Belgian GP Arrows race notes

If determination in the face of adversity could score points during a Grand Prix, then Orange Arrows drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Jos Verstappen would have finished in the top six. Jos Verstappen started his 70th Grand Prix race from 20th on the grid after struggling with car set-up all weekend, and crossed the finish line to take 15th position, although 1 lap down, after he required four pit stops following some unfortunate happenings on track.

Pedro de la Rosa started the race from 16th position on row 8, but also encountered four pit stops, including one for a 10 second stop-go penalty for overtaking while the safety car was out, leaving him 16th at the chequered flag and 2 laps down. The formation lap got off to a start under the safety car due to a very wet track, with the race starting under the very unusual circumstances of a rolling start when the safety car came in.

Pedro de la Rosa:
"I think the stop and go penalty I had is a bit unfair because when the safety car was out at the start I was behind Pedro Diniz and he was on grooved tyres when it was wet, and he nearly spun infront of me on the straight. I had to avoid him and there was a lot of spray, so I couldn't just brake in the straight to allow Diniz to recover from his near off so had to pass him to avoid hitting him. Apart from that when I came into Eau Rouge after my pit stop, the rear just snapped out and then the steering felt very heavy, so I came in for another pit stop one lap after my last one and we found I had a right rear puncture. This race is just really one to forget. The car generally was good but when the tyres were old it started to slide everywhere and that was that".

Jos Verstappen:
"I am happy to go home and it's another race to forget. The balance was just very difficult to drive with and there was a lot of oversteer. We also had to change the front wing as I drove into Fisichella when he stopped on the circuit as I think he had a problem with his car. The car was just difficult to drive, and then I had a flat spot on a tyre after the wheels locked up and I couldn't get the wheels to turn again for a while, so I had to come in for another pit stop to get new tyres. It's not been a good weekend".

Tom Walkinshaw:
"The most you can say about the weekend is that it was character building. I've never seen a race where so many things went on as far as the team were concerned - accidents, punctures, stop-go penalties - I think the only thing we didn't do with the cars during the pit stops was wash them!"