Don't you just hate the Formula One break? I know I do! but when the season continues again it feels better than ever.
This time the Formula One circus is moving to Spa. This place is the favorite track of many former and current F1 drivers. This is also one of my favorites.
Remember when Häkkinen overtook Schumacher in the 2000 season?
I mean how could you not like this track? This place has always offered us a lot of action and dramatic situations.
Remember in 1998 when they had to start over after the huge crash with spare cars?
Häkkinen and Villeneuve were the two lucky ones in the front. Almost everyone else crashed and there was chaos.
Last year we all remember what Romain Grosjean did to Alonso and Hamilton.
Last year we also saw the best overtaking maneuver of the race when Räikkönen overtook Schumacher at "Eau Rouge" without DRS of course. It's nice to see people actually overtaking each other like they are supposed to and not with some "boost buttons".
Actually Räikkönen overtook Schumacher at the same place also in 2004! Only then Schumacher had a Ferrari and Räikkönen a McLaren.
It seems that Räikkönen is very good every time the F1 circus goes to Spa, and every time he manages to finish the race it's with a very good result. Let's see..
2001 - DID NOT FINISH (Transmission failure) / Sauber
2002 - DID NOT FINISH (Engine failure) / McLaren
2003 - SPA DID NOT HOST A GP IN THE 2003 SEASON
2004 - 1st place and first time Kimi got a chance to finish / McLaren
2005 - 1st place again / McLaren
2006 - SPA DID NOT HOST A GP IN THE 2006 SEASON
2007 - 1st place / Ferrari
2008 - DID NOT FINISH (Accident) / Ferrari
2009 - 1st place (this was the only victory for the team in 2009) / Ferrari
2010 - RÄIKKÖNEN DID NOT RACE
2011 - RÄIKKÖNEN DID NOT RACE
2012 - 3rd place. This was the only time he had finished the race without a victory. / Lotus
2013 - ?????
Fernando Alonso on the other hand has had two accidents and ones he has spun himself of the race.
He has only been twice on the podium at this grand prix and both those times Räikkönen won.
It seems that this is an unlucky track for Fernando Alonso and a very lucky track for Kimi Räikkönen.
I think that Kimi is going to be good this year as well. Isn't it obvious? Lotus is a very reliable car and it's almost impossible for him to retire with it. The only time he has almost retired was in China last year when he dropped from 2nd place to the back because of the tires. The tires are not a problem anymore and this is his favorite track!
Lotus has also announced that they are probably going to use the double DRS on Räikkönen's car at Spa. This will increase his speed on the straights and help him a lot if it works like it is supposed to.
Did you know that Räikkönen has a chance to equal Ayrton Senna's victories in Spa if he wins this weekend? Here's the current top 3:
1. Michael Schumacher 6
2. Ayrton Senna 5
3. Jim Clark and Kimi Räikkönen 4
It's not hard to guess who I am going to put my money on as the winner.
Here is my top3:
1. Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus
2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
3. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Wait a second! This is exactly the same drivers that I guessed in the last GP preview and they were all on the podium (1. Hamilton, 2. Räikkönen, 3. Vettel).
Let's see how right I am this time!
