Championship Contenders Fail in Spa, Wehrlein Wins Again

Qualifying:

Pos#DriverConstructorQ1Q2Diff.
157Dean StonemanPrecision-Mercedes2:03.9061:48.156
26Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-Toyota2:03.8181:48.170+0.014
394Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes2:04.1881:48.498+0.342
418Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd2:04.1871:48.530+0.374
539Sho TsuboiBR Mansell-Toyota2:04.3731:48.533+0.377
631Esteban OconFAST-Mercedes2:05.7221:48.852+0.696
77Charles LeclercFAST-Mercedes2:06.2471:49.228+1.072
847Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd2:06.2851:48.852+1.233
977Valtteri BottasToyota2:07.1051:49.514+1.358
1064Dave CassidyFerrari2:05.5821:49.562+1.406
1170Sérgio Sette CâmaraWilliams-Ferrari2:07.1491:49.999+1.843
1233Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari2:06.0281:50.006+1.850
1329Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari2:05.1051:50.124+1.968
1423Alexander AlbonFerrari2:06.8741:50.411+2.255
1537Kazuki NakajimaToyota2:07.4941:50.820+2.664
1613Pastor MaldonadoSauber-Judd2:08.6961:51.184+3.028
1773Daniel MelroseCalinetic-Judd2:08.5151:51.762+3.606
1884Jack AitkenSauber-Judd2:10.4921:52.906+4.016
194Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-Judd2:09.9411:52.902+4.746
2055Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-Mercedes2:11.2681:53.387+5.231
2199Antonio GiovinazziDawson-Mercedes2:10.8091:53.599+5.443
2223Jules BianchiCalinetic-Judd2:11.0011:51.583+3.427*
2398Bradley DagnallLoonmotor-Judd2:10.0071:53.631+5.457
2426Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-Ferrari2:06.905No Time+18.749

* 5-place grid penalty for causing an avoidable accident

Report:

The chaotic weather allowed some unlikely heroes to shine at Spa.
When it was announced that Formula One would return to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, fans everywhere rejoiced. With a rainy weekend, the dreams of the fans were more than fulfilled with an exciting race.

Qualifying saw Dean Stoneman and Artem Markelov take up the first row and, indeed, those two looked like they would determine the winner. Unfortunately, Markelov made a rare error and retired and Stoneman had a technical problem.

Pascal Wehrlein was left to pick up the pieces, putting Esteban Ocon and Lando Norris at distance to secure his second career victory. However, even he would agree he was not really the main story after the race had calmed down.

The many retirements allowed some unusual names to shine. Sérgio Sette Câmara kept it on the black stuff, the Brazilian fought with Valtteri Bottas and Roger Ibe for fourth spot; it would eventually end in the hands of Bottas and Toyota.

Race:

Pos#DriverConstructorTime/RetiredPoints
194Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes53:49.98215
214Esteban OconFAST-Mercedes+13.28812
347Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd+28.95910
477Valtteri BottasToyota+47.7168
570Sérgio Sette CâmaraWilliams-Ferrari+55.1916
629Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari+55.5985
733Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari+60.9584
823Alexander AlbonFerrari+67.0123
964Dave CassidyFerrari+74.0742
1073Daniel MelroseCalinetic-Judd+106.6491
1137Kazuki NakajimaToyota1 Lap
1285Jack AitkenSauber-Judd1 Lap
1355Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-Mercedes1 Lap
1498Bradley DagnallLoonmotor-Judd1 Lap
DNF18Sebastian VettelCaterham-JuddAccident
DNF23Jules BianchiCalinetic-JuddAccident
DNF99Antonio GiovinazziDawson-JuddMotor
DNF13Pastor MaldonadoSauber-JuddTransmission
DNF39Sho TsuboiMansell-MercedesMotor
DNF7Charles LeclercFAST-MercedesMotor
DNF57Dean StonemanPrecision-MercedesElectrical
DNF6Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-ToyotaAccident
DNF26Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-FerrariAccident
DNF19Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-JuddAccident

Fastest Lap:

Pascal Wehrlein – 1:58.261

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Valtteri Bottas – Toyota’s best result of the season was achieved with supreme, yet safe racing.

Reject Of The Race:

Sebastian Vettel – questionable pace and a number of errors really undermine the former champ’s reputation.