Verstappen claims F1 missed window to start Belgian GP

Max Verstappen paid credit to the fans attending the Belgian Grand Prix after winning the rain-shortened race at Spa-Francorchamps and suggested there was a missed window for a start.

Torrential downpours limited the race to only two laps behind the safety car to complete the required distance to allow half-points to be awarded.

The race was delayed by three hours before the laps were able to be completed, with poor visibility ensuring full green-flag running could not be achieved.

"Of course, it was very important to get that pole position but it is a big shame not to do proper laps," said Verstappen.

"The conditions were very tricky out there. I said it at like 15:30 let's go. But I think the visibility was very low.

"I think if we had started at 15:00 we would have had a better chance but after that, it stayed really wet and kept raining. It is a win but it is not how you want to win.

"The credit goes to all the fans around the track to stay here the whole day in rain, cold, windy conditions so I think they are the bigger winners today."

The result means Verstappen has closed the championship lead to Lewis Hamilton, who finished third, to three points. Verstappen collected 12.5 points to Hamilton's 7.5.

"We have to keep on pushing and keep on trying to close it in," added Verstappen.

"We have a few more races to do that. I am confident we have a good car to do that and we need to keep on trying to get a bit more performance out of it."

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