In both races this weekend, it almost seemed to be a disadvantage to qualify on pole because of the slipstream on such a long straight. Is there anything that can be done on this specific track to ensure pole is actually an advantage? – Tom
It’s true that both the pole winners at the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend lost the lead on the run up to Les Combes on the first lap, and that lost the them the race – Oscar Piastri to Max Verstappen in the sprint, and Lando Norris to Piastri in the Grand Prix.
Actually, though, they were two different circumstances.
The sprint was a standing start in the dry. Piastri did all he could, but Verstappen followed him through Eau Rouge and slipstreamed past him up the hill.
Piastri knew before the race that this was a likely eventuality. That’s partly because of the layout of the track, but also partly because Verstappen was running lower downforce than Piastri and so had an advantage on the straight anyway.
This was visible thereafter in the sprint, when Piastri, despite a quicker car and a significant advantage in the middle sector of the lap, could never get close enough to have a go at Verstappen.
The Grand Prix was different. It was wet, and it was a rolling start. That should have made it a lot easier for Norris to keep the lead.
But there are questions about his restart, which were even raised by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
First, Norris went early, and Piastri went with him, so Norris did not have the lead over the start line that would have been helpful in keeping his position.
Then Norris made a mistake at La Source and that allowed Piastri to get even closer, which pretty much guaranteed Norris was a sitting duck. Piastri then guaranteed he’d pass by going as fast as he dared – faster than Norris dared – through Eau Rouge.
“Oscar deserved it,” as Norris said.
But it’s not a given that the pole-winning driver will lose the lead at Spa at Les Combes – Charles Leclerc managed to retain it last year, for example. It depends on the circumstances.
As for the remark about pole, yes, it’s meant to be an advantage conferred on a driver as a reward for qualifying fastest. But it’s no more than that. It does not mean the driver who secures it has a divine right to lead at the end of the first lap. Of course they don’t.
So why should anything be done about this at Spa in particular? Doing so would mean changing a historic, charismatic and demanding layout. And no one wants to lose that.
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