Max Verstappenhas criticized Formula 1 race control's choice to postpone the start of the Belgian Grand Prix due to visibility issues, which he believed disadvantaged Red Bull's transition to a wet configuration.
As heavy rain fell at Spa-Francorchamps before the race began,Race Control chose to halt the starting process.following the formation lap because of worries about poor visibility in the rain.
More rain caused the beginning to be postponed until 16:20 local time, 80 minutes later than initially scheduled, as officials worked to clear pooled water.
Following four more laps under the safety car, the drivers were allowed to begin the race with a rolling start in favorable racing conditions, as the leading cars switched to slick tires a few laps later.
The choice to restart the race under nearly dry weather conditions proved detrimental to Red Bull, which hadchose deliberately to add more downforce anticipating a wet race.
It indicated that both Verstappen andYuki Tsunodathey were unable to pass vehicles ahead because they did not have sufficient speed when approaching Turn 5.
Stuck behind Ferrari'sCharles LeclercFor 39 laps, as he came in fourth, Verstappen expressed significant frustration over what he believed was his team being punished for preparing for rain.
"We made a decision regarding the setup, and they only permitted us to drive in nearly slick conditions, which was somewhat disappointing," he said, expressing his frustration that race control overreacted after releasing the cars too early during a wet British GP, resulting in an unclear situation.Isack Hadjar crashing into Andrea Kimi Antonelliat Copse in thick mist.
Of course, we discussed following Silverstone to be a bit more careful with our choices, but this was the opposite for me.
It was a decision we took based on the car's configuration, which turned out to be incorrect, naturally, since they didn't let us compete in the rain.
Once we reached the dry tires, we found ourselves too slow on the straight. Adding to that, the ongoing balance issues I've always had with this car made things even more challenging.
As a specialist in wet conditions, Verstappen believed the track was nearly prepared at the initial scheduled time, and he criticized drivers who were pushing race control to postpone the start.
From Turn 1 to 5, there was a significant amount of water, but if you completed two laps under the safety car, it would have been much clearer," he remarked. "And the rest of the track was prepared to proceed.
The more you run, the better it will be. And if you can't see, you can always rise. At some point, you will see...
Then it's better to say: 'You know what, let's wait until it's fully dry and then we just switch to slicks.' Because this isn't really wet-weather racing for me.
In the end, they do as they please, don't they? But I think it's a bit disappointing for everyone. You'll never witness these classic wet races again.
Sainz: "It's better to be cautious than to feel remorseful"
The race officials' display of caution at a high-speed circuit whereFormula Regional driver Dilano van 't Hoff passed away two years ago when he was struck by another vehicle during heavy rainfall.was valued by other drivers, who did not share Verstappen's viewpoint.
"On a regular track, yes, I believe we might have been able to begin perhaps 5 to 10 minutes earlier," saidWilliams driver Carlos SainzAt Spa-Francorchamps, considering the history of this circuit, it's better to be cautious rather than risk an accident and later feel remorse.
You all need to watch the entire race, so I don't think it was a poor decision. It was a cautious one, but I have respect for the race director [Rui Marques] because he mentioned after the incidents in Silverstone that he would be more cautious here, and that's exactly what he did.
Pierre Gaslylost his close friend Anthoine Hubert in an F2 accident at Spa six years back, which took place in dry weather, yet revealed the poor visibility at the summit of the Raidillon hill even under favorable conditions. TheAlpineA driver who earned a point by finishing in 10th position also acknowledged the decisions made by race control.
When we began the first lap, we couldn't see anything, so it was the correct decision to wave the red flag," he stated. "Then a large cloud appeared. Was there a five-minute window? Possibly, but I believe they made the right call.
The same question always comes up. Can you start the race 10 minutes earlier or later? In the end, understanding the history of this track and what typically occurs, as a driver, you'd prefer to be 10 minutes late rather than 10 minutes early.
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