The Belgian GP Rixview – in point form…

The mid year summer break gives the teams a break, and also for the F1 enthusiasts, all of which leads to some kind of withdrawal symptoms by the time F1 resumes, especially after the last two classic races at Silverstone and Hungaroring.

At least the season reconvenes at Spa, a real F1 connoisseur’s track that has yet to be wrecked too much by modern motor racing circuit design. The races often deliver random weather events to spice up boring races, and if not, the sight of cars going through Eau Rouge is enough to keep you awake for an hour and a half.

This year’s edition was a little light on action, with the predictable silver lining of a finish, but as ever here’s our GP review…in point form.

– The changing of the start appeared to enhance the prospects of Daniel Ricciardo as he gained spots off the start instead of the usual Webber-like minus two or three start. Perez got a flyer too which provided an interesting change of scenery up front, but ultimately handed the Ham an easy win as Rosberg bogged down.

– The Sesame Street song – One of these things is not like the other one – was playing in the mind as Bottas was driving around on different compound tyres. Can happen anywhere I guess where it takes less than 3 seconds to change tyres. Interesting to see how he takes the Ferrari snub, and how he can climb back into bed with Williams after his love interest ended.

– Talking or love, reports about Red bull and they are out of love with Renault and looking for a way out. Heading towards an ugly divorce. Renault already looking for a new partner in Lotus and Force India.

– Nico Hulkenburg surely confirms himself as the new Webber after he failed to make the start in his Force India despite looking good throughout the weekend. He missed out on the Ferrari drive during the week, and maybe a move to a Ferrari powered car is a roundabout way of lining up a seat for 2017.

– Max Verstappen either didn’t see the huge accident in GP2 on the Blanchimont stretch of the Spa circuit on Saturday or he is simply so confident that he doesn’t care. Either way it was some kind of move and maybe he’s lining up a bigger move to Ferrari as well.

– Good news story on the track for Lotus-Renault with a podium to Grosjean. A great drive was rewarded and some progress from some of his previous misdemeanours which saw him dropped from Renault in 2009 and banned for a race a few years later. Bad news for Lotus Renault off the track as their cars were impounded due to legal action.

– Sad news was the death of Guy Ligier who found his eponymous Formula 1 team. The name has been missing since 1996 when Prost GP bought and trashed the team. Winners of a handful of GPs, and almost a Championship in 1981 and were front runners early in 1979. The team saw quality drivers like Jacques Laffite, Rene Arnoux, Didier Pironi, Olivier Panis, Piercarlo Ghinzani, and other drivers like Pedro Diniz, Shinji Nakano, Andrea de Cesaris. Only Sauber remains as a modern day version,