Trulli looking strong at Spa Francorchamps

Zoom Trulli can run longer than his rivals in the first stint of the Belgian Grand Prix Spa Francorchamps may be a quick circuit but the lack of slow corners means that only 2.25kg of fuel are needed per lap rather than an average of 2.42. With the car and driver weighing in at 605kg combined, it is easy to calculate the fuel levels on board the top ten runners and therefore – adding in the pace laps – the lap number in which they will be forced to make their first stops. Unsurprisingly, the top ten runners are lighter on fuel than those starting outside of the top ten. Indeed those towards the back of the field such as Kazuki Nakajima, Romain Grosjean and Jaime Alguersuari are brimmed full with fuel and on a one stop strategy. Pole-sitter Giancarlo Fisichella is fuelled relatively lightly - as expected - but not as light as fourth placed Rubens Barrichello. Fisichella has 43kg of fuel on board and allowing for the lap to the grid and the parade lap, should be able to run until lap 17 of the 44 lap race. Barrichello meanwhile will be in on lap 16. Jarno Trulli starts on the front row alongside Fisichella and he should be able to run until lap 21 and that could be critical as he chases Toyota’s first Grand Prix win. Third placed Nick Heidfeld is on a similar strategy while the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber can run a couple of laps longer. While the strategy plays a role, the weather and then the run to La Source and then up the hill through Eau Rouge and to Les Combes will be critical. However, should all go according to plan, Trulli is the driver looking strongest ahead of the 12th round of the championship. Spa Francorchamps Qualifying Weight (kg) P. Driver Car Weight Fuel Laps 1 . R. Barrichello - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 644.5 39.5 - 16 . 2 . G.Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 648.0 43.0 - 17 . 3 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 648.5 43.5 - 17 . 4 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 649.0 44.0 - 18 . 5 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 655.0 50.0 - 20 . 6 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F60 - 655.0 50.0 - 20 . 7 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF109 - 656.5 51.5 - 21 . 8 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 658.0 53.0 - 22 . 9 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 662.5 57.5 - 24 . 10 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 670.0 65.0 - 27 . 11 . A. Sutil - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 678.5 * 73.5 - 31 . 12 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 684.4 * 79.4 - 33 . 13 . S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 685.0 * 80.0 - 34 . 14 . L. Badoer - Ferrari F60 - 691.5 * 86.5 - 36 . 15 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 693.5 * 88.5 - 37 . 16 . J. Button - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 694.2 * 89.2 - 38 . 17 . H. Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 697.0 * 92.0 - 39 . 18 . J. Alguersuari - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 704.5 * 99.5 - 42 . 19 . R. Grosjean - Renault R29 - 704.7 * 99.7 - 42 . 20 . K. Nakajima - Williams Toyota FW31 - 706.1 * 101.1 - 43 . Source : F1-Live