The Belgian Grand Prix has been the scene of each sort of race, and each sort of racing emotion – moist thrillers, tense dry races, boring processions, dramatic failures, controversial penalties and tragic incidents.
When the rain began falling on Saturday night time – set in for big spells of the subsequent 18 hours – it felt just like the traditional venue might present any one of many above as soon as once more.
Circumstances have been so unhealthy that the Components 3 race didn’t happen, however because the rain eased and the situations improved, the F2 characteristic was in a position to begin on time and ran cleanly till a spin and a stall at Raidillon – the place there had been various moments however some glorious automotive management – for Sebastian Montoya ended it underneath security automotive.
Shortly earlier than the pit lane opened, the solar was out and the observe dried considerably. Then some regular rain hit, and the preliminary formation lap behind the protection automotive was curtailed when the beginning process was suspended.
Drivers reported poor visibility, however by halting proceedings it meant one other heavy band of rain soaked the observe, and the tip consequence was a 90-minute delay between the preliminary begin time and Lando Norris truly placing his foot down on a rolling begin to get the race underway on a quickly drying observe.
That restart got here after 4 additional laps behind the protection automotive, and the primary two confirmed that there generally is a good quantity of spray even when the solar has been out and the observe seems to be comparatively dry to the bare eye. It is simply the character of present F1 vehicles utilizing floor impact for the majority of their efficiency and have a rear wing designed to ship soiled air upwards.
Quite a few followers watching at residence – and little doubt many within the grandstands – have been pissed off by the look ahead to motion, they usually weren’t alone.
“Three o’clock, immediately [is when the race should have started],” Max Verstappen mentioned. “It was not even raining. And naturally between Turns 1 and 5 there was fairly a little bit of water, however should you do two or three laps behind the protection automotive, then it will have been much more clear. The remainder of the observe was … able to go.
“It’s kind of of a disgrace. After all I knew that they’d be a bit extra cautious after Silverstone, however this additionally did not make sense. It is higher to say, ‘You understand what, let’s wait till it is fully dry after which we simply begin on slicks,’ as a result of this isn’t actually moist climate racing for me.
“Between Turns 1 and 5 it was [poor visibility], however just for just a few laps. The extra you run, it will likely be significantly better, and if you cannot see, you may at all times carry. At one level you will notice.”
The issue race management has – there are at all times vested pursuits at play. Lando Norris recommended visibility wasn’t good on the preliminary formation lap, and later referenced the water on the pit straight to try to guarantee a rolling begin in the absolute best situations for himself because the chief.
Comprehensible, as is Verstappen’s admission that he wished to go racing earlier as a result of he had a moist climate setup.
Positive, drivers might race whatever the rain and select to drive throughout the limits, however that does not change the one factor nobody has management over at present – spray. Mark Thompson/Getty Photos
“I simply discover it’s a little bit of a disgrace for everybody,” Verstappen mentioned. “You’ll by no means see these traditional sort of moist races anymore then, which I feel nonetheless can occur. I feel additionally the rain that fell afterwards was nonetheless manageable, if we might have stored lapping anyway.
“You make all the selections based mostly on moist racing, so then additionally it simply ruins your complete race a bit. However, I imply, realistically P3 would have been the best attainable. We have been very near that, however on the identical time it additionally nonetheless highlighted our weaknesses with the automotive. That is one thing that isn’t really easy to repair in the mean time.”
These vested pursuits cloud whether or not the appropriate choices are made on the proper instances. At a observe the place F2 driver Anthoine Hubert was killed in a T-bone collision on the prime of Raidillon – partly as a result of drivers are unsighted over the crest – and Dilano Van ’t Hoff died in related circumstances in a moist FRECA race two years in the past, latest sufficient occasions have proven what the potential downsides are of accelerating the chance. Primarily, it’s what every driver deems to be an excessive amount of danger at any given time, and though Verstappen’s feedback weren’t put to him straight, George Russell had a unique view of opting in opposition to racing in decrease visibility when there was a transparent probability of getting a full race in with an extended delay.
“I imply, as a racer, you at all times wish to get going,” Russell mentioned. “You’re keen on driving within the rain. However the truth is, while you’re doing over 200 miles an hour out of Eau Rouge, you actually can not see something, chances are you’ll as effectively have a blindfold on.
“[That] is not racing; it is simply stupidity. I feel contemplating it was clearly going to be dry from 4 p.m. onwards, I feel they made the appropriate name.”
Charles Leclerc was just a little extra on the fence, however made the highly effective argument that it’s higher to be worrying about having began just a little bit too late than just a little bit too quickly.
“I feel it is at all times fine-tuning,” Leclerc mentioned. “On a observe like this with what occurred traditionally, I feel you can not neglect about it. For that motive, I would moderately be protected than too early. It is a fixed dialogue, and we’ll most likely feed the folks that made this resolution again that possibly it was just a little bit on the late facet, however I would not have modified something.”
Oscar Piastri additionally made the purpose that the drivers requested the FIA to play it safer at Spa-Francorchamps in such situations. Whether or not you agree with Verstappen and felt extra danger was price taking, or people who really feel it’s greatest to err on the extra cautious facet, the foundation trigger is what wants addressing.
Everybody desires to see racing within the rain. It’s what separates the perfect drivers and supplies the chance for particular outcomes. Simply take a look at Nico Hulkenberg’s consequence one race in the past at Silverstone.
It wasn’t grip ranges that led to a piece of the delay at Spa, it was visibility. It was the quantity of spray created by F1 vehicles, and the route of that spray. If it may very well be decreased, then racing might happen in a wider vary of situations.
2026 ought to see a discount within the downforce ranges of the brand new technology of vehicles, however as these are developed we’re prone to find yourself in the same scenario. The FIA has executed analysis into decreasing spray, and must proceed to take action, as a result of one in every of racing’s best arts is missed out on when the visibility prevents drivers from exhibiting their abilities.
