A partial resurfacing of the System 1 circuit at Spa-Francorchamps has triggered complications for drivers and groups in figuring out how greatest to assault the Belgian Grand Prix.
Work was accomplished final month on resurfacing 3.5km of the Spa circuit, which is round half its size, in three areas.
These had been from Blanchimont to Eau Rouge, from the beginning of the Kemmel straight to Bruxelles and from the Campus bend to Paul Frere.
The works had been geared toward bettering security situations on the monitor with a better grip floor, whereas additionally eliminating a few of the bumps from older sections of asphalt.
Whereas the enhancements have accomplished precisely what was hoped for, they’ve additionally opened up a singular situation that drivers and groups now have to beat.
The modifications have given the circuit a Jekyll-and-Hyde character – the place some elements of it supply tremendous excessive grip and are very abrasive, whereas different sections are the alternative.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
This not solely makes the texture of the monitor totally different, however it additionally serves to change automobile and tyre traits because the stability shifts.
Primarily based on dry working to this point this weekend, it has opened up a situation the place it’s extremely exhausting to handle because it has ramped up tyre degradation.
As Mercedes driver George Russell defined: “I feel you’ve got three quarters of the monitor which might be the smoothest of the season, and the opposite quarter is probably the most abrasive of the season.
“You’re in two completely totally different home windows, and that mixture of the 2 is what has brought on loads of harm to the tyres.
“It’s the similar for everybody, however I do not assume anybody anticipated this form of degradation.”
Pirelli’s head of F1 and automobile racing Mario Isola stated that the info collected from working to this point confirmed the brand new floor was inflicting a rise in tyre put on.
“It’s smoother should you have a look at the roughness, however it’s producing extra grip,” he stated.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
“A part of this grip might be adhesive grip, however the result’s that’s placing extra stress on the tyres, and this will increase the overheating and likewise the graining, particularly on the entrance left.”
The tip results of the brand new floor is that the Belgian GP has shifted from what was a marginal one/two-stopper, to a nailed on two-stopper – with three stops even now on the playing cards.
Isola added: “Final 12 months, it was a two-stop race for almost all, utilizing the medium and the delicate.
“This 12 months, I imagine that the one-stop requires an excessive amount of administration. So mainly, it is not an choice.
“The 2-stop is the quickest on paper and whereas final 12 months the exhausting was not used in any respect, this 12 months the exhausting is an efficient compound for the race. So, we predict the quickest technique is medium, exhausting, exhausting.”
However with uncertainty about how a lot degradation there will probably be on the now inexperienced monitor after yesterday’s rain, and overtaking fairly easy at Spa, Isola isn’t ruling out some going aggressive and choosing a three-stopper.
“The three-stop ought to be barely slower, however we all know that right here it’s doable to overhaul,” he stated. “Relying on the degradation, the three-stop might be additionally an choice if you wish to deal with the delicate, since you push extra with the shorter stints. It is nonetheless doable.”
