Toyota’s chassis chief Pascal Vasselon expects Spa’s legendary Eau Rouge corner to be negotiated comfortably flat-out at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix despite the reduced downforce of the 2009 cars.
The rollercoaster-like left-right-left sequence is Formula 1’s most celebrated corner and the visual highlight of the 4.4-mile circuit in the Ardennes forests.
But steady increases in tyre performance and downforce have blunted its challenge, and the once-daunting swerves have routinely been taken flat-out for several years.
There were hopes that aerodynamic restrictions introduced this year would restore Eau Rouge to its former status as F1’s ultimate test of bravery, but Vasselon believes that is unlikely to be the case.
“I have to say it has lost a bit of its magic now that it is easily flat-out,” he said.
“We expect it to remain flat-out in the dry this season even considering the aerodynamic changes, largely because the slick tyres compensate for the loss of downforce with increased grip.
“It is no longer a place where you could win or lose a second a lap as could have been the case in the past before it was flat-out.”
He added that from a lap time perspective, Eau Rouge has now become little more than a kink in what is in effect an extremely long straight from La Source to the top of the hill at Les Combes – although the big compression requires careful tuning of the suspension and ride height.
“It is not a straight, obviously, but considering it is flat-out you largely treat it as such,” he said.
“Still, you have to take this corner into account to some extent when you think about set-ups because you want to avoid bottoming, so it has some influence.”
But Vasselon said Eau Rouge remains a huge challenge in wet conditions, when grip levels are much lower.
“Where Eau Rouge regains its magic is in the rain; to watch a Formula 1 car through there on a wet track is just unbelievable,” he enthused.
“It is especially impressive if you have watched other types of car go through the corner in similar conditions because the Formula 1 cars are massively faster.”
Despite the diminished challenge of Eau Rouge, most F1 drivers continue to regard Spa as the most demanding and enjoyable circuit on the calendar and are relishing the prospect of racing there this weekend.
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, who took pole for the 2004 Belgian GP, said: “Spa is a fantastic track and definitely my favourite in Formula 1.
“It is a real driver's circuit and that suits me perfectly.
“There is almost every type of corner, so all the way around the lap you are challenged and I love that.”
McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen was equally effusive, saying fast corners like Pouhon really test the drivers’ mettle.
“Unlike some of the places we visit, Spa has real character, and it’s a place where the confidence and commitment of the driver can make a difference,” said the Finn.
“The big corners mean you need to be brave and take risks – and also mean you’ll have a big accident if you get it wrong.
“I love this place, I think it’s the best circuit on the calendar.”
For Lewis Hamilton the circuit’s rich F1 heritage is a key part of its appeal.
“Like Monaco, Silverstone and Monza, it’s one of the historic circuits that I grew up watching on television when I was younger – which makes it just that bit more special for me, because it’s so easy to imagine the heroes of the past racing here,” he explained.
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