After hosting a race where there was no actual racing – and then awarding points for the non-racing – Formula One officials have indicated they will make rule changes to prevent the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix debacle in the future.
Continuing heavy rainfall had prevented any competitive racing at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, yet, instead of possibly re-scheduling the race for another day or cancelling the race altogether due to the obvious safety concerns, FiA officials decided to run the minimum required two laps behind a safety car in order to have an official result – inexplicably awarding half-points for a “race” where drivers were not allowed to race.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was on the main beneficiary of the gift as he was declared the winner and awarded 12.5 points for the achievement of following the safety car for two laps. Similarly, all the top 10 qualifying drivers were awarded half-points for the same herculean feat of following the safety car for two laps.
Several drivers and teams criticized the debacle with Mercedes’ seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, labeling the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix a “farce” with Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso all joining in the criticism of the race officials’ decision-making in the event.