Back to back Formula weekends in Silverstone and then Spa, were to suffer the worst of the North European weather conditions. Heavy rain affected both races, but the FIA race control handled the deluge in extremely different ways.
The debrief from the British Grand Prix saw a number of the driver’s suggest the FIA could have delayed the start by 20-30 minutes as the forecast was for improving conditions. The start in Belgium was handled well by the race director, who sent the cars out on a formation lap which was then immediately red flagged which meant the three hour clock for the race to be completed did not start.
Torrential rain returned twenty minutes after the scheduled start and it was plain for all to see that racing at that time was not possible. But the heavy rain cleared up relatively quickly and all that remained for the forty minutes before the actual start was sanctioned by race control, was some light drizzle followed by around fifteen minutes of sunshine which resulted in the track beginning to dry quickly.
Rolling start for Norris’ benefit
Race control issued a fourteen minute warning for the reschedule start, when only ten is required for the drivers to be told to get ready. As is protocol the field went out behind the safety car for what would have been a reasonable two laps of a recon exercise, but race control extended this for two further laps before announcing a rolling start would be the procedure.
It appeared that race control was polling the drivers behind the safety car for their opinions on the visibility. But then Lando Norris threw a spanner in the works suggesting the right hand side of the grid – which is where he would start from pole – was significantly wetter then the left.
Nothing in the rules suggests the FIA must ensure that after rain, the grid is fair for both even and odd numbered starters. However, with the grid dry enough for a standing start the strange decision was made for a rolling start, which clearly appeased Norris and his concerns.
Ironically, Lando messed up the start, telegraphing his intentions to team mate Oscar Piastri, who was able to follow his dream mate closely into turn one, which became an advantage running down the hill and through Eau Rouge became quickly obvious. Piastri breezed past his team mate before the half way point of the long Kemmel straight, for what was the winning move of the Grand Prix.
Car setup decisions thwarted by race control
Whilst the FIA will always cite safety as their primary concern, it is also their brief to ensure fair competition. A number of drivers like Max Verstappen had set up their cars with plenty of downforce, to counter driving in wet weather conditions. Yet given the drying nature of the track surface, those with the bigger rear wings did not receive the advantage they had planned for.
Max Verstappen was critical of the FIA come his post race media session where he explained how challenging his race had been made. “Quite difficult. On the intermediates of course we made a choice with the setup, and then they only allow us to drive in almost slick conditions. That’s a bit disappointing,” he said.
Verstappen explained he thought the one extreme approach to another across the two race weekends may have been a result of the Silverstone debrief. “Because we spoke after Silverstone to be a little bit more cautious with the positions, but this was then the other extreme for me. And then of course the choice that we made with the setup of the car was then of course the wrong one, because they didn’t allow us to race in the wet.”
The world champion went on to argue that race control in future must decide whether they are going to allow wet weather racing, and of not then the drivers and teams can merely set up their cars for dry weather running.
Red Bull & Verstappen dupe the paddock
A “ridiculous spectacle”
Criticism of the FIA’s handling of the start of the Belgium Grand Prix was nigh on universal, with Sky F1 commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft admitting the race could have been started some 20-30 minutes earlier. Ted Kravitz in his notebook piece was also highly critical of race controls decisions, completing his piece to camera with a fist shake at the FIA hospitality centre adding with sacrum, “Thank you FIA.”
F1 publications around Europe too are incandescent with the hour and twenty minute delay to the start of the Belgium Grand Prix. Spanish outlet, Marca says. “In Formula 1, the 20 best drivers in the world race. The 10 best teams. The best engineers and strategists. Plus the biggest luxury on the best stages. F1 has it all and deserves it all.”
“But no racing takes place in the rain. As if it was on fire, as if it was more scary than it should be. When it rains, the top tier turns into a ridiculous spectacle. That of course happened in Spa as well,” said the race report.
Tyres burned out in 6 racing laps
Dr. Helmut Marko was also critical of race control: ”After three, four laps behind the safety car, the standing water would have been driven off the track. Then the visibility would no longer have been a problem. The race management was too careful,” said the Red Bull advisor.
Each of the drivers were shod with the intermediate tyres which run well even in fairly wet conditions. They ran four laps behind the safety car and once the race was under way, the track was so dry the tyres were falling apart after just six/seven laps of racing. This in itself was a clear indication that the surface had been allowed to dry too much and as Ted Kravitz concluded, the precedent set must mean no more wet racing – at least in Belgium – will be allowed again.
Russell saves his seat with an average weekend
The Formula One Belgian Grand Prix was a happy hunting ground for Mercedes just a year ago. George Russell took the chequered flag ahead of his team mate, but it is Lewis Hamilton who the history books record as the winner. Russell’s Mercedes was a whopping 1.5kg under weight and so he was disqualified.
In the cooler conditions of the Ardennes mountain region, the W15 was expected to once again be a front runner in Spa Francorchamps, but it was to prove not to be the case. Free practice one was as good as the weekend got, with Russell finishing in fourth and Kimi Antonelli two slots further back.
Having made a mistake which saw him out of qualifying, Antonelli would start the Sprint plumb last, while Russell missed the top ten shootout and could only manage P13. Neither driver troubled the scoring in Saturday morning and in Grand Prix qualifying Antonelli was again out in Q1…. READ MORE
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Dream mate. I highly doubt it.
If Martin Brundles opinions on Horner’s sacking are even remotely true then it clearly speaks volumes about the Verstappen’s character as people. They were absolutely ruthless to use Horner loyal support over many seasons to achieve championship results then standby & watch the sword fall without any intervention. Loyalty is obviously not in the Verstappen’s vocabulary!