F1 Race Recap: Silver Arrows Score Second in Spa
Blog: The Tibco Blog
After four weeks of fun in the sun over summer break, it was time for TIBCO partner Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport to take to the track and fire up the second half of the 2018 Formula One season. Carrying a comfortable lead in first place for both the team in the Constructors’ Championship and Lewis Hamilton leading the Drivers’ Championship, the Silver Arrows headed into the Belgian Grand Prix with all eyes on them.
Summer break is over – @MercedesAMGF1 is back in action! #BelgianGP @LewisHamilton #LH44 #F1 https://t.co/CZEya8rKEC
— TIBCO Software (@TIBCO) August 25, 2018
Hamilton turned in a lightning-fast qualifying performance, earning pole position.
That fifth #BelgianGP pole mood…
No other @F1 driver can match @LewisHamilton’s record of five poles around Spa! pic.twitter.com/vcWTUtgs55
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 25, 2018
Meanwhile an engine penalty caused Valtteri Bottas to start his day from the back of the grid.
“This track offers the chance to overtake and we do have a very good car around here, so I look forward to the challenge and I’ll try to have a little fun as well.”
More from @ValtteriBottas
https://t.co/1LqF9K44nR
#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/VQSuCi0gGH
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 25, 2018
On race day, the heat was on!
Fired up and ready to go at the #BelgianGP!
— TIBCO Software (@TIBCO) August 26, 2018
After a swift start, Hamilton found himself fighting for first with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
LIGHTS OUT! Lewis gets away well but VET makes that Ferrari power play and passes #LH44 down at Les Combes!
There’s big contact further down in the pack at Turn 1! #BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
Other drivers didn’t make it around turn one so easily, including Bottas, who sustained some nose damage requiring an early stop.
Lap 1, Turn 1 – all the angles
#BelgianGP
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 26, 2018
Box. Box. #VB77 is in for SuperSofts and a nose change after picking up damage in the lap one melee!
#BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
With fresh tires and a patched-up front end, Bottas began his methodical march to the front of the herd, one after another.
That @ValtteriBottas pass though…
It’s shark season! 🦈 #BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
And another…
Valtteri’s charge continues – he’s picked off the two Williams cars and is cruising up to Ericsson… 🦈
Oh, hi @SauberF1Team
#BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
And another…
Another one!
P12 for #VB77, a pair of Williams cars next on the list… 🦈#BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
With Bottas and Hamilton turning in one fastest lap after another, it looked like anybody’s race.
LAP 26/44: VET and #LH44 trading fastest laps
They also happen to be about 1.5s quicker than anyone else right now. This battle is intense!
P2 #LH44
P4 #VB77Live race data ➡️ https://t.co/bYIjx0adyf#UnfairAdvantage
— PurePitWall (@PurePitWall) August 26, 2018
Finally, after 44 laps of all-out effort, Vettel and Ferrari were first across the finish line with Hamilton close behind. Finishing fourth, Bottas managed to pull off an astonishing bounce back from his starting position.
Pushing right to the chequered flag, but it’s not quite enough this time! P2 for @LewisHamilton at Spa, with @ValtteriBottas charging from P17 on the grid to P4! #BelgianGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 26, 2018
While Vettel and the Ferraris were able to close the gap in the standings with their performance in Spa, Hamilton and company are still holding the lead and eager to add to it. But how will they fare on Ferrari’s home turf? We’ll find out next weekend at the Italian Grand Prix on September 2!
Learn more about TIBCO’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport that provides the team with a data-driven competitive edge.
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