Verstappen and Hamilton Slam ‘Overcautious’ Rain Delay at Spa
Two of Formula 1’s biggest stars, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, voiced their frustrations with race organizers following an 80-minute delay to the Belgian Grand Prix due to heavy rain. Both drivers criticized the decision to suspend the race after just one formation lap behind the Safety Car, claiming it was an overreaction.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, argued that instead of halting the race, officials should have allowed the drivers to stay on the track and clear standing water. “It wasn’t even raining,” he remarked, referring to the conditions at the scheduled race start time. “If you do two or three laps behind the Safety Car, it would have been a lot more clear. The rest of the track was ready to go.”
He expressed disappointment with the decision, suggesting that a better approach would have been to wait until conditions were completely dry for a slick tire start. “It’s a bit of a shame. I knew they’d be cautious after Silverstone, but this didn’t make sense.”
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, echoed Verstappen’s sentiments, claiming race organizers were overreacting to the previous race’s incidents, where visibility had been poor. “I kept shouting that ‘it’s ready to go,’ but they kept going round and round,” he said. “I think they just went too far the other way. We didn’t need a rolling start.”
Despite the discontent, Hamilton managed to salvage a difficult weekend, finishing seventh after starting from 18th due to a disappointing qualifying session. “I always love races where you’re challenged and have to make your way through the field,” he said. “But I’m disappointed with the weekend overall.”
In contrast, Carlos Sainz of Williams defended the race director’s decision, labeling it as a “safe call” given the history of the Spa circuit, which has seen numerous fatalities due to poor weather conditions. “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he stated, acknowledging that while the race could have started a bit earlier, the safety of the drivers must come first.
As the race finally commenced with a rolling start after four laps behind the Safety Car, Verstappen finished off the podium for the third consecutive race, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took a dominant victory, leading teammate Lando Norris to a 1-2 finish.
With the next race on the horizon, the tension surrounding race decisions and driver safety continues to loom large in the world of Formula 1.
