Belgian GP verdict - a step backwards for F1

Belgian Grand Prix

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Belgian GP verdict - a step backwards for F1

The events at Spa-Francorchamps have left a bitter taste

GPFans Staff

Monday 30 August 2021 12:44

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The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix is a race that will live long in the memory and for all the wrong reasons.

The stats will show the washout will go down as the shortest race in F1 history, but then to use the word 'race' is an affront to the genuine events that have taken place over the past 71 years of the sport's history.

After almost four hours of confusion, half points were ludicrously awarded for a non-event and saturated fans trudged away in the gloom with nothing to show for their unwavering loyalty.

Here, GPFans Global's F1 team of writers provide their thoughts on what unfolded.

F1 MUST TAKE US FOR FOOLS

Ian Parkes

There can be no doubt the right call was made not to go racing. While it was claimed during and after that F1 has raced in far worse conditions, Spa Francorchamps is not a circuit on which you want to roll the dice in a game of chance with fate.

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The many incidents in the recent past will have served as unwelcome reminders that when this circuit bites, it does so unforgivingly. The death of Anthoine Hubert in an F2 race two years ago is a testament to that.

But what unfolded over the three and a half hours following the two initial formation laps, and in the aftermath of Max Verstappen's hollow victory, did F1 no credit.

There was bewilderment at times over numerous aspects of the rules - Sergio Perez's return, the number of laps elapsed, even the time as to when the event actually started.

But to then go out for two laps behind the safety car "to see what the conditions were like", as FIA race director Michael Masi stated, F1 must take us for fools.

It took Lewis Hamilton, and not for the first time, to call out F1, describing the "farce" that took place as "a money scenario".

So it is fine for F1 to be paid via its contracts with the circuit, television companies and sponsors, but to then dismiss compensation for the fans it claims it has at its heart is a stinging slap in the face for anyone who stood for hours in the pouring rain and cold and who did not see a race.

F1 has taken positive strides in recent years since the end of Bernie Ecclestone's reign, first under Chase Carey and now Stefano Domenicali.

Sunday was a backward step that requires immediate redress.

CHAOS, CONFUSION, A FARCE

Sam Hall

When drivers describe a grand prix event "a farce" and "a joke", you know something is wrong.

With loyal fans standing in the torrential rain, F1 delayed for as long as was possible in an attempt to make a race happen.

In the end, the two-lap cameo behind the safety car was deemed to tick this box, although this left a feeling more of protecting a contract than providing entertainment, a sentiment expressed eloquently by Lewis Hamilton.

Make no mistake, racing was not possible in the extreme conditions and to attempt green-flag running would have been to risk another crash similar to, or larger than, Lando Norris’ from qualifying.

What struck the most throughout Sunday’s events was, however, an apparent lack of knowledge as to just what was going on.

The timing screens indicated the race had not started yet ticked a lap off as a second formation lap had taken place. Then McLaren deduced just 39 laps remained due to delayed starts and, with uncertainty as to whether or not a race had actually started, Sergio Perez was somehow allowed to take the ‘start’.

Chaos, confusion and, as Hamilton said, "a farce".

A DARK DAY AT SPA BUT DARKER FOR F1

Ewan Gale

Regardless of what is made of the decision to run two laps at the end of the day to ensure half-points could be awarded for the Belgian GP, the biggest failing is that in persistent rain, F1 remained when it was abundantly clear there was to be no improvement to the weather.

If the forecast was so bad and the need to complete two laps so great, why not do so ahead of the first suspension, pack up and not drag the fans along with you down an ever-increasing waterfall.

What didn't help was the sheer state of confusion that seemed to emanate through the delay. Depending on which team you asked, there was a different number of laps left.

To then give points out for what was essentially a non-event leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and begs the question as to why points won't be awarded through the top 10 for sprint qualifying, given points have effectively been given to the best qualifier in Belgium.

It will help that Leiws Hamilton called out what he saw as an injustice to the fans and, as he eluded could happen, hopefully, the one good that can come from an apparent evil could be the drivers and teams rallying to put pressure on the sport to ensure the right outcome can be found.

It was a dark day at Spa but it was darker for F1.