The Belgian Grand Prix Formula 1

that? It is Raikkonen. England! Matter is over. Drama for Hamilton.

This is Formula One, race 12, Spa, Belgium.

ROCK MUSIC. The dials and gauges can handle stress. Extremes can be

measured no problem. But what about a leap of faith? Never was a season

launched with the fingers of so many rational scientists crossed. There

are quiet prayer: Please let this work. -- their prayer. There were

those who said it was all too much, this could not work and the champion

of the past four seasons was one of them. The winner of the last nine

races of the old age has not won in the new. Ferrari, the guardians of

the soul of Formula One, Ferrari, where are you? So who has been

winning? These two. APPLAUSE See? Said the doubters. Mercedes man

and a Mercedes monopoly, what good can come of that? What good? This

good. Friends and now foes, cat and dog, scratch and snarl, finger

flick, pure breed and racing instincts, driving like we have not

seen in years. Drama we have been yearning for. Just the two of them?

No. Move over, Champ, here comes the new kid on the grid. You cannot keep

him behind you. Daniel Ricciardo, the offspring of revolution. Others

as well in the New Age, Force India, Morrissey, small teams, big

contributions. -- Marussia. And Williams, the gentleman racers, are

back. Spills for Felipe Massa. And so to part two of the season of

change. Eight races to go, this time last year it was set time. This

year, who can say? The great unknown, come on in. Take the leap.

Welcome to Formula One. And welcome to one of the greatest

circuits in the world, this is Spa, home to the infamous Eau Rouge and

some of the most scintillating track action in the history of Formula

One. I am happy to say that Eddie Jordan is back this weekend, David

Coulthard is here to take us through the events of the day. What a day it

is turning out to be, the sun is shining, unlike yesterday. It is

good to have you back. You said it has been an incredible season so

far. It has been scintillating and if anybody stands there and says it

is a procession, they have not been watching this year. It is only when

you reflect that go back and take the best parts out of it, it was

really so far amazing season and I hope it continues. Eight races to

go, how do you see it on folding? What has been remarkable is given

the dominance of Mercedes since the beginning of the year, they have not

won every Grand Prix, we have those two amazing victories from Daniel

Ricciardo. It shows Grand Prix racing is unpredictable and with the

reliability playing a factor in the second half of the season it will be

even more unpredictable. We have had that story with Nico and Lewis, that

fascinating episode on folding. You said they are friends, now flows, as

a fan it is great to watch. It is great to watch. We know there is a

hot story about team orders, I don't believe it, I am certain that here

in Spader are team orders, there is no way a team the size of Mercedes

will say, drivers, race from the start. You might say, you can race

after Lap 1, then hold position, we don't want anything unexpected in

the first corner and first lap. That is not a team order. You lie all the

time. I don't believe there are team orders, I think there will be polite

request. When my team give me an order I jump to attention. A polite

direction. I think it is optional. Not in my household. We will see

what happens as Lap 1 unfolds and whether your wife comes in and gives

any orders, David. After this we will have seven rounds remaining. As

we build towards the final showdown in Abu Dhabi, where double points

will come into play. Today it is Spa and asked that await. David, this

really is a track that can bite back if you make any mistakes. It is so

fast, which makes it so unforgiving, any mistake you make, the average

speed is massive around this race track. Whether wet or dry, you are

doing serious amounts of speed. Momentum will carry you towards the

barrier. The consequences for any small error the driver will make,

even the slowest corner of the track, with Romain Grosjean creating

that multiple car crash with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. The

safety car is 60%. It is a difficult place for a team, the weather plays

a massive factor. It could be raining on one part, dry in another,

how does it work? When you were managing a team? You have all of the

gauges my day we did not have the sophistication they have now, they

can predict to the second where the rain is coming from. You have the

mountains, trees, forests, and straights. It is the one track that

computers, whatever you have got, they play no role, you take that

feeling, look at what you have got, maybe you have spotters on the

track, that is what we used to have, they worked as good as the computers

we have. Human technology just as important. It was required yesterday

when mother nature played its part and played absolute havoc with

qualifying. Nico Hulkenberg was the first

big-name casualty as he went out in Q1 after saying he had no confidence

in his Force India car. Williams had come into the weekend saying it was

their best chance of a race win so far this season, but it did not work

out in qualifying, they could have done without the rain. Tasks darts

from six. Ferrari have looked strong. -- Valtteri Bottas starts at

six. They settle for fourth. Red Bull looked like the best of the

rest, but Daniel Ricciardo made a mistake at Marchmont. He starts

fifth, leaving the gusty and therefore to take it for Mercedes.

The world champion starts third. Mercedes were two seconds ahead of

the field from Hamilton had been complaining of problems with his

car, but Rosberg had no issues and put together an incredible map to

put together his fourth consecutive pole position, but his first at this

circuit. -- incredible lap. Lewis Hamilton has his first front row

start since the Canadian Grand Prix. Vettel is that, Alonso fourth,

followed by a Hungarian race winner Ricciardo. McLaren drivers are

seventh and 10th respectively. Missing out on the top ten were Toro

Rosso and Schuyler Rick Vernon. -- Jules Eric Vernon. Watch out for a

big start from Nico Hulkenberg. Gutierrez had another failure on his

salver and Andrew Lotterer, who makes his debut, and qualified his

team-mate, Marcus Ericsson. -- another failure on the Stauber two

Stauber -- Sauber. We have Max Verstappen, a young guy, questions

over him being too young. And we have Andre Lotterer at 32 making his

debut. You would suggest that having that experience has enabled him to

make his team-mate Ericsson not look any good on his first time at the

racetrack. Must be frustrating. Red Bull did really well in qualifying

yesterday. Let's wander down the pit lane. Sebastian Vettel qualified

third, they were over the moon. Eddie Mr session in the practice

sessions. -- Eddie Mr section. They have a problem with overall

speed. They counteracted that by running a low-down car, they will be

reasonably quick. The way they set their car up is different, they take

into consideration the downside on the engine performance. Maybe

Renault have decided and have been able to up their game, who knows

what is going to happen? They will be boosted by qualifying, it was

definitely a positive. Four in a row for Nico Rosberg. Yesterday Lewis

said he was not bothered about not getting pole position, he thinks it

might be good to be beyond. Does it make much difference? No question in

this race it is not a big deal not to be on pole, as opposed to Monte

Carlo where overtaking is difficult. He may know something in terms of

the setup of his car relative to Nico, if it is a dry race for

instance, it will benefit him. You have a real chance of overtaking

with or without DRS. Let's look at the championship. Lewis Hamilton

trying to close the 11 point gap to Nico Rosberg. Then a gap of 62 Red

Bull's Daniel Ricciardo. Fernando Alonso outshining his team-mate Kimi

Raikkonen. Valtteri Bottas is the first Williams in fifth. Mercedes

hold all of the cards in the Mercedes championship, but the

challenge for second is on. Red Bull holding third position, but Ferrari

and Williams are at the fore. Let's keep walking down the pit lane. It

makes it really exciting. We know that Mercedes are right up there,

the battle for second is interesting. We spoke to Claire

Williams yesterday, she said they are fighting for third, but

yesterday she said they might... They will try to go for second, that

would be incredible after last year. It is all about leadership. You have

to be setting targets, even if it seems a little bit beyond what may

be realistically achievable, if seems a little bit beyond what may

be realistically you do not set the bar high for your team, I am sure

you use to do this, aspiring towards victory. It seems ridiculous that

the time. Everybody does that, in life as well as sport, you have to

set a limit. Try to which Egypt and when you achieve it you have to move

it up another peg. -- try to achieve it. Valtteri Bottas is one of two

drivers trying to help Williams achieved that. Lee caught up with

him 20 minutes ago when he was off to the drivers parade. Valtteri, we

came into this weekend with high hopes for Williams, did not go quite

to plan yesterday but the weather conditions were crazy, how much did

that play into it? It affected it a lot. We know that in dry conditions

we have perfect pace and when it is changing conditions, you know,

things like this can happen. We were not made it quite as close to the

top three places in qualifying yesterday, but today is a new day.

This is always a fabulous circuit, along lap, like a roller-coaster, in

terms of you trying to get onto the podium today, do you do it at the

start, take the opportunities or take the long game? We react to

whatever situation it will be. In the start we will attack. We

normally get good starts. Any position gained in the beginning is

a bonus for us in terms of the strategy of the race and then we can

maybe choose a bit better about the strategy, which laps we are going to

stop. It should be an interesting one. Even if we do not get records,

the race is very long. Is This might be pointless but do you know about

the weather? Nobody knows! We will see. Have a great race. That was

Valtteri Bottas earlier. Jenson Button is behind us, just spin round

and we can see him preparing. Interesting times at McLaren. You

have talked openly and to Jonathan Neale about what will happen. What

do they need to do to turn their season around? He was talking about

three years and I was somewhat perplexed. If I was a driver in this

team and I heard the management saying it would be a year of

transition with the engine, we know where Mercedes is because they are

strong and they have gone a different route, it is all to play

for. They could do an amazing job at McLaren, as they have done in the

past but in recent years, the DMA is not stacking up, we do not see where

these people will produce the goods -- DNA. There is fierce opposition.

David jumped on his bike to catch up with Jenson, there is a bit of

hilarity in this! Jenson Button. About time! I thought

we would make a little team. I got a shirt printed for you. A Scotsman!

Am I putting this on? You are supposed to deliver the Irish men

line to finish the joke! All we need is an Irishman!

We are going to go for a little ride around the world famous

Spa-Francorchamps. We have started in one of the most iconic corners in

the world. You are doing about 190 miles an hour. The even more this

year. It has been termed as easy flat in the last few years, this

time? If it is not easy flat, these things have massive torque and that

is when you can have a moment. This could be a bit more of a challenge

this year. Let's do it. I have popped a gear!

Can you interview yourself? Coming up the straight into Les Combes. Top

of the hill after Eau Rouge. I will just stop you here. I think I am

having a heart attack! Break cooling is a big issue this year. It is

around here. As you notice, it is freezing. I did notice! You come up

to Les Combes, your brakes are cold, the tyres are cold and

suddenly they have to do something. Normally massive understeer. And you

get to the third part and you have picked up front grip because the

tyres are working so the balance is changing. It seems straight at this

stage of the season that you don't have a contract for next year.

Freedom is a nice thing. You are holding back? We have just not sat

down and talked but when you have raced the 14 years if I had to

retire, so be it but I feel I have so much more to and I cannot imagine

life without motorsport and especially Formula One.

The good bit is I think I can have you on this next part. It is all

downhill. Try to keep up! Wow! Be careful! I am a bit scared. Through

Pouhon, you realise on a bike how steep this is, no wonder it is so

tricky. Incredible elevation change here, and you forget even when you

are racing. It feels so much different on a bike. We struggled up

Eau Rouge and this is why it is a difficult corner in Pouhon because

you are going so fast. This is where Michael ran into the back of me.

When you brake tested him? That's right! Michael Schumacher hit David

Coulthard and he is out! Put a helmet on! Take yourself out of the

cockpit, you are a fan, what do you think of the season so far? It is

good that Lewis and Nico are battling. Lewis seemed stronger in

the head than ever even with his issues. He has taken the rough with

the smooth pretty well and it will be interesting but we have our own

challenges to see who we are racing. I don't think it will be Williams,

it will be Force India, maybe Ferrari so a good battle. As always,

thank you for your time. That summer break has been good for you.

Unbelievable strength! Great stuff, enjoyable watching it,

you managed to get Jenson to say that 14 years is a good innings but

he still seems keen. Did he say anything else that would make you

think he will definitely stay? He definitely wants to come no question

about it and any team would see him as an asset. As we were talking

about, McLaren in this rebuilding period, moving to Honda, they are

just not prioritising drivers, that is not where they need to be looking

although that is not a great thing for Jenson. You have got to go to

the commentary box so I will let you go. To the grid, not the commentary

box. Allan has joined us. One more line about Jenson, 14 years is a

fantastic time in Formula One but how much would Formula One miss him

if he was not here? I think McLaren would miss him, he has the most

points in that team right now. He seems to be able to relish these

changeable conditions. Right now, their lack of speed is down to the

car as opposed to the drivers. Let's have a closer look at Spa, what can

you tell us about what should be happening today? I would like to

look at Red Bull, Eddie was talking about balancing it out and this is

Canada, another high-speed circuit. If you look at the rear wing from

Canada, significantly less. They have taken up some -- taken off some

of these small error dynamic aids to maximise straight-line speed because

this track is very different -- smaller aerodynamic aids. You have a

fast first section up to Les Combes, then a middle section and

another flat-out sector at the end. But from Turn 1 up to turn five is

1850 metres when flat out but with the hybrid boost out of Turn 1 and

less aerodynamics, Eau Rouge, Turn 2, three, four, that is not flat out

sober teams have to work out the balance. -- so the teams. They have

to be really clear with their wing levels. Red Bull dropped theirs,

they were still the fastest at the top of Eau Rouge. They were one

kilometre quicker than Mercedes but at the end of the straight they were

six kilometres slower than Mercedes. They have a lot to do and that is

why it was so important that Sebastian Vettel qualified well in

difficult conditions. This year, to drive at Spa is more difficult than

last year? That extra boost profile, the teams are having to think if

they boost everything out of the first corner or do they hold back up

the long drag to Les Combes. With the extra torque and reduced error

neither am it levels, the car is coming out from underneath them --

reduced aerodynamic levels. We can get some wise words of wisdom, Tom

Clarkson is in the pit lane for us. There is no such thing as bad

weather, only the wrong clothes! Hoping it is not going to rain. The

cars cannot do their practice starts here, they would go straight into

that wall so they do them on the run down to Eau Rouge. From a strategy

point of view, a 1-stop is possible, the option tyre can last

more than 15 laps and the prime can do the remaining 20 but it looks

more like a two-stop race because it is so easy to overtake. Running up

to Les Combes, back into the Bus Stop chicane, you need some rubber

at the end of the race on your tyres so it looks like two stops for most

people unless we get a safety car. One other thing to bear in mind, the

energy recovery systems. The drivers get 33 seconds per lap of that 160

brake horsepower boost buries more than 33 seconds of full throttle

around the track so they have to be strategic about where they use it.

That could lead to some great racing this afternoon. That is what we are

after. It is one of the loudest pit lane is this season. Just behind us,

Ferrari, there is a rumour that there was a meeting last night in

Red Bull with a certain Fernando Alonso. Do you know anything about

it? The first little rumour of the season! Last night, to everybody's

vision, Fernando Alonso sat visually in front of the people at Red Bull

and that was an indication to Ferrari, don't guarantee I will be

with you next year because I am looking at other option and if he

was so open in front of Red Bull, you have to guarantee he also talks

to Mercedes. That is the start, Alonso could kick it off. He could

have just been hanging out with some old mates! And John Hurt is here,

thank you for joining us. Very pleased! How are you? You spend most

of your time in Ireland so you are used to this weather! It is going to

be very interesting, it is the same every year. What is your passion in

motor racing? Why come here when you could be in these exotic places? I

have come here this time because it is my wife's birthday and her

sister's birthday and I thought it would be the best present. It is not

your birthday, it is their birthday but you are getting the treat!

Absolutely, it is fantastic. Let's walk over here because the cars are

coming past. I don't want you to get run over. We have all this

unbelievable noise and the thing that sticks out in my mind about

you, I saw your one-man show in the west end and you came on stage for a

long period and not a word was spoken and not the thing was said

and yet not one person in the audience is dead make a noise. --

dared. There is such a contradiction. Tell us about that

show. That show, you are right it depends on that silence at the

beginning, that is what sets the scene. If anybody breaks it, it is

very difficult to get over. But here, they tell me that Formula One

has got quiet! It doesn't seem to me like that! I think that has been

exaggerated. Your career, you never seem to be out of work, we are

constantly seeing you in films, you have just had one released. Well,

let's hope so! Tell us about Hercules. That was great fun to

make. We were in Budapest for five months. I tried to get to the

Formula One there but I was working that day. You have come arguably to

the worlds best motor rating circuit and we wish you a great day. --

motor racing. You are a huge fan of Lewis, what have you made of the

racing this season? I hope he wins today, I have everything crossed. I

had such a good time at Mercedes. I am thrilled for them that they have

got the two of them there but I would like it to be reversed, I

would like Lewis to come first! Thank you, very enjoyable to talk to

you. Just seeing Bernie Ecclestone and on the grid and David is there

for us. the great and La Source corner. That

was the original source of the river, the red River, that ran down

to Eau Rouge corner. This is one thing challenging for the drivers.

An uphill start, difficult to see the elevation change as I walk, but

I am not out of breath because it is downhill. It is about 300 metres

from pole position to the start of the Grand Prix. At this point, if

you can come down with me on the ground, there is a clearly defined

groove, like no other racetrack in the world apart from Indianapolis.

groove, like no other racetrack in There is a groove cut into the

tarmac, it starts and stops at the back of the grid and here. The first

Grand Prix was 1921 here. The first race in 1921. It was only motorbikes

for years, the first car race was 1925. For 20 years every Grand Prix

in that period had wet weather. Christian Horner, there was a 20

year period when it rained every year at this Grand Prix, I can feel

spitting, do you trust satellite or do you have a man with a bald head

standing in the pit lane? Bald-dar is the way to go. Radar cannot

predict, but it can be dry at the top of the hill. The circuit is so

long there can be different conditions in different parts. There

was a huge gap, two second gap, between you and Mercedes, the

biggest gap between front and second row since 1988. Whatever the weather

conditions, you are not really racing Mercedes, are you? We have

taken a different approach. Look at their rear wing, it is close to the

size they had in Monaco. Ours is the same size as Monza, we have gone

four straight line speed. In the first and third sector it puts us

closer to them. In the wet it is more of a penalty. On race runs we

were much closer. Nico Rosberg gaining that upper hand

for straight pole positions. We have Jules Bianchi, I will grab a quick

word. I fancy a bit of that if I can get him. Sorry to jump in. INAUDIBLE

Our main competitors. Let's see what is happening. We want to finish in

front of catering. That is Jules Bianchi, driving for Marussia.

The punching above his weight. I am interested in this battle, Sebastian

Vettel, Fernando Alonso, we have seen that happen at Silverstone,

great wheel-to-wheel action, using every trick in the book to get an

advantage. INAUDIBLE We seem to have technical issues on

the grid with DC. Hopefully we will get him back in a few minutes as he

wanders up and down. We saw Jules Bianchi, what an interesting

character, a great driver with Marussia, showed how good he is at

fighting for the Ferrari seat, ultimately, with Nico Hulkenberg.

What are the chances? How interesting after last night that we

saw Fernando Alonso sitting so openly in front of the people from

Red Bull, who knows what might happen there? If that was to

happen, it opens the seat at Harare. I still think Hulkenberg just has

the edge, however, this man, Bianchi, has developed, matured, he

has the taste of winning and I think he could be a real strong candidate

for Ferrari full is very interesting, we can go back to the

grid. Hopefully the microphone is working. David? Sorry about that, a

small microphone problem. I have found Tom Clarkson, he is

hard-wired. I was about to have a word with Daniel Ricciardo, he has

popped off the grid for comfort break. Tom is going to come with me.

Adrian Newey... I will have a quick line with him. Adrian? He is in his

own, headset on. He's coming back. I thought you were in a zone of

concentration, what can you see on the Ferrari? Just bits and pieces,

see if there is anything new on the car. Have an interesting race this

afternoon, good luck. Romain Grosjean is walking here. Sorry,

Tom, we are joined at the hip, like S3 legate race. Get your arm around

my shoulder, have a cuddle. Can I walk with you? You are having an

interesting season, still smiling, which is good, you are obviously

confident in the job you are doing Westermark I am trying to give 100%

every time, it is clearly harder than what it was last year. There is

less celebration, but still as much work as we did. We are trying to

improve. Right now is the time to focus on the future and prepare for

next season. There have been rumours of a possible change of teams, you

will not tell us, go on, tell us where you are going to be. I wish I

could but I do not know. I want to win races but right now trying to

help Lotus as hard as I can. You are doing a good job, good luck with

that. We find ourselves at the Williams team, it of a

disappointment in qualifying. You don't mind if I bring you in.

Williams underperformed yesterday. They did, but they were very much

focused on today, expecting a dry race, I expect them to move forward,

particularly Felipe Massa, he goes very well here. Let's have a look,

who else? McLaren as well. Let's have a word. Sorry, Tom, you were

hesitant. Tom and I are joined by a cable, it will be a double

interview. Do McLaren see the weather as an opportunity having

learned from a mistake in Budapest, something else in place in strategy

to try and take advantage this time? We have to blame ourselves for that,

we have been reviewing the processes and everybody is clear about what to

do, how to react to any conditions. It should be fine. Another test

coming. Tell us about the weather, what is the radar saying? Some drops

of rain. If I have to trust this specific radar, there is a shower

coming. OK, have a good race, thank you very much. Let's take a step, a

Little wonder, let's go down this way with Helmut Marko, a man who has

excited all of the young hopefuls by signing Max Verstappen to race in

Formula One from next year at 17. At the other end of the scale... He is

shaking his head. Not a thumbs up from Felipe, too late for him,

getting focused. Having a difficult time. We are going this way. Let's

go down this way Tom. I was about to say Felipe is having a difficult

time in Formula One at the moment, not getting the run of the luck. He

thinks it is bad luck, but at some point you start making your own luck

in Formula One. I wanted to ask, do you think these guys will be flat

through Eau Rouge on Lap 1 question mark definitely not, 100 kilograms

of fuel on board. This race will be limited if it is dry, if it is wet

it will not be. I will head off to the commentary box. The twins on the

grid. Poor old Tom being dragged around by DC. Eddie and I have come

out to the paddock, little spits of rain, exactly what we expect from

Spa, this is what everybody has been talking about. I want to talk about

young drivers, David talking about Max Verstappen, extreme now, he will

make his Formula One debut next year at the age of 17, the youngest ever

Formula One driver. Two schools of thought as to whether he is ready

and whether he should or should not do it. Romain Grosjean came in, he

was not ready, he came back and was lucky to get the second chance and

proved himself. Where do you stand? Romain was very lucky, Paul di Resta

has not been as lucky yet. You have to take the opportunity when it

arises. He has had the opportunity, but 16, 17, thinking about all of

the other aspects of life in general, my word is to Red Bull, I

said it yesterday, be careful. When you take somebody 16, 17, 18, please

make sure there is a life in racing after you have finished with him.

Try to make sure. We have seen all of these drivers, all of the drivers

through their hands, no longer in Formula One, they are no longer in

racing, I am concerned about that. Daniel Kvyat came in at 19 and has

proved himself. We saw him on the grid and caught up with him earlier.

You just missed out on the top ten yesterday, I suppose points are in

your vision for today? That is what I am looking for, it will be an

interesting race, for sure. Wet or dry? I don't know, it is the same

for everyone. Short and sweet as we see everyone preparing. Bernie

talking to Ron Dennis, your best friend. The finger is still lagging,

that is important, still alive and kicking. I would imagine he will

revolutionise Formula One, he has probably had his mind on other

things the past five months. Believe me, the way I know this guy, he will

come out with some unbelievable ideas and generally he gets it

right. Let's see how Sergio Perez is feeling. The highest place for Force

India on the grid, what will happen? Always chaos at the start.

It is, with the weather, you do not know what it is going to do, still a

couple of minutes to go and it can change very quickly. I hope you get

some points, thank you. Nobody knows what is going to happen. It is the

same for everybody, this confusion. This track is difficult to drive in

the dry, difficult to drive in the wet, but when conditions are

changeable, that is the worst possible combination. It throws up

uncertainty. I remember Bernie Ecclestone, we saw him wagging his

finger a few minutes ago, he always said give me a wet race, are

changeable race, you see unbelievable situations unfold and

excitement and drama, this is what it is about. We want to see drama,

not a procession, we want high excitement. This pays, partly

because of the weather, always produces. -- this place. Eddie

Magnusson on the grid. How was he feeling? You did well in qualifying

yesterday, it is funny and cloudy and starting to rain, how you

feeling before the race? It is always exciting here with the

weather. At the end of the day it will be the same for everyone. Thank

you. He seemed really relaxed, didn't he? In the last few races

Kevin seems to have settled down and got his confidence back. On top of

that he is putting huge pressure on Jensen, here is a young boy, first

year in Formula One, totally undaunted. Focused, clear in the way

he wants to operate. Putting pressure on Lewis... Jenson Button,

forgive me. We heard some doubt creeping into the dialogue between

David and Jenson earlier in the bike ride about retirement, I am sure

Jenson Button Cook was thinking about retirement and marriage I

presume. -- Jenson was thinking. It is not about driving, it is a whole

new world. The pressure is immense coming into a big team like McLaren,

it would be less pressure coming into Toro Rosso. You could say that

because Kevin was replacing a world champion in Lewis Hamilton. That was

always going to be seen to be a no hope of job for Kevin. How well has

he adapted to it? I think he has accounted for himself unbelievably

well. More than justifies his position in Formula One, I think he

is a huge asset. As we are talking, literally a few raindrops coming

down. It is predicted 2pm, local time, it will be smacked in the

middle of the race, it will make things really exciting. Daniil Kvyat

knows that could happen and is firing on all cylinders at the

moment. He has led two races. -- annual Ricciardo knows that could

happen. Here is your commentary team David Coulthard and Ben Edwards. Tom

and Lee are in the pit lane. The season commences.

Two part two of the season of change. Friends are now flows, cat

and dog, scratch and snarl, finger flicking mastery of the new breed.

and dog, scratch and snarl, finger flicking mastery Like we had not

seen in years. Drama we have been yearning for. Eight races to go.

Come on in. Take the leap. Welcome to Formula One.

COMMENTATOR: Scything through the trees, dipping and climbing over a

distance of 4.3 miles, Spa-Francorchamps is a true Grand

Prix circuit and today it hosts the 59th World Championship event in

Belgium, over 90 years since racing was first held here. Originally a

triangular layout, the modern version appeared on the scene in

1983, maintaining the hairpin at La Source and the famous Eau Rouge

section but incorporating a new sector to. It deserves its

reputation as one of the all-time great circuits and it provide the

stage for the intense rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis

Hamilton to continue. The two Mercedes drivers are on the front

row and just 11 points separate them in the championship but with

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso just behind, they cannot afford to

make any mistakes while trying to snatch an advantage. Wonderful shots

looking down over the Ardennes forest, the grid on the right-hand

side of the picture as we looked at it and there is Alonso who has never

won this Grand Prix in Belgium before. But he may be has more

opportunities, he loves changeable conditions and there could be some

rain in this comp read. But a dry track to start with -- in this Grand

Prix. Red Bull feel they can challenge Mercedes a bit especially

if Hamilton and Rosberg get carried away with their own confrontation as

Hamilton tries to take the championship lead back. On pole

position it is Rosberg himself, his fourth consecutive pole of the

season and seventh overall in 2014. Hamilton on the front row for the

first time in four Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo one in Hungary last

time out and about three Bottas as a three podium finishes. Magnusson

ahead of four-time winner here Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa ninth and

Jason Buckton another former whiz it starred in ten -- Jenson Button

another former winner. Sauber still looking for their first

points of the year. Romain Grosjean struggled in qualifying but a good

effort from Jules Bianchi. Nico Hulkenberg will be looking to make

up places. At the back we have Formula One

debut Andre Lotterer against his team-mate Marcus Ericsson. How will

he get on with the full Grand Prix distance? He is a sports car racer

so he is used to longer races than this. There is Nico Rosberg, David,

starting from the front row. We have had four wins out of ten from pole

position so it is not a guarantee here. And worryingly for Nico, he

has not had a high conversion rate of pole positions to race victories.

Although it has been the case that the front half normally have the

lion 's share of success, there are so many variables. Hamilton was not

too bothered about nullifying second because this is one of the easier

tracks to overtake -- qualifying second. Momentum is something, and

Lewis is a lot braver on the kerb at the top of the hill which gives him

more speed coming into Malmedy. Andre Lotterer making his debut, the

33-year-old is German but grew up in Belgium so feels very familiar here

at Spa and has raced here are couple of times already this year in

different sports car competition. Adrian Newey keeping a close watch

and everybody apart from one using the soft tyre. Adrian Sutil starting

in 14th has gone for the medium compound. That is strange because if

we get rain and it goes to intermediates, they don't need to

use the other option of tyre. There is an offset in performance between

the yellow marked tyres. You have to clear the car by a certain time,

Ferrari are still working, this is bad news. Tom? I am standing by the

Ferrari pit and they had to rush out a spare battery pack to Fernando

Alonso's car, suggesting they had not been able to start it in time.

Forget it now, he is going to lose his grid position as they try to get

the car started. He will lose fourth place on the grid and that will open

up an avenue for about every 's. -- for Valtteri Bottas. But he was away

before the last car which means he should be able to reclaim his

position. That is my understanding, it did not look like it, it looked

like they had given up on getting it started. He will not have had the

chance to go through a normal starting procedure. They will be

going back to a default setting. Huge relief that he is able to take

up his grid position and we are set for a great battle between him and

Vettel. He may get a penalty because they were working on the Carberry

late. -- on the car very late. They are investigating that incident.

That is the issue, you have to be clear of the car before any of the

other cars are moving which is understandable. He may take his

position but he might get a drive-through penalty in the opening

laps so still not good news for Nano Alonso. -- Fernando Alonso. Any

different activity at Ferrari? Only this battery pack, a few mechanics

shaking their heads. Fernando will be disappointed. He said he had had

a perfect weekend until qualifying yesterday. It looks like it will be

a difficult afternoon for him now. He has never won here, never had a

pole position, one of the great circuits but for some reason it has

not come together for him here. And you have to take that penalty within

a couple of laps of it coming through. He can take it on top of

his pit stop time. But it will be too early presumably in the race so

maybe a change of strategy. RADIO: There is very light rain. Very light

rain being reported by Magnusson, probably not enough to upset the

cars. At Williams they are seeing an opportunity. Ferrari and Williams

are fighting for third place in the Constructors' Championship. Williams

snatched that place after Germany but Ferrari are back in third

position after Hungary. The potential penalty for a Alonso,

there will be some sort of penalty but it is just a question of what it

will be. Paddy Lowe watching closely. What will happen up front

between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton? It is a short run to the

first corner but unusually, all of the drivers have to keep their foot

on the brake on the grid otherwise they will roll backwards towards the

chicane. Eight speaker in Klein than the television would have you

believe. -- the incline is steeper. We saw a race here earlier

weatherman on politician went into quick. -- the man on pole position

went in too quick. Lewis Hamilton is a full metre forward out of his box,

he is reversing back into it. He is selecting gear now, in a quick

procedure to get back into it. He has got himself into position. We

are all set for the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. Lights out and

away we go, you Mercedes up against each other, Rosberg makes a good

start but Hamilton make a better one and he snatches the lead, Vettel

going around the outside of Nico Rosberg trying to take second place

and he has. Rosberg is in third. Alonso in fourth. Contact in the

background but upfront it is Hamilton leading, Vettel, Rosberg,

Alonso, Ricciardo. They're right yellow flags as a result of an

incident at La Source. Here comes Vettel, Sebastian Vettel doing what

he did last year! He tries to go past Lewis Hamilton but this time he

fails and he has to take the short cut and he will lose a couple of

places and comes back in third place. He had to have a go but in

the end could not stop the car at the top of the hill. He has rejoined

behind Rosberg. He has not gained any advantage. On board with Alonso

in fifth place, he has been passed by Daniel Ricciardo who has taken

the opportunity to get past the Ferrari. Hamilton is still the man

leading the Grand Prix. Hamilton from Rosberg, it is still Alonso in

fourth, might mistake. -- my mistake. Ricciardo is fifth, Bottas

in six where he started for Williams and Raikkonen behind, it is Bianchi

in trouble with damage to his right rear. Presumably that was the

incident we saw coming out of La Source on the run down to Eau Rouge.

We know that the Pirelli tyres with the wrong angle of contact art

susceptible. Rosberg very close, I wondered if he might mount a

challenge but Hamilton is leading at the end of the opening lap. Hamilton

from Rosberg and then a gap to Sebastian Vettel, Alonso in fourth

place, Ricciardo in fifth place, Bottas, Raikkonen, Jenson Button

intense. -- in 10th place. There is no DRS at this stage. Rosberg has a

clean run and I believe he will be in the slipstream coming up the top

of the hill. Hamilton has to go defensive. Rosberg looks looks up

the outside. A little touch and it has damaged the front wing of

Rosberg! He has punted Hamilton. He is off! Trying to stay out of the

way of everybody else and Rosberg has taken advantage. The contact

between them. We will need to see if Rosberg needs a new front wing but

that is the worst place for Hamilton to get a puncture. RADIO: Nick

O'Hern me. -- Nico hit me. I think we have seen Rosberg with a

strategy knowing he has to be aggressive, he has to get the upper

hand in wheel-to-wheel racing. He tried to come around the outside to

position himself on the inside. Hamilton has taken his racing line,

I don't believe there was any malice in it. He felt he needed to be

aggressive. It looked like it would cost only him but we now know that

the big loser is Hamilton. Would you put that down as a racing incident?

Yes, I don't believe Rosberg was trying anything other than to get

into position. Hamilton has done that with some success this year

against Rosberg. Rosberg will have to take responsibility within the

team. It is nothing other than a racing incident. Nico says he has

got problems but the team are telling him to keep going. He has

damaged his front wing. He is leading, Sebastian Vettel in second

place, Alonso in third position. But he has been given a five second

penalty. He does not have to take it until he gets to his pit stop full

stop he will stay out but his first pit stop will have five seconds

added to it. Incomes Lewis Hamilton with that shredded tire. He has

damaged the rear of the car as well. The flaw is all broken so he

will have aerodynamic issues as well and he will be furious. Toto Wolff,

Paddy Lowe, one of the board of directors of Daimler is here as

well. That will be a frosty debrief. RADIO: I lost a lot of front end. We

advise you to hang it out. A real chance for those behind because

Rosberg is struggling with a loss of front downforce and you can see that

Vettel sees eight situation he can profit from. We have a couple of

cars stopped and out with debris down the. Could they put a safety

car out? It is Hamilton's tire. It is through Blanchimont, one of the

fastest parts of the track and I don't think anybody would criticise

them if a safety car was sent out to remove that. Andre Lotterer is

stopped on track and also Pastor Maldonado is out already. We have

lost a couple of cars early on. But it is in eighth place behind the

Williams. McLaren, then Williams, then Force India full. The smoke

that comes from the back of the car is a flaw. Ricciardo passes Alonso,

DRS is in operation. He has used that to best effect. It has enabled

him to get past Alonso. We have seen lots of races between these two this

year, they are fighting for third place in the drivers World

Championship. Alonso trying to come back and he cannot do it around the

outside of Rivard. I can see on the paddock tracker there is a big

conversation going on between Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe. We will need

to have a look at some photos, Lewis, thanks for the feedback, let

me know. Keeping calm, but Lewis confirming that the flaw is damage,

it has a huge effect on the aerodynamics of the car, the amount

of downforce it creates and the grid through the high-speed corners.

Fernando Alonso having lost a place to Daniel Ricciardo. The two Red

Bulls will be together virtually in the fight for second as they try to

catch up to Nico Rosberg. Only .8 the second is the gap that Rosberg

has over Vettel the moment. Further back Valtteri Bottas going quickly,

he has been faster than anybody else there. He will come under threat

from the Mercedes powered car of Valtteri Bottas. All is not lost in

terms of scoring points for Hamilton, he is a minute behind the

race leader, in a car that is considerably quicker than the

competition in front of him. He has a 22nd deficit to make up to the

next guy, in 18th place, Romain Grosjean. He may hope for some

rain, safety cars and the like, can help bring him back in and get

bigger points. Lewis said he does not know whether it is floor damage

or a problem with the differential, but the car is all over the place.

He has gone out on new tyres. Differential can get damaged if the

tire explodes like that. The Red Bull cars trying to close the gap.

Jenson Button in eighth place. Let's look at the start. Great Brett away

from Lewis Hamilton after the scare of being out of position. There was

no contact on the run into La Source. The damage to Bianchi

happened further down, let's keep an eye on what happened as they

concertina around the apex. It is on the way out that there was contact.

Maldonado's front wing against Bianchi's tire. Whether it was

Maldonado or Grosjean, difficult to tell from that angle, but yes. That

was the runner-up. Vettel had a real chance. He did, he went for it but

could not carry the momentum around the clean part of the track. Lucky

to rejoin in third place. Lewis is saying on the radio, I am sliding so

much that the left rear is not going to last. Hamilton struggling in 19th

position. The start from the point of view of Rosberg. You can see

Vettel. You will see Rosberg start to out accelerate the Red Bull as he

gets to the slipstream and the run down the hill, nothing he can do in

terms of positioning. They are heavy with fuel, 100 kilos on board.

Vettel gets a huge launch of the line, something he has not seen too

much of. He goes wide. Keeps it off the artificial grass on the

left-hand side. Checking the mirrors. Lewis defending fresh air,

there was nobody on his left hand side, as he went down through Eau

Rouge. Using a lot of curve over the top of the hill. For a moment I

thought it was barking underneath the front of the Mercedes, I think

it was just a reflection from the yellow of the kerb. Hamilton,

despite his woes, is going fastest. Lewis, thinking about a recovery

strategy, we need to achieve 15 laps on this tire, whatever you can to

manage that we're left to 15 laps, the target lap time is 55.7. The

rear tyres will not make it to 15. Ricciardo has got past the gusty and

better, who did not see that during the start we play. That is Andre

Lotterer trudging his way back, what a shame for his race to last such a

short distance on his debut. Sure he has been in this situation many

times. Not sure what the problem was. On board with Fernando Alonso.

Whatever happens to allow Ricciardo to get past, you wonder whether he

has a problem with his car. We know Daniel had an amazing run and start

to his career. Sebastien has not had the cleanest obsessions. Sebastien

gets on the kerb, has a wobble, then momentum is lost. That is what

allowed Ricciardo to overtake him. Sebastian Vettel not at all

comfortable. This is on board Ricciardo, watch ahead, he gets

wide, under the artificial grass. Again. He made a mistake. I was

having a conversation before the start of the Grand Prix about how

much curb Hamilton has been using around here and Vettel. The

confidence they have in damp conditions to run it out. In Hungary

and then here it has caught him out. Taking too much risk. Vettel loses

ablaze, another mistake from Sebastian Vettel. Rosberg has opened

up not much of a gap over Ricciardo, .7 of a second. Valtteri Bottas with

a chance of slipstreaming to Fernando Alonso, but not quite

enough, they close on Sebastian Vettel as they reached the top of

the hill. On board with Valtteri Bottas, the Finn who has been so

impressive one number of occasions, scoring three podium places. -- on

the number of occasions. Hamilton is down in 19th position. He is running

considerably quicker than the race leader, he is making good progress

on the back of Grosjean, the gap is down to 14 seconds from 20 seconds a

couple of laps to go. Valtteri Bottas not able to close on the

Ferrari through this middle section, but it looks as though Vettel is

struggling a little bit. Red Bull are running less downforce this

weekend than they are used to running. It was running to wide onto

that artificial grass that caught him out once again will stop we come

back onto the section, turning through Blanc Shimon -- Blanchimont.

Valtteri Bottas has a little sniff at Alonso. He will used ERS across

the start and finish. As they run down Eau Rouge. And up the top of

Raidillon. Into the braking zone at five. We are on the eighth lap of

45. Alonso under pressure from Valtteri Bottas. Raikkonen is sixth,

which would match is best result of the year so far. -- match his best.

Valtteri uses DRS comfortably to overtake and move into fourth

position. He started in six, up to fourth, is there another podium on

the cards today for Valtteri Bottas? Not far behind Sebastian Vettel.

Look how much closer Kimi Raikkonen is to his team-mate and we have seen

on most occasions this year. Raikkonen has been looking a lot

stronger this weekend. A track he has won at four times in the past.

Alonso with the penalty that will serve later in the Grand Prix. Not a

lucky race track for him generally. Is this the resurgence of Kimi

Raikkonen? We know the new team boss has confirmed he will definitely be

in the car next year. On board with Hamilton. Ricciardo was closer to

Rosberg, we will watch that as well. Riding with Hamilton. Is the car

behaving strangely that we can tell? We heard that they would adjust the

differential when his tire was punctured. Push hard now, we are

going to change the front wing. It opens up an opportunity for Daniel

Ricciardo in particular. Nico Rosberg into the pits, he will have

a front wing change, hitting Daniel Ricciardo into the lead at the

Belgian Grand Prix. This will be interesting, normally this would

happen in under three seconds, this can take around ten. See how slick

the work is between the Mercedes crew. Change the nose. Raikkonen is

in as well. A relatively early stop for Raikkonen. Rosberg gets going

once again. Total pit lane time, normally, you expect to be around 20

seconds. Relatively slow stop for Raikkonen. Another seven seconds

added to the normal stop. It shows some things you cannot speed up that

much. They have to get the car off the front Jack. Remove the nose,

part of the whole crash structure, put the new nose on. Then released

the car. Interesting, different tyre choice, Rosberg has gone out on the

harder, medium compound tyre and Kimi Raikkonen has continued on the

soft tyre. Reasonably Nico Rosberg is in for a longer stint at this

stage of the race, he has had to come in earlier than they would have

imagined. As the pit window has opened up. Ricciardo using this to

open up the gap over his team-mate, Vettel, Ricciardo leading, Vettel

second, Red Bull one, two, a long time since we have seen that. I

wonder if it will remain that way. At the beginning of the race when

your car is heavy, 100 kilograms of fuel, energy going through the

rubber, the car tends to move around more. As the fuel off-loads during

the Grand Prix, there is an opportunity to take the tyres

longer. That is an early stop for Rosberg. Way too early, I would

suggest. You would have to expect him coming in again later. At making

the decision to go to that tyre. If he can make the tyres last he could

go to the end. The challenge coming up on matter from Hulkenberg, making

great progress. He has come past Kvyat. Hulkenberg having a very

strong race. Valtteri Bottas chasing Vettel through Eau Rouge. They come

through Raidillon, the right-handed part, up the rise, onto the

straight. Nico Rosberg has been told he has to get past Kimi Raikkonen as

soon as is in, not easy on the hard tyre. The hard tyre going on for

Felipe Massa. William sometimes struggle with tyre degradation. They

are one of the earlier stoppers. Sergio Perez has been in, Force

India are usually good on tyres. Sergio Perez has already been into

the pits, he has gone out on soft tyres. We see Fernando Alonso.

Another problem from Rosberg. There was debris. I would have thought he

would reach up and pull it away. It is something that you would find

inside the tyre, from the damage of Hamilton or Bianchi's tyre. Why is

he not removing that from flapping around his hands, it could get

caught on the steering wheel. It is like a stream attached to the car.

It is a lot longer than a streamer. It is attached to the small radio

aerial on the front of the car. I would rather lose communication with

the team and get it wrapped around my steering wheel. It must be so

annoying, flapping around, getting into his vision turning through the

corner thanks to the G-force. I would expect him to reach out and

grab that. One of the Red Bull cars coming in, that is Vettel, Ricciardo

stays out. He has come into the pits from second division. Ricciardo

continues to lead. Staying with the soft tyre. Sebastian Vettel, race

winner here last year, already made a mistake, and in an opportunity to

his team-mate, Ricciardo. He will take full advantage of that. Also

coming into the pits, Daniel corrects -- Daniil Kvyat. Looks like

Rosberg is ahead of Raikkonen. Is he? Behind him still. Just ahead of

him, he will have the slipstream as they come over the top.

That is why he was sideways coming out of what is effectively the

shorter hairpin inside La Source, he knew how close it was going to be

with Raikkonen and, indeed, Toro Rosso. Is this where we pick up the

debris on Rosberg? That is through Eau Rouge, through Raidillon. It was

flicked up of the Sauber. You can see him reaching out, saying, I will

concentrate on driving the car. It is still there, look at it, leaning

the aerial over, flapping around in his face. Kimi Raikkonen has just

set the fastest lap. Rosberg is in a group of traffic, behind the Vettel

who has made the pit stop. There is Rosberg. He is also behind Daniil

Kvyat who has just made a long pit stop.

That little bit of debris we have seen thrown up, that is the reason.

There is the information about Alonso's penalty as Daniel Ricciardo

takes his stop. Let's see where he comes out. Alonso and Bottas have

just gone around the start finish, Button passing as well. He will be

just in front of Raikkonen under normal conditions. Valtteri Bottas

is now leading the Grand Prix as Ricciardo comes out in front of

Raikkonen. It is the other Toro Rosso that Rosberg was battling

with, Jean-Eric Vergne who is yet to come in. We are on Lap 12 out of 44

and what a change from what we are expecting, no Mercedes domination.

We can see a bit of debris. If anybody thinks that the safety car

might come out, we have seen the dangers of a high-speed puncture.

That early pit stop worked well for Raikkonen, he is not far behind

Ricciardo in this group and has obviously gained time. He will have

to go further on one of his sets of tyres but it should help him. We

will see when Bottas and Alonso come in. Alonso will have a long stop.

Welcome back to Kimi Raikkonen, these were the sorts of performances

we were used to seeing from him in the past. He has not been

comfortable with the braking systems in the Ferrari. Maybe the

opportunity to go away for a few weeks and come back to a track that

he has excelled at in the past, these are the sorts of performances

we were used to see from him. Today he is looking much sharper.

RADIO: Is my pace OK? Update me. You asked or catching Grosjean, the only

car faster than you at the moment is Bottas in P2. Alonso and Bottas both

in the pits. We are expecting Ricciardo to come past and Raikkonen

as well. A quick stop from Williams and of course a slow stop because

Alonso had the penalty applied to his pit stop. Bottas just getting

out, Alonso side-by-side with Perez but he has to give him the place,

ninth position, Bottas coming out behind Rosberg. That is OK, he will

get the run with the fresh tyres through Eau Rouge and be able to get

into a position to overtake Perez. Has he got enough momentum to go

around the outside? He doesn't go for it, he will keep it tidy and

look for another opportunity. It might be difficult for Alonso to

make headway. That could be a difficult car to overtake with its

Mercedes powered unit but he tries around the outside, lovely move

around the inside! That was magic stuff from Alonso. Absolutely

brilliant and that is why he is often picked as the drivers driver.

And so important to do it then, he could have got stuck for a long time

otherwise. Now a change, Jenson Button is leading this Grand Prix

because he has not been into the pits. Daniel Ricciardo is the

effective leader. He is currently in second on the road, Raikkonen is

third, Vettel is in fourth place and then Rosberg and then Bottas.

Ricciardo is a bit stuck behind the other McLaren but it is in,

Magnusson is in. Sorry, that was Jenson Button. There is Magnusson,

wheel-to-wheel. Through the last chicane. Battling with Jean-Eric

Vergne and that is for seventh place at the moment. Vergne having another

look into La Source. He will have the benefit of DRS over the hill

through Eau Rouge. Magnusson has broken the toe. It looks like he has

got away now. Button has made that pit stop and come back out so

Ricciardo is leading clearly now, they have all stopped in the lead

group apart from generic firm. That is a long stint he is going for --

apart from Jean-Eric Vergne. You are on the opposite tire to the cars in

front of you, push hard and try to overtake. This is the test for

Rosberg. He got a bit stuck in the last race particularly behind Vergne

and it is those opportunities in traffic in situations like this

where Hamilton is incredibly effective at passing cars and

sometimes we have not always seen that from Rosberg. That is why the

incident at the beginning was a bit clumsy from Nico. He wanted to put a

mark the sand but it did not work out. It worked out fantastically in

the championship, putting Hamilton into 16th at the moment but this

should not be a big deal for him to make some passes. He has the fastest

car, great straight-line speed and might even look at Vettel into the

chicane but decides to stay on the safe side but he would expect to

pass him on the exit of Eau Rouge. The drivers are thinking about

that. I will keep tidy, I am not under threat from Bottas behind me

although he is in the DRS zone, you try to concentrate on getting a

great drive from La Source to carry the momentum into Eau Rouge.

Normally with the speed differential and DRS, Vettel would be defenceless

as they go up the hill, Kemmel Straight, up to turn five. Even

though was Berg looks a long way back, the gap will reduce. He will

not be close enough to effect a pass and that is what you are suggesting

is a deciding factor in the World Championship. I would have expected

Rosberg to have got in a better position against the Red Bull. He is

on the harder tyres and does not get as much grip. Vettel taking the

Alonso line, wider through the apex and cutting back. This is where the

Red Bull should struggle. They are not running a lot of downforce in

this middle sector, trying to do everything to get straight-line

speed. It was the first time we have seen a Red Bull-Renault in the top

ten in the speed traps this year in practice. Vettel doing enough to

keep Rosberg behind him, Bottas behind him chasing. We lost Andre

Lotterer early on, let's find out what happened.

Sorry you are standing here speaking to us. What was the problem? The

engine completely went off, we don't know exactly what caused it. After

the race, they can tell us more about it. Really short for me, it is

a shame but until now everything went well and it was an amazing

experience for the weekend. I had a good start and was looking forward

to the race but that is racing. Will you have another opportunity this

season? We did not speak about any other opportunities. I would like to

do another race to feel satisfied and completed but you can't always

influence it. We lost Andre Lotterer early on in the Grand Prix and also

Pastor Maldonado but everybody else is still running. In the battle

between Caterham and Marussia, there is a good battle going on between

Marcus Ericsson and Max Chilton, separated by just one second in 17th

and 18th. But we are on board with Sebastian Vettel looking back on

Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas is there as well and Rosberg has been

told to pass fettle to win this. -- go past Sebastian Vettel. But it

will not be easy. The team have put him on the prime tyre and that is

not easy, in qualifying there was up to two seconds per lap difference in

performance. I would have thought the Mercedes was still more than a

second a lap quicker than the Red Bull. But Sebastian Vettel keeping

it tidy, we can see the visible difference in the rear wings. Look

how little the rear wing is on the back of the Red Bull. If you have

your hand out of the car window and it is flat there is a lot of

resistance. This is an opportunity for Rosberg coming towards the bust

up chicane. He looks up, goes round the outside and almost overdoes it,

he could lose his place to Bottas if he is not careful but he just

managed to save it. Bottas now has a little opportunity up towards La

Source. Was burkas to be defensive, no way through but it is not over,

they will run down the hill through Eau Rouge. Nico is just not quite as

settled in close wheel-to-wheel combat. If that was Hamilton,

Alonso, Ricciardo as we have seen this year, more often than not they

take the advantage. Rosberg will have to defend, Bottas will have

DRS. And there is the consequence of not getting it right at the chicane,

it has cost Rosberg another position. Polite round of applause

from the very British team Williams! Valtteri Bottas has moved past Nico

Rosberg into fourth place as a result of that. Take another look at

how it all came about, this was the attempted move by Rosberg

initially. Sebastian Vettel defends as the is allowed to and Rosberg

locks up, doesn't make the pass, could be some damage to the front

left tyre. The approach speed will be 200 mph to the braking zone so

you can imagine the amount of energy going into a hot spot. He gets away

with it, he was able to let the car roll but the consequence was that

Bottas was in position to use the DRS over the hill in Eau Rouge.

Rosberg dropping back now. That caller they have just gone through,

Vettel being told by his race engineer to respect track limits, he

is running quite wide, that must have come from the FIA. Bottas has a

good run, does he have a go? He does not try, just looks for another

opportunity and this is costing Rosberg and potentially a victory of

the Belgian com pre-. What about Hamilton? He is in 16th place. --

Belgian Grand Prix will stop. Respect the track limit in turn 15

police. -- please. Bottas is in a quicker car in the

straight line. You can see the difference in speed. He was able to

close up the gap. This strategy from Red Bull of going with a low rear

wing is making the card not as quick as it can be over the entire lap but

it gives them a position to defend as Hamilton comes in. Hamilton

making his second pit stop. The first after a puncture from contact

with Rosberg. There has been no investigation into that incident. In

recent races we have heard that the stewards are to be more relaxed

about what might be a racing incident, not investigating every

single incident that occurs and no sign of a penalty. In the past they

probably would have done something. But clearly Rosberg penalised

himself, his decision has penalised Hamilton much more with the

puncture. But we want them to have a go. Mercedes are allowing them to

and it is good that the stewards have let this go. The fallout will

be interesting afterwards to see how Mercedes manage it and what the

drivers have to say. I get the feeling that Nico had wound himself

up, having to prove a point to show Lewis he was prepared to go

wheel-to-wheel. The strategy of the team going on the prime tyre has

made it difficult for Nico. What do they know that we don't that they

felt the need to put it on so early? Did they feel they were in a

position to make it last? We will see, he has done ten laps on it so

far. Raikkonen is second, Ricciardo is opening up a lead right now, it

is up to 6.2 seconds. Mercado leading for Red Bull, Raikkonen in

his best position all season since his return to Ferrari -- Ricciardo

is leading for Red Bull. Behind them, Kevin Magnussen in the

McLaren. Fernando Alonso, after the long pit stop he had earlier which

she had to have because his team members were still on the grid...

RADIO: Vibration is on limit. They obviously have a vibration sensor.

Remember when we had Kimi Raikkonen with McLaren, he had a flat spot

that left him out. The frequency of the vibration saw the entire front

suspension explode in the first turn. These cars are designed for

tolerances, but do not carry extra weight around the area. This was

expected to be an opportunity for Williams. Still early days as we see

Rosberg heading for the pits. They have decided the vibration is too

much. A shorter stint than I expected on the harder tyre. It

looks the wrong tyre right now, he has flat spotted it. What issue do

they have with the option? Put Hamilton back out on the option.

They have put him on the harder tyres again, is he trying to go a

long way? That would be an awfully long way on the medium compound

tyre. Its performance would go away hugely towards the end. Prediction

was to see Valtteri Bottas close on Vettel. The car gets lighter, less

fuel, less energy for him to attract. The Pirelli tyre during the

Grand Prix gets impregnated into the gaps in the tarmac and generates its

own grip. Valtteri Bottas not quite all over the gearbox of Vettel, but

this is a great corner, let's stick with this and listen. RADIO: Save

energy, guys. Don't worry, it is being discussed, your pace is good,

you never know what will happen with safety cars later, let's keep

plugging away. Sounds like Hamilton is mentally pulling up the white

flag, in 17th place. He is seven tenths quicker than Daniel

Ricciardo, but a good 73 seconds behind the race leader. From Danelle

Kvyat, he has 38 seconds to make up. The comment from Hamilton was we

have to think about the engine. He is referring to the limited number

of engines they have to use through the year. Why put extra energy on an

engine they will race for the rest of the season if there is no chance

of getting points, that is his thought process. The team saying,

let's see what happens, there may be opportunities. Rosberg quicker with

the new set of tyres. Rosberg is down in 10th place after a second

pit stop. Ricciardo continues to lead the Belgian Grand Prix. 3-1 in

Canada and hungry, 7.7 second lead over Raikkonen in Ferrari. Magnusson

moves up to fifth place. Courtesy of Rosberg's pit stop. Alonso sixth,

but in seventh. Sergio Perez in eighth place. Rosberg is in ninth

position. Danelle Kvyat in ten, Chase down by Nico Hulkenberg in his

Force India. Massa is having a tough day, not featuring. He is 12th

position. Sutil is 30. Then Vergne. Grosjean soldiering on in the Lotus.

Hamilton in 16 and Ericsson ahead of children by 1.1 second. Into the

chicane, Hamilton down the inside of Toro Rosso. Not making it difficult

for him. Let's look at Fernando Alonso trying to get past Kevin

Magnussen. This is for fifth place. Alonso making up for the penalty he

had to serve, which way is he going to go? Magnusson is slow at this

point, they are on the same tyres, but Alonso much quicker than

Magnusson in his McLaren. His first year of Formula One driving for

Magnusson against the double world champion. I was going to say the man

you can see in the background is Jenson Button. He will be watching

this battle. Does his future depend on finishing in front of his

team-mate, Magnusson? Into the box at the end of this lap. A slightly

delayed message, Raikkonen is in the pit right now as Alonso tries to get

lined up to pass Magnusson. Will he go into La Source? If Magnusson goes

defensive, it will compromise his exit, making him vulnerable on the

run down to Eau Rouge. Wide of the apex, Alonso has a good

opportunity. Just get it out of reach. Let's listen to Alonso.

RADIO: It sounded like they were flat. As he lost downforce through

the middle of Eau Rouge, he is still going to catch Magnusson because of

the DRS. Magnusson goes defensive. That is what you call a moment,

ladies and gentlemen. The next corner is coming up. He went down

the outside of this one earlier, can he do the same? He loves the outside

line. Not this time. Not on this occasion. Close stuff, wonderful.

But this is playing into the hands of Jenson Button, he will be edging

onto the back of Alonso. I think when we get the camera shot from

outside the car, expect to see McLaren close to the gearbox of that

Ferrari. Felipe Massa has been into the pit and is back out on track, so

is Adrian Sutil. Enjoying this fight between Alonso and Magnusson. Tries

to get a good exit. Alonso stopped one lap later than Kevin Magnussen.

RADIO: Box, box, box, talk one and box. Sebastian Vettel will be coming

into the pit. In the old days that used to be flat out will stop

Sebastian Vettel in there. He is going on to the harder compound

tyres. We have 21 laps remaining. It is possible he can do the rest of

the Grand Prix on those tyres, you would think. It is presumably what

Red Bull will be trying to do. Upfront Daniel Ricciardo as a gap of

14 seconds to Valtteri Bottas. He has done an exceptional job on

attract with the pressure release coming into it. It was all about

damage limitation. We may be backing him for an opportunity to go for the

win. But is dicing with Rosberg. Rosberg just got past him. Was Berg,

Hunt, in that group on a fresh set of tyres, he has got past Bottom,

bearing down on Alonso. Raikkonen into the back of vision behind

Button, a tasty little battle here between the champion elect and three

guys who have picked up World Championships in their careers so

far. Raikkonen has made his second pit stop, he is now at the back of

this group, they will not want to lose much time behind them.

Ricciardo leading this Grand Prix, having just made one stop so far. Is

that a problem for Rosberg or did he pass an area where he had to get

position back? He let Button back through. It was as if Rosberg

allowed him through and has Kimi Raikkonen behind. Possibly that is

the case, we might have a look at that. But Rosberg suddenly slowed a

little bit. Enough to allow Jenson Button to pass as if Rosberg was

just letting him through. A shake of the head from Toto Wolff. He is not

sure. We gather it might be about track limit is. He is coming back on

button again. Not quite there on the inside to make the move into the

corners. Kevin Magnussen in fourth. His second and presumably final pit

stop of the day. Daniel Ricciardo still out there, leading this Grand

Prix. Raikkonen does not get a great drive off La Source, in his mind he

will think, Rosberg will line up to pass Button, I have to see if I can

pull up alongside. Look how slow the Ferrari was on the rundown Eau

Rouge. Often earlier in the year... Easy pass, Button does not even try

to defend it. Raikkonen having a great race, but incredibly slow in a

straight line. In Austria the team said, you have to go quicker, he

said you have to give me more power. Our Ferrari cutting back already?

Are they fewer limited? This is where Rosberg pulls over, allowing

Jenson Button on the left. That was smart, not allowing the Ferrari to

gain advantage. This is a track where they are fewer limited, 100

kilos limit, not so much Mercedes because they have incredible fuel

efficiency. Ferrari are known to be hard on fuel consumption. You were

speaking to the guy that Ferrari, that first sector where Kimi seemed

to be losing pace, that was their worry, wasn't it? David is on the

money about the fuel efficiency, they are having to save fuel at this

stage. They have been playing with downforce levels all weekend, they

were looking to go with less downforce at the rear for the race,

but the downfall prior to qualifying made them go with this big rear

wing, stopping them through sector one. As David said, coming out of La

Source, Fernando Alonso is 12 slower than Nico Rosberg. Raikkonen

battling away with Button. Raikkonen has managed to nip in front of

Jenson Button. He is on fresh tyres. An important move to get through.

Behind them, closing up in the background, the Red Bull of

Sebastian Vettel as well. I wonder if there might be a chance for him

to join in the fun and games. Alonso and Rosberg heads down through Eau

Rouge. A chance for Rosberg to pass the primary. He has had a very quick

run through Eau Rouge, massive extra speed. Look at the figures on

screen. Never any doubt that Rosberg was going to get past. It puts him

into third place now. I wonder if he has used DRS as a handicap system.

Rather than if you have straight-line advantage right away,

you should be allowed to use it. It would be a great way to help those

who do not have the aero efficiency, used DRS to bring you back in. A

race between Rosberg and Ricardo for the win. -- Ricciardo. Ask Charlie

if that pass was OK! Rosberg worried about every little thing because of

having to give up a place early on. A race full of incident. He lost the

streamer that was on the car earlier. After contact with his

team-mate, damage to the front wing, nose change, pit stop, it is all

happening for Nico Rosberg. He is not out of the race, he is 25

seconds behind Ricciardo, who still has to make a pit stop. It would

bring the gap down to five or six seconds and Rosberg, presumably,

still with a slightly faster car. There we have seen, Red Bull is in

pretty good shape this weekend, better than expected. The team of

Red Bull catching Mercedes and McLaren in straight-line speed is

not something we are used to seeing. Was going around the outside of the

braking zone. Remember a few years ago, underbraking, he turned right

into a McLaren. Past Bottom. In what they thought was a compromise,

Alonso comes in for his stop, slick work from the Ferrari crew. -- asked

Button. -- he passed Button. He will be behind Magnusson, in front of

Peres. Magnusson and Hulkenberg have descended down towards Eau Rouge.

Hulkenberg yet to make his second stop. Peres has made a second stop

already. Still Jenson Button chasing here. RADIO: you are PIII Ontrack,

Bottas and Ricciardo have not stopped yet, Bottas will come out

behind you but we want to do something different to them. Push as

hard as you can to force Ricciardo to block us. I think the cat is out

of the bag. -- to box. It is a bluff! Maybe, we will have to see.

Nico Rosberg currently in third position and looking to try and win

this race despite the various dramas he has been through. Nico Hulkenberg

coming through. Chased by Magnusson. McLaren and Force India separated by

one point in the Constructors' Championship. Button in sixth place,

Hulkenberg is eighth. Magnusson ninth and Peres tent. Similar

performances in this Grand Prix so far. -- Sergio Perez in 10th place.

On Thursday he said I think you will find the Renault is a lot better

than people give it credit for. That is the proof of the pudding. Sorry

to come in there, I saw the circuit tracker we have in the commentary

box, Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff going to the back of the Mercedes garage

for a chat, they have taken a night of what is happening on the

racetrack. They feel they need a discussion, maybe you can do some

eavesdropping and get back to us. I will turn my microphone on and hang

around. eavesdropping and get back to us. I

will turn my microphone on Kevin Magnussen, Magnusson making the

move. Hulkenberg is yet to make a second stop. He is on tyres that

have done quite a lot of mileage. He has done... Medium compound tyre, he

has done 16 laps on these tyres. He is looking for an opportunity when

he gets onto the soft tyre to see what he can do with the last part of

the Grand Prix. We are on board with Nico Hulkenberg, his ambition is to

get points. At the moment he is fighting for seventh place with

Magnusson. He has DRS, but he cannot make use of it. You are supposed to

make your intentions clear to avoid any chance of contact between the

cars. Hulkenberg will get dropped now as Magnusson has better tyres in

the middle of the lap. Looking at the time gaps, Bottas is only eight

seconds in front of Rosberg so he will go behind him when he stops.

Ricciardo is 23.6 seconds ahead, should be able to get out in front

of Rosberg. I have no downforce. Message understood. You do have good

pace and if we had a safety car, there is all to fight for. Keep your

head down, let's keep plugging away. Daniel Ricciardo makes his pit

stop, 2.8 seconds and he rejoins the hind Valtteri Bottas who is yet to

make his second stop but it is the gap between Ricciardo and Rosberg

that is key. Rosberg looks to be about three seconds behind

Ricciardo. There he is with those fresh tyres. Red Bull are getting

the straight-line speed this weekend. The pace of Ricciardo will

be interesting on a brand-new set of the harder tyres whereas Rosberg has

done eight laps on his. An opportunity for Bottas with some

clean air in front of him. But he will make another pit stop soon and

at that stage he will drop in the order. The question is where he will

come out. He could be in that group again with the likes of the battle,

perhaps Raikkonen, he has to watch out for them. Still waiting for

Button to make his second stop so Magnusson is effectively quite a way

up the road from his team-mate. Box this lap. Where will the

Williams rejoin? It will release Ricciardo, good timing for him

because he will be in clear air as he tries to open a gap over Nico

Rosberg. Bottas comes in, Ricciardo is leading once again and Nico

Rosberg is now chasing. The gap between them as they come across the

line is exactly three seconds. Three seconds. 3.5 seconds. You were

pretty close with your assessment. Bottas needs a quick stop to see

where he comes out in a Laois and to Raikkonen and Vettel. -- in relation

to. Vettel has gone through so he

rejoins ahead of Jenson Button who still has to make another pit stop.

Bottas on a fresh set of tyres on the medium, harder compound. Most

people around him on the same type. Button finishing off his stint on

the soft tyre and he will come in soon. Can Bottas close the gap once

more to those ahead? Sebastian Vettel will be his main target.

Ricciardo against Rosberg for the lead, Raikkonen in third place

having been passed by Nico Rosberg. Has Rosberg got the pace in the car

that took pole position yesterday to close that gap on wiki are though?

-- on Ricciardo. What tyres does Rosberg have? Ten lap prime.

Is he going for victory here? Fresh tyres on the Red Bull. Is that

enough for Ricciardo to maintain this edge? It remains to be seen but

Red Bull are in a fantastic position. It is the first time this

year we have seen them mixing it with the Mercedes powered cars.

Somehow Daniel Ricciardo is getting the cart through the middle sector,

not the fastest but he will not be overtaken -- the car.

He will slowly climb up to 200 mph. This is one of the hardest tracks on

the power units. If they are flat through Eau Rouge, it becomes the

longest wide open throttle section in Formula One, flat out for 23

seconds. And there is also this vertical loading. These power units

have not experienced this Grand Prix, we have to think about

reliability as well. It might be something that concerns Renault

more. Looking at the speed trap at the top of Eau Rouge, Ricciardo is

consistently faster than Rosberg. That would suggest that Rosberg has

to lift going through the bottom which could be a consequence of

getting better drive down the hill. We are still able to win this race,

you need to close the gap to Ricciardo. The gap was 3.3 seconds

last time. This is Vettel against Bottas who has caught the Red Bull

pretty quickly. But he sat behind Sebastian Vettel are quite a long

time earlier and this will not be easy. The Red Bull is so much

quicker in a straight line this easy. The Red Bull is so much

weekend and despite that Mercedes horsepower in the Williams, it will

not be easy but he is close. Vettel confident he

defensive but Bottas will get the advantage of a couple of DRS zones

to effect a pass. This is all about fourth position at moment. Max

Chilton has made his second stop as world. Still Marcus Ericsson leading

the Caterham Marussia group. We lost Andre Lotterer early on. Only two

cars out so far, Lotterer and Maldonado. Can task now slipstream

past Sebastian Vettel and Maldonado. Can task now slipstream

fourth position? Vettel goes Maldonado. Can task now slipstream

defensive, Bottas on the outside. Side-by-side and he is through!

Lovely move and he did just enough, Vettel could not fight him off and a

big round of applause in the Williams Pitt once again as Bottas

shows what he can do among the best in the world.

shows what he can do among the best cool. He is a calm, collected

driver, growing in confidence and doing a great job with Williams and

putting Massa under pressure this season. That is the conversation

between Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda and a member of the board of

directors of Daimler there, obviously very much involved as we

are on board with Hamilton. What's going on? We are talking through the

options, Lewis, but it will not be long. Hamilton in 15th place. After

qualifying from the back with Robins with the car in the last few

concrete and yet coming through to get a podium, it is a different

story when you lose all that time -- problems with the car. He has not

been able to make it up. He would have had to have driven around

slowly for about three miles of this track, the worst place possible.

Damage to the floor takes away the whole efficiency of the car.

Upfront, Daniel Ricciardo and Rosberg in the background, he has

closed the gap by half a second over the last couple of laps. Worryingly

for Ricciardo, he is running close to his fastest lap of the race and

Rosberg is well over a second slower than what he has managed. The

potential in the Mercedes to deliver a faster lap is clearly there. This

is Jenson Button, he may have a chance on Perez.

Box, box, going to the prime time. Hamilton coming in but Button has

got past the force in the and in that constructors race, that is

crucial. Hamilton comes in. A problem with the engagement. That

surprises me, I would have thought he would be ready for the launch.

These pit stops now, some are under three seconds and there is no time

for the driver to select neutral. In the days of refuelling, you did not

want to risk burning the clutch so you go to neutral and reselect first

gear. Lewis definitely not as motivated in his voice in the

conversation with his team and it looks like it will be extremely

difficult to recover. Never say never but extremely difficult.

Ricciardo opened the gap up slightly, it is up to 3.6 seconds

over Rosberg in his attempt to stay in front. Rosberg not catching as

quickly as you might expect. Raikkonen in third, we are going to

have a battle between the two Finnish drivers because Raikkonen is

being caught by Valtteri Bottas. That is between third and fourth.

Very good throttle application, a very good job. Super important tyre

management. Perez is fighting with Button. And Daniil Kvyat is in 10th

place at the moment. Felipe Massa it is still outside, seven seconds

behind Kvyat, Hulkenberg is 12 after making his second stop but has just

done a personal fastest lap. Sutil is in 13th place, no sign of any

points for Sauber, Vergne is 14th, Hamilton is further down after

making his pit stop so Gutierrez is into 15th place with Hamilton 16. Do

you think your tyres will last to the end? It is difficult to say.

They don't feel very good now. That is interesting, Rosberg has done

more laps on his medium compound tyres than Vettel has done. You

wonder whether Rosberg will be able to stay out on his tyres, he will

have done a lot of laps and that may be a concern. But more downforce on

the Mercedes which means less sliding around and friction on the

tarmac. It is like and a razor on your pencil, if you use the rubber,

it is no longer there -- an eraser. The surface of the rubber goes and

you start to struggle with temperature and controlling the

performance of the tire. We saw Marcus Ericsson going through and

Max Chilton, that gap is now 6.4 seconds and Ericsson is having one

of his best performances of the year but Chilton was a second quicker on

the last lap. Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari.

Romain Grosjean went off at Turn 4, he rejoined but clearly Lotus feel

there is not a lot of point in continuing, they are outside the

points. They have been through a lot of engines so far this year and when

you get to a stage in the season if you use a sixth element in the power

unit, you get a penalty. If you limit mileage at this stage, you

might put that off. Bottas has the gap to just under two seconds.

Raikkonen responding. Raikkonen not wanting to give up the chance of a

podium here. Crucially, Daniel Ricciardo is maintaining that gap to

Rosberg at about 3.5 seconds. He is just over 40 miles away from what

could be the win of all winds around the mighty Spa. He has done that all

season! Canada, Hungary and again here. But there is still a little

way to go, ten laps of Spa is worth 20 at most other tracks! Grosjean

has come into the pits now and he is heading for retirement. The

Frenchman pulls his Lotus into the pits and it is all over for both

cars now after they lost Maldonado earlier on. A tough season for

Romain Grosjean, such a contender but now Rosberg has come in, those

tyres were not good enough to get him to the end and this makes life

interesting because he will drop behind Kimi Raikkonen I believe who

is just going round La Source as you can see. Bottas is in, as a Vettel.

Long stints required, the medium compound tyre not delivering the

length of stint they were hoping for. Bottas has a chance with

Rosberg, can he make it work? So important, who will end up in front?

To me Raikkonen ahead. Bottas sweeps through, has the additional speed.

Rosberg straight out of the pit. Will he stay there? Will Daniel

Ricciardo respond to that? Normally with fresh tyres Rosberg would be

able to hit it and gain an advantage. He is being held behind

Bottas, he will not be advantage. He is being held behind

Bottas, he will not able to exploit the performance, full engine mode,

brand-new set of boots, and put Ricciardo under pressure. He has

been neutered by the fact he lost a place to Bottas. Romain Grosjean

having a good look around the car, his engineers having an expert

nation of what was going on. Rosberg up to speed, trying to get back on

terms with Bottas. Bottas locking up. What an opportunity this is for

several teams to put Mercedes in their place for once, not just Red

Bull. Williams under pressure. He will slide through straightaway on

the inside of Blanchimont. He has so much more grip available to him on

those brand-new soft tyres. Nothing Bottas can do there. Daniel

Ricciardo has finished his Lap 53.4. The team feel he can make it to the

end or they are confident Rosberg is just having the shine taken off that

new tyre performance. He has Raikkonen ahead of him. We know how

slow the Ferrari has been, even down to Eau Rouge. As we come over the

hill, already under the gearbox of the Ferrari. If you ever needed a

visual reference for how slow the Ferrari is in a straight line. Kimi

trying to stay in the slipstream to get along the straight faster, he

has already given place up. Rosberg is flying on those fast tyres. We

know he was 3.5 seconds behind Ricciardo before the stop. If

Ricciardo has to stop he will have to respond now to have any chance of

getting back out in front of Rosberg. This is where all of the

analysis, going on at the factory of Red Bull and in the pit, will

count. Do they bring Ricciardo in? If they are going to do it, they

have to do it quickly or they leave him out there and hope he can hold

on. This was the move simple move, in the end, for Rosberg to drift

past Kimi Raikkonen, putting him back in second position. A

straightforward question for Red Bull. They have more than 22nd gap,

do they think they can afford to lose a couple of seconds per lap to

maintain that position? Are they at all concerned that the prime-time

will fall off the edge of the cliff? As the car gets lighter towards the

end of the Grand Prix, the car gets racier, easier to accelerate and to

break. And Daniel get away with doing two stops. When those around

him are doing three. We will find out. Was the rent is 2.9 seconds

quicker on that lap than Ricciardo. Red Bull have committed themselves

to staying out. That lead he had has just been eroded, he would commit

himself to coming around in second place. We are on board with Alonso

as he chases Magnusson. This is a race hotting up nicely. On tyres

that will be well past their best. Rosberg in a car working well with

new tyres, which would you rather have? Hindsight will be a wonderful

thing. It looks with that 2.9 second difference is if Alonso is looking

at a pass. Magnusson defensive. A little mistake? Magnusson went a bit

wide, it will open up a chance. This is it, Alonso all over the place

trying to find a way through, Magnusson continuing to go defensive

into the hairpin, can Alonso make it stick around the outside? He was not

happy. That is racing, just because you put your car there does not mean

the man on the inside have to say, OK, I will move out of the way. That

was something McLaren and Ron Dennis will take note of, Magnusson was

prepared to hang out and show Alonso he will have to fight harder for the

position. Rosberg in the middle sector, two seconds faster than

Ricciardo. RADIO: guys, you need to stop me and save my engine. Message

understood, Lewis, message understood, the engine is not a

concern. Eight laps to go. Don't worry, we are talking about it. He

is well outside the points, but management don't want him to retire.

Thanks to Tony who has been doing maths in the commentary box, Rosberg

needs to be 2.45 seconds a lap faster than Ricciardo. Two and a

half seconds faster than the race leader to catch him on the last lap.

At the moment he is doing that. 53.2 last time for Ricciardo, which do

you want to become a Rosberg or... If you were driving the car, which

would you want to be in? I would rather be Daniel Ricciardo. My

theory was if I was out front I could weave like a madman and

maintain position. Overtaking is another story. They have the RS

today and other tools that in ancient times we did not have. --

DRS. We are on for another last lap climaxed by the look of things. Of a

series of races we have enjoyed two enjoyed this year. Ricciardo has