and Stavelot. The triangular 9.31 mile (14.9 km) layout initially hosted motorcycling events, but the Spa 24 Hours was created on the back of the success of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and made its debut in 1924. The following year, the Belgian GP was established.

The original layout, which was lined by trees, farmland and fields, rural houses and included the frightening Masta Kink chicane, was the fastest road circuit in Europe. The lack of safety, though, led to the drivers withdrawing from the 1969 event. The race returned the following season but that year was to be the final Grand Prix at Spa for over a decade.

The Belgian GP switched to Nivelles and Zolder but Spa was sufficiently revamped for the race to return there in 1983. The new circuit is half the length of the original, bypassing the towns of Malmedy and Stavelot. However, it's managed to keep much of its character, with the exciting Eau Rouge/Raidillon and Blanchimont corners remaining, and the venue is widely cited as a favorite amongst drivers and fans.

The 2014 Formula 1 season recommences with the twelfth race being staged at the historic venue of Spa, Belgium, on Sunday, August 24th. The last race before the summer break saw Daniel Ricciardo win an incident-packed Hungarian GP, passing Fernando Alonso for the lead with three laps remaining. The main championship contenders, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, had fluctuating fortunes, with standings leader Rosberg having to settle for fourth and Hamilton battling from a pitlane start to claim third.

It rained in Spa just before qualifying last year and in the final moments Lewis Hamilton grabbed pole position. It was dry the following day, though, and the Mercedes driver couldn't maintain his advantage for very long. On the opening lap, Hamilton's car was slightly unstable going through Eau Rouge and Sebastian Vettel pounced to take the lead down the Kemmel Straight. Vettel gradually pulled away from the field to take the victory. Hamilton remained in second until the first round of stops but he couldn't hold off Fernando Alonso, who had battled his way up from ninth on the grid to cross the line second ahead of the Mercedes.

Remember to make your game picks in the 2014 Fantasy Formula 1 thread before the deadline of Saturday, August 23rd at 8 AM ET, when qualifying begins. Here we run down some Belgian GP facts and season stats.



Race Info
Grand Prix Belgian GP
Round 12 of 19
Circuit Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Location Francorchamps, Spa
Circuit Type Road circuit
Circuit Length 4.352 mi (7.004 km)
Circuit Direction Clockwise
Turns 20 (9 Left, 11 Right)
Lap Record 1:47.263, Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing), 2009
Race Length 191.410 mi (308.052 km)
Laps 44
2013 Polesitter Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2013 Winner Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Timetable
Free Practice 1 Friday, August 22nd at 4 AM ET - 5:30 AM ET
Free Practice 2 Friday, August 22nd at 8 AM ET - 9:30 AM ET
Free Practice 3 Saturday, August 23rd at 5 AM ET - 6 AM ET
Fantasy Deadline / Qualifying Saturday, August 23rd at 8 AM ET
Race Sunday, August 24th at 8 AM ET



Spa-Francorchamps facts:
  • Three of the last nine Belgian GP has been won by the polesitter.
  • The polesitter has finished on the podium in the last seven races at Spa.
  • Six of the last seven Spa Grands Prix have been won by a driver who started from the front row.
  • Two of the last nine Spa events were won by a driver starting from behind the front two rows.
  • In 2007 the first four on the grid finished in order.
  • Kimi Räikkönen (4) and Sebastian Vettel (2) are the only active drivers with multiple Spa wins.
  • Lewis Hamilton has crossed the finish line first twice but in 2008 he received a post-race penalty that demoted him to third.
  • McLaren (11) has the most Spa victories since the circuit was shortened at the end of the 1970s.
  • Ferrari has won seven of the last 16 Belgian GP.
  • McLaren (6) and Ferrari (5) have won all but two of the last 13 races in Belgium.
  • The most positions gained at Spa since 2002 is 19 by Michael Schumacher in 2011.
  • There has been a first lap retirement at four of the last five Belgian GP.
  • In five of the last 14 Spa events, there has been at least four first lap retirements.
  • The safety car has been deployed at six of the last nine Spa events.
  • It has rained during qualifying and/or the race at six of the last nine Belgian GP.



2013 Belgian GP Qualifying Results
Rank
Driver Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Grid
1.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
2:00.368
1:49.067
2:01.012
1
2.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing
2:01.863
1:48.646
2:01.200
2
3.
Mark Webber
Red Bull Racing
2:01.597
1:48.641
2:01.325
3
4.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes
2:01.099
1:48.552
2:02.251
4
5.
Paul di Resta
Force India
2:02.338
1:48.925
2:02.332
5
6.
Jenson Button
McLaren
2:01.301
1:48.641
2:03.075
6
7.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus
2:02.476
1:48.649
2:03.081
7
8.
Kimi Räikkönen
Lotus
2:01.151
1:48.296
2:03.390
8
9.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari
2:00.190
1:48.309
2:03.482
9
10.
Felipe Massa
Ferrari
2:01.462
1:49.020
2:04.059
10
11.
Nico Hülkenberg
Sauber
2:01.712
1:49.088
-
11
12.
Adrian Sutil
Force India
2:02.749
1:49.103
-
12
13.
Sergio Pérez
McLaren
2:02.425
1:49.304
-
13
14.
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham
2:00.564
1:52.036
-
14
15.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia
2:02.110
1:52.563
-
15
16.
Max Chilton
Marussia
2:02.948
1:52.762
-
16
17.
Pastor Maldonado
Williams
2:03.072
-
-
17
18.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso
2:03.300
-
-
18
19.
Daniel Ricciardo
Toro Rosso
2:03.317
-
-
19
20.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams
2:03.432
-
-
20
21.
Esteban Gutiérrez
Sauber
2:04.324
-
-
21
22.
Charles Pic
Caterham
2:07.384
-
-
22


107% Time:
2:08.603






Qualifying Notes
Red Bull and Mercedes had two cars in the top-4.
Lotus and Ferrari had two cars in the top-10.
Qualifying began wet, the track dried by the end of Q2, but it rained again in Q3.



2013 Belgian GP Race Results and Drivers' Fantasy Points
Rank
Driver Team Retirement
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
1.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing

3
40
1
1
2
1
48
2.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari

1
38
1
0
0
0
40
3.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes

5
36
1
0
0
0
42
4.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes

1
34
1
0
0
0
36
5.
Mark Webber
Red Bull Racing

2
32
1
0
0
0
35
6.
Jenson Button
McLaren
1
30
1
0
0
0
32
7.
Felipe Massa
Ferrari

1
28
1
0
0
0
30
8.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus

1
26
1
0
0
0
28
9.
Adrian Sutil
Force India

0
24
1
0
0
0
25
10.
Daniel Ricciardo
Toro Rosso

0
22
1
0
0
0
23
11.
Sergio Pérez
McLaren

0
20
1
0
0
0
21
12.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso

0
18
1
0
0
0
19
13.
Nico Hülkenberg
Sauber

0
16
1
0
0
0
17
14.
Esteban Guriérrez
Sauber

0
14
1
0
0
0
15
15.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams

0
12
1
0
0
0
13
16.
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham

0
10
1
0
0
0
11
17.
Pastor Maldonado
Williams

0
8
1
0
0
0
9
18.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia

0
6
1
0
0
0
7
19.
Max Chilton
Marussia

0
4
1
0
0
0
5
Ret.
Paul di Resta
Force India
Collision
1
2
0
0
0
0
3
Ret.
Kimi Räikkönen
Lotus
Brakes
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Ret.
Charles Pic
Caterham
Oil leak
0
0
0
0
0
0
0



2013 Belgian GP Teams' Fantasy Points
Team Drivers
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
Red Bull Racing
(Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber)
3
36
2
1
2
1
45
Ferrari
(Fernando Alonso/Felipe Massa)
1
33
2
0
0
0
36
McLaren
(Jenson Button/Sergio Pérez)
0
25
2
0
0
0
27
Lotus
(Kimi Räikkönen/Romain Grosjean)
1
13
0
0
0
0
14
Mercedes
(Nico Rosberg/Lewis Hamilton)
3
35
2
0
0
0
40
Sauber
(Nico Hülkenberg/Esteban Gutiérrez)
0
15
2
0
0
0
17
Force India
(Paul di Resta/Adrian Sutil)
0
13
0
0
0
0
13
Williams
(Pastor Maldonado/Valtteri Bottas)
0
10
2
0
0
0
12
Toro Rosso
(Jean-Éric Vergne/Daniel Ricciardo)
0
20
2
0
0
0
22
Caterham
(Charles Pic/Giedo van der Garde)
0
5
0
0
0
0
5
Marussia
(Jules Bianchi/Max Chilton)
0
5
2
0
0
0
7



Race Notes
Classified finishers Top-19 drivers.
Two classified finishers Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Williams, Marussia.
Race leaders Vettel (Red Bull).
Laps led Vettel (1-44).
Fastest lap Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) on lap 40 (1:50.756).



Points and Bonus Points Key
Q.P.
Qualifying Points
R.P.
Race Points
C.F.
Classified Finisher(s) Bonus Point(s)
L.L.
Lap Led Bonus Point
M.L.
Most Laps Led Bonus Points
F.L.
Fastest Lap Bonus Point



Belgian GP 2004 - 2013 and This Season's Statistics
List
Driver/Team
TM
This
Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
A
Sebastian Vettel
RBR
Race
7
1
7.57
6.86
1
5
5
2
32.00
Season
11
0
6.27
8.73
3
8
6
0
26.82
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
Race
7
2
4.29
10.43
1
4
4
1
26.00
Season
11
4
4.10
4.64
1
9
9
5
38.18
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
Race
7
0
10.00
7.57
4
5
1
0
28.71
Season
11
5
1.91
3.27
1
10
10
4
42.09
A
Fernando Alonso
FER
Race
9
1
7.00
9.89
2
5
5
0
24.33
Season
11
0
7.00
4.91
2
11
7
0
34.27
A
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
Race
7
0
5.00
6.57
1
5
5
4
33.71
Season
11
0
10.27
10.36
6
7
0
0
22.82
A
Jenson Button
MCL
Race
9
1
10.11
11.11
1
4
3
1
21.89
Season
11
0
9.27
8.27
3
7
3
0
27.18
B
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
Race
3
0
19.33
13.33
9
2
0
0
16.00
Season
11
0
4.18
4.90
1
9
7
2
32.09
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
Race
3
0
11.67
17.33
8
1
0
0
10.33
Season
11
0
13.91
14.36
8
2
0
0
14.00
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
Race
3
0
12.00
15.67
10
1
0
0
12.00
Season
11
0
17.88
15.30
12
0
0
0
11.00
B
Kevin Magnussen
MCL
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
11
0
8.73
9.82
2
7
1
0
24.00
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
Race
3
0
10.67
10.33
4
1
1
0
22.67
Season
11
0
9.00
7.82
5
10
4
0
27.91
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
Race
3
0
9.00
17.33
11
0
0
0
8.33
Season
11
0
11.55
10.90
3
6
1
0
19.64
B
Adrian Sutil
SAU
Race
5
0
14.00
9.83
5
3
1
0
28.20
Season
11
0
16.00
16.09
11
0
0
0
10.73
B
Esteban Gutiérrez
SAU
Race
1
0
21.00
14.00
14
0
0
0
15.00
Season
11
0
15.40
16.27
12
0
0
0
10.00
B
Jean-Éric Vergne
TR
Race
2
0
16.50
10.00
8
1
0
0
23.00
Season
11
0
10.45
14.45
8
4
0
0
14.45
B
Daniil Kvyat
TR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
11
0
10.64
14.00
9
4
0
0
15.27
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
Race
8
0
6.75
5.13
1
8
5
1
34.50
Season
11
1
8.45
12.18
4
5
2
0
20.18
B
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
Race
1
0
20.00
15.00
15
0
0
0
13.00
Season
11
0
7.27
6.45
2
10
5
0
31.27
B
Jules Bianchi
MAR
Race
1
0
15.00
18.00
18
0
0
0
7.00
Season
11
0
18.00
15.91
9
1
0
0
11.09
B
Alexander Rossi
MAR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
B
André Lotterer
CAT
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
B
Marcus Ericsson
CAT
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
11
0
20.80
18.09
11
0
0
0
6.55
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
Race
8
2
7.44
7.38
1
12
7
2
29.38
Season
11
0
5.23
6.90
1
17
13
2
30.18
TM
Mercedes
MER
Race
4
1
9.14
6.13
3
7
3
0
32.75
Season
11
9
2.95
3.95
1
19
19
9
41.91
TM
Ferrari
FER
Race
9
1
7.22
7.67
1
13
11
3
31.00
Season
11
0
8.64
7.64
2
18
7
0
29.55
TM
Lotus
LOT
Race
2
0
7.00
14.00
3
2
1
0
16.50
Season
11
0
15.58
14.81
8
3
0
0
12.55
TM
McLaren
MCL
Race
9
3
5.83
8.61
1
12
8
4
29.78
Season
11
0
9.00
9.05
2
14
4
0
26.27
TM
Force India
FI
Race
6
1
12.00
9.92
2
7
3
0
24.00
Season
11
0
10.27
9.29
3
16
5
0
24.18
TM
Sauber
SAU
Race
9
0
9.39
9.33
2
11
6
0
25.67
Season
11
0
15.71
16.18
11
0
0
0
10.55
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
Race
7
0
14.07
13.36
5
5
4
0
17.29
Season
11
0
10.55
14.23
8
8
0
0
14.73
TM
Williams
WIL
Race
9
0
13.17
13.56
4
4
1
0
16.78
Season
11
1
7.86
9.32
2
15
7
0
26.55
TM
Marussia
MAR
Race
2
0
18.75
17.00
15
0
0
0
10.00
Season
11
0
18.59
16.14
9
1
0
0
11.27
TM
Caterham
CAT
Race
2
0
18.75
17.25
14
0
0
0
9.00
Season
11
0
20.05
17.41
11
0
0
0
8.18



Recent Form Table
List
Driver/Team
TM
Last 4 Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
2,1,3,3
0
10.33
2.25
1
4
4
1
40.50
TM
Mercedes
MER
2,1,3,3
3
5.29
4.13
1
7
7
3
39.25
1,DNF,1,4
B
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
3,2,2,8
0
5.75
3.75
2
4
3
0
37.75
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
1,DNF,1,4
3
1.50
6.00
1
3
3
2
37.25
B
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
8,3,6,1
0
5.50
4.50
1
4
2
1
35.75
A
Fernando Alonso
FER
5,6,5,2
0
8.50
4.50
2
4
23
0
35.25
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
DNF,5,4,7
0
5.63
6.88
1
7
4
1
32.00
8,3,6,1
TM
Williams
WIL
4,DNF,DNF,5
1
6.25
8.50
2
6
5
0
29.25
3,2,2,8
TM
McLaren
MCL
11,4,8,10
0
7.25
8.50
4
6
1
0
28.00
7,7,9,12
TM
Ferrari
FER
5,6,5,2
0
11.25
8.25
5
6
3
0
27.75
10,DNF,11,6
A
Jenson Button
MCL
11,4,8,10
0
8.25
8.25
4
3
1
0
27.50
B
Kevin Magnussen
MCL
7,7,9,12
0
6.25
8.75
7
4
0
0
26.50
A
Sebastian Vettel
RBR
DNF,5,4,7
0
5.75
9.25
4
3
2
0
26.00
TM
Force India
FI
9,8,7,DNF
0
9.13
11.25
6
5
0
0
22.00
6,11,10,DNF
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
9,8,7,DNF
0
8.00
11.00
7
3
0
0
21.75
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
6,11,10,DNF
0
10.25
11.50
6
2
0
0
20.75
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
4,DNF,DNF,5
1
6.75
13.25
4
2
2
0
19.25
A
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
10,DNF,11,6
0
14.00
12.00
6
2
0
0
19.00
B
Jean-Éric Vergne
TR
DNF,10,13,9
0
11.50
13.00
9
2
0
0
17.25
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
12,17,12,13
0
16.50
13.50
12
0
0
0
16.00
B
Adrian Sutil
SAU
13,13,DNF,11
0
15.25
14.00
11
0
0
0
14.75
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
DNF,10,13,9
0
10.13
14.63
9
3
0
0
14.25
DNF,9,DNF,14
B
Jules Bianchi
MAR
15,14,15,15
0
16.25
14.75
14
0
0
0
13.50
TM
Marussia
MAR
15,14,15,15
0
17.38
15.63
14
0
0
0
12.75
17,16,17,16
TM
Lotus
LOT
14,12,DNF,DNF
0
15.00
15.25
12
0
0
0
12.50
12,17,12,13
B
Daniil Kvyat
TR
DNF,9,DNF,14
0
8.75
16.25
9
1
0
0
11.25
TM
Sauber
SAU
13,13,DNF,11
0
15.13
15.75
13
0
0
0
11.00
19,DNF,14,DNF
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
14,12,DNF,DNF
0
14.25
17.00
12
0
0
0
8.50
TM
Caterham
CAT
DNF,15,16,DNF
0
20.14
17.75
15
0
0
0
7.75
18,DNF,18,DNF
B
Esteban Gutiérrez
SAU
19,DNF,14,DNF
0
15.00
17.50
14
0
0
0
7.50
B
Marcus Ericsson
CAT
18,DNF,18,DNF
0
20.67
19.25
18
0
0
0
4.50

Sections: Main, Fantasy Games
Tags: Fantasy_Formula_1, Unofficial_Games, ASFL2_Fantasy_Games, Bonus_Points

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