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.
Situations had been so dangerous that the System 3 race didn’t happen, however because the rain eased and the circumstances improved, the F2 characteristic was capable of begin on time and ran cleanly till a spin and a stall at Raidillon – the place there had been quite a lot of moments however some glorious automotive management – for Sebastian Montoya ended it below 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 security 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 top consequence was a 90-minute delay between the preliminary begin time and Lando Norris really 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 security automotive, and the primary two confirmed that there is usually 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.
Numerous followers watching at house – and little question many within the grandstands – had 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 security automotive, then it could have been much more clear. The remainder of the observe was … able to go.
“It is a bit 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 realize 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 a lot better, and if you cannot see, you possibly can all the time raise. At one level you will notice.”
The issue race management has – there are all the time vested pursuits at play. Lando Norris urged visibility wasn’t good on the preliminary formation lap, and later referenced the water on the pit straight to attempt to guarantee a rolling begin in the absolute best circumstances for himself because the chief.
Comprehensible, as is Verstappen’s admission that he needed to go racing earlier as a result of he had a moist climate setup.
Certain, drivers might race whatever the rain and select to drive inside the limits, however that does not change the one factor nobody has management over presently – spray. Mark Thompson/Getty Photographs
“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 believe nonetheless can occur. I believe additionally the rain that fell afterwards was nonetheless manageable, if we might have saved lapping anyway.
“You make all the choices 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 had 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 intervening time.”
These vested pursuits cloud whether or not the suitable selections 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, current sufficient occasions have proven what the potential downsides are of accelerating the chance. Basically, it’s what every driver deems to be an excessive amount of threat at any given time, and though Verstappen’s feedback weren’t put to him straight, George Russell had a special view of opting towards racing in decrease visibility when there was a transparent likelihood of getting a full race in with an extended delay.
“I imply, as a racer, you all the time wish to get going,” Russell mentioned. “You’re keen on driving within the rain. However the truth is, whenever you’re doing over 200 miles an hour out of Eau Rouge, you actually can’t see something, it’s possible you’ll as properly have a blindfold on.
“[That] is not racing; it is simply stupidity. I believe contemplating it was clearly going to be dry from 4 p.m. onwards, I believe they made the suitable name.”
Charles Leclerc was slightly extra on the fence, however made the highly effective argument that it’s higher to be worrying about having began slightly bit too late than slightly bit too quickly.
“I believe it is all the time fine-tuning,” Leclerc mentioned. “On a observe like this with what occurred traditionally, I believe you can’t neglect about it. For that purpose, I would slightly be secure than too early. It is a fixed dialogue, and we’ll in all probability feed the those that made this choice again that perhaps it was slightly bit on the late aspect, 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 circumstances. Whether or not you agree with Verstappen and felt extra threat was price taking, or people who really feel it’s finest to err on the extra cautious aspect, the basis 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 have a look at Nico Hulkenberg’s consequence one race in the past at Silverstone.
It wasn’t grip ranges that led to a bit of the delay at Spa, it was visibility. It was the quantity of spray created by F1 vehicles, and the course of that spray. If it might be lowered, then racing might happen in a wider vary of circumstances.
2026 ought to see a discount within the downforce ranges of the brand new era of vehicles, however as these are developed we’re prone to find yourself in the same state of affairs. The FIA has executed analysis into lowering spray, and must proceed to take action, as a result of certainly one of racing’s best arts is missed out on when the visibility prevents drivers from displaying their expertise.
