Merc, Ferrari get set to spar at Spa
FORMULA One will kick back into gear this weekend following its month-long summer break, and the big question ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix is if Mercedes can mount a charge against Ferrari points leader Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel holds a 14 point advantage over Merc’s Lewis Hamilton after 11 rounds, but with two of the slowest tracks behind us and two particularly fast ones coming up, a switcheroo could be on the cards. The Italian team scored one-two finishes in Monaco and Hungary, where its mechanical grip suited the twisty, relatively slow speed circuits nicely.
But Merc’s cars have historically performed well at venues where sheer grunt matters, and Spa Francorchamps is an old-school track with long straights and flowing sweeps where power and slippery aerodynamics are key. Same goes for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in two Sundays’ time.
Then there’s a question of strategy. Mercedes let its usually relentless guard down and revealed its softer side last time out in Hungary, by asking third-placed Hamilton to let team-mate Valtteri Bottas through to take the podium in the final laps. Earlier, Bottas had gifted Lewis the spot to make an attack on second place, but the challenge never materialised. It was a questionable decision, albeit a very sporting one, which ultimately favoured the Finn’s championship aspirations and hurt Hamilton’s.
At Ferrari on the other hand, all the focus is on Vettel who has comprehensively outscored Kimi Raikkonen. In Hungary Kimi may have easily scored his first win since 2013, but played defence for Vettel who limped his visibly damaged car home for his fourth win of the season.
Kimi’s future in F1 was uncertain going into the summer shutdown, but the 2007 world champion signed a deal this week to stay with Ferrari for 2018. The contract ends speculation of a return to Ferrari by Fernando Alonso, who still hasn’t committed to a future with his troubled McLaren team.