Formula 1 begins its Belgian joke 2014
After four weeks of rest, the big circus of F1 is back! The smells of burnt fuel and frying are on the menu for this twelfth round of the world championship, which takes place on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Our special correspondent scoured Spa this Thursday and brings you a selection of paddock whispers.
Max Verstappen, darling of the paddock despite himself
He hasn’t even set foot in an F1 yet, and he’s already a sensation. Max Verstappen, turning 17 on September 30, will be a Toro Rosso driver in 2015. The youngest in history. This fact is striking, especially because the young boy has only one season of single-seater experience, in European F3. He was on everyone’s lips and in front of all the cameras a few hours before the official launch of the Belgian Grand Prix. « He makes me feel a bit old, » joked Daniel Ricciardo, barely 25, at the press conference. Jean-Eric Vergne, replaced by the young Dutchman next season, is much less amused.
Vergne: « I should maybe shave to look younger »
« Toro Rosso is a team for young drivers I am apparently too old. I should maybe shave to look a bit younger, » says Jean-Eric Vergne, a wry smile on his lips, in the midst of the Red Bull hospitality commotion. Clearly well briefed by his team, he speaks of a « understandable » decision as Max Verstappen gets the same chance that was given to him three years ago. No comments on how it was announced to him, upon his return from vacation. « I prefer to save my energy to continue having good races in the next eight rather than spending it trying to understand what happened, why him, why so early. The questions are behind me. »
Duel of newbies at the back of the grid
Caterham surprised everyone by placing André Lotterer in Kamui Kobayashi’s seat earlier this week. Marussia added to the drama by replacing Max Chilton with Alexander Rossi, the team’s reserve driver since July, at the last minute. Indeed, the fate of the two teams seems particularly intertwined. The newcomers will discover their car over the weekend and are unlikely to perform miracles. Finishing ahead of their respective teammates would be an achievement. A head-to-head race seems promised for them.
Spa, the perfect slide for students’ return
11 points. This is the tiny margin that separates the two Mercedes drivers at the top of the world championship, in favor of Rosberg. The rollercoaster of Spa-Francorchamps will be the stage for the twelfth act of the thrilling Hamilton-Rosberg duel, unless a huge surprise from Williams, Ferrari, or Red Bull disrupts the silver festival. The circuit is above all a delight for the drivers, for whom the return to school could not have happened in a better place. The climb of Eau Rouge always offers its share of thrills and even though the Formula 1 cars are slower this year, the drivers are expected to have a great time, foot to the floor!
Spa-Francorchamps in figures
| Length of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit | 7.004 km |
| Number of corners | 19 |
| Average speed | 230 km/h |
| Number of laps | 44 |
| Total race distance | 308.05 km |
| Lap record | 1:47.263 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2009) |
From our special correspondent in Spa-Francorchamps
