MOTORSPORT: Verstappen wins shortest F1 race in history
Lead at top of Formula 1 table tightens after Belgian Grand Prix washed outA day of rain turned the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix into a non-event for 2021.
Only four laps were completed over more than four hours, and even those were run behind the safety car.
The washout meant cars finished in exactly the same order as they started, with only half points awarded.
Max Verstappen was the winner but, more importantly, he trimmed the margin to his championship rival Lewis Hamilton to just three points – 202.5 to 199.5 – after the first leg of a frantic F1 triple-header that will take teams to his home race in Holland next weekend and then Monza in Italy.
“It was just impossible in these conditions,” said Verstappen.
Hamilton, who picked up points for third place, added: “I love racing in the rain, but today was something else. You couldn't see the car ahead, there was aquaplaning, it was so, so tricky out there.
“It’s a shame because of course I wanted to race and I love this track as well. I think it would have been a great race if it hadn't rained so hard, but unfortunately it just didn't stop,” he said.
The result gave George Russell a stunning second place for Williams, as he waits to hear if he will join Hamilton at Mercedes-AMG in 2022, with Aussie Daniel Ricciardo recording the best effort of his troubled time at McLaren in fourth.
“Crazy, crazy day, crazy circumstances,” said Ricciardo.
“Sorry to the fans and everyone that stayed out here all day to watch us race, they were awesome. We were really hoping to get a race and obviously it didn’t happen, but it’s no-one’s fault, it’s just the situation and circumstances today.
“We’ve got two races on consecutive weekends now so hopefully that makes up for it."
The only good news from race day was that Lando Norris was only bruised after his massive 250km/h crash in qualifying, although he was only classified in 14th spot after a penalty for replacing his McLaren’s gearbox.
The Red Bull team used the extensive delays to repair the car of Sergio Perez, who smacked into the barriers on the way from the pits to the grid, even if he was only classified 20th.
2021 Belgian Grand Prix results:
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- George Russell, Williams
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
- Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
- Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
- Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Nicholas Latifi, Williams
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG
- Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Mick Schumacher, Haas
- Nikita Mazepin, Haas
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
2021 Formula 1 driver standings:
- Hamilton, 202.5
- Verstappen, 199.5
- Norris, 113
- Bottas, 108
- Perez, 104
- Sainz, 83.5
- Leclerc, 82
- Ricciardo, 56
- Gasly, 54
- Ocon, 42
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