The rain won, fans lost, last Sunday at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Last Sunday, the Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa had the potential to be a great Grand Prix. For one thing, Williams’ George Russell had a terrific qualifying run–important for him making a claim for the 2nd seat at Mercedes next season. For another, Spa has been the scene of some of the sport’s most memorable moments.
But, unfortunately, the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix will be remembered as a race that wasn’t a race.
Located in the Ardennes forest, the Belgian Grand Prix traditionally faces mixed weather conditions. However, never before had there been a race day the likes of what was experienced on Sunday. Rain. Rain. More Rain. The track was too wet and too dangerous to race on, and the race couldn’t take place in those conditions. Of that, there is agreement.
That said, there is controversy about how Sunday’s race was adjudicated. According to current rules and regulations, if two laps are completed–but less than 75% of the race distance is completed–half points will be rewarded based on the order at the end of the last completed lap. So, according to the terminology, two completed laps mean that a race has taken place. But the question, of course, is this: Was it really a race?
On Sunday, the FIA decided to start the race under the safety car three hours after an initial aborted attempt to start the race. The weather conditions at that point were even worse than when the cars went out initially. Two laps behind the safety car followed, which met the requirement that a race had taken place. The race was then officially abandoned, with half points awarded to the top ten drivers.
But nobody involved with or watching the Belgian Grand Prix feels like a race took place. Yet, the history books will say a race took place with a race winner and the top 10 drivers scoring World Championship points.
It feels wrong that as little as two laps can count as a race. It is even more difficult to understand that laps run behind the safety car–and where overtaking is not allowed–count as racing laps. I believe the rules must be changed. At the very least, a minimum number of full racing laps (and not laps behind the safety car) need to be completed to constitute a race and the awarding of points.
There are championship implications as well. After Spa, “winner” Max Verstappen reduced “third-place finisher” Lewis Hamilton’s World Championship lead by five points (from eight to three). We don’t know at this point if Sunday’s outcome will factor into deciding either the Drivers Championship or the Constructors Championship, where a considerable amount of money hangs in the balance. Mercedes’s lead was also reduced on that score.
What could be the most important outcome from the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix? It would be for Formula One and the FIA to change the rules so that what happened last Sunday at Spa never happens again.
