Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both agreed that race control’s handling of the Belgian Grand Prix start was an ‘overreaction’, insisting that the FIA went too far in the wrong direction after driver feedback from the weather-affected British Grand Prix earlier this month. As is often the case at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, rain turned up on race day at the Belgian GP, arriving just in time to affect the start procedure.
After half a lap behind the safety car, race control opted to throw the red flag, antagonising Verstappen, who ranted on the radio that the cars should have continued roaming the circuit under yellow conditions to clear standing water. With the start procedure delayed, the drivers climbed out of their cars, and a larger rain cell hit the circuit. This meant that over 90 minutes had passed from the allotted start time of 2pm (GMT) when racing finally got underway. Even then, many were frustrated as the race director opted for a rolling start rather than a traditional grid launch.
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