Lewis Hamilton calls for "free race" Spa return this year after Belgian GP washout

Belgian Grand Prix

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Hamilton calls for "free race" Spa return this year after Belgian GP washout

The Belgian GP was rained off after two laps behind the safety car

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Monday 30 August 2021 05:00

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both touted a return to Spa-Francorchamps later in the season after the two-lap washout at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Half-points were awarded to the top 10 drivers after the race was marred by torrential rainfall throughout Sunday which made green-flag running impossible.

This meant the top six all finished in the same positions as they qualified, with the rest of the top 10 moved up a spot after Sergio Perez crashed before the race had even started.

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Russell took his maiden podium after his qualifying efforts on Saturday saw him start on the front row, with Hamilton remaining in the lead of the championship with his accredited third-place finish.

Asked if there was scope for returning, winner Max Verstappen said: "We already do too many races, so we should pick the proper tracks and, of course, first of all, the good ones.

"But now, to come back again here, I don’t see that happening, especially when you already have 22 races."

Sat alongside Verstappen in the FIA top-three press conference, Russell countered: "If we did have to have a replacement race, I would have nothing against coming back here, obviously one of the best races and circuits in the world.

"Obviously, so many fans who probably love Formula 1 who live locally or in Belgium didn’t have the opportunity to see what they came here for so maybe that could be another way to repay them for the loss today."

Championship leader Hamilton, who was highly critical of the decision to run the two laps needed to declare the event complete agreed, saying: "I’d absolutely come back.

"I love it here so if there is a way we could find a window where it wasn’t raining and we give the fans a free race, that would be great."