Just tuned in.
Is this some kind of pre race warm up/sighting laps?
Perez out already!
I don't think this race should go ahead, it looks too dangerous.
Conditions are awful.. not sure there’s going to be race at all if it doesn’t improve a lot.. and quickly!
Verstappen keeps saying it’s fine.. aye I’m sure it is at the front when you haven’t got multiple rooster tails making it driving through pea soup!
I reckon it'll get to about 4pm (UK time) before they finally call it off altogether.
Wonder what that does in terms of "results" - completely void or do they take the qualifying position?
They’re just talking about that now. Need to have completed two laps minimum for points scoring. 75% race distance for full points. So as it stands no points if it doesn’t go ahead.
Fascinating conversation between the race director and RB about getting Perez into the race. They’ve been told No you can’t get him in the race as he was assisted mechanically back to the pits by the truck but RB arguing that the race itself has not started
I'm with RB on this. Get him in.
Aye agreed. Get him in the race. If it happens at all!
A friend of mine is just over the border in Germany on a bikepacking tour. She's binned it off for today saying conditions are just atrocious, some of the worst she's ever encountered. It's basically the same weather that's over Spa...
Set to rain heavily for the next half hour at least... My guess is they'll aim for for half race distance (20 laps or so) and half points.
Reminds me of Canada 2011.
Can’t see it starting at this rate.
Seems they've just decided that Perez can start if they can fix his car.
After a lot of back and forth, it also seems that the race has technically started, the 3hr race window has started. The rules bit is actually quite interesting!
I'm wondering how Perez can start when technically the race is underway? Surely he's joining a lap down as he didn't do the formation laps?
If Perez is allowed to join the race, shouldn’t he be down the amount of laps already ‘raced’?
this is a shit show, rules out the window willy nilly
this is going to be carnage.... the track looks no different to 2 hours ago. (whats the betting it will last just 2 laps!)
they'll do a few laps behind SC and call it done and give out half points
this is nonsense, absolutely no different to 2 hours ago!!!
thats that then
pathetic
Safety first, too risky in those conditions
the pathetic part is running for 2 laps behind the the safety car to get a "result" when the conditions are worst than 2 hours ago.
Bored now. And that’s after a Sunday roast in a cosy house.
Feel for the fans there, going to be fun getting out of the car parks after the race today.
Will be nice to see George on the podium (if it happens).
absolute ****ing nonsense.
I'd rather see that happen than risk the drivers safety for our entertainment. On to the next one.
why have the rule ? just award the half points no need for a 2 lap procession behind the safety car bollox and a much safer for everyone.....
I’d rather see that happen than risk the drivers safety for our entertainment. On to the next one.
I'd rather they had the guts to cancel it when it was obvious that a race couldn't happen, rather than that farce.
What a load of old crap. Should have just cancelled and gone home.
as sobriety said farcical, need to change the rule to "racing laps" ie laps behind a safety car don't count to prevent this kind of contrived faux result. That is now a win for Vestappen in the record books for christ sake! And a ****ing podium so ****ing embarrassing there is there no shame with these people ?
Agreed! The 2 laps thing is utterly stupid!
I think it also means that fans at the trackside can't get refunds, as a race happened as the results were declared.
I got bored at about 4.45pm (having been doing stuff round the house anyway while waiting for anything to happen) and went out for a ride. Seems like I did the right thing, I'd have been very annoyed if I'd have sat watching that all afternoon!
Should have cancelled. And yes I’m sure it was entirely financial.
It sort of sums up F1.... great cars, talented drivers, great specacle (sometimes)....
but sort of pretty rotten at the centre.
Absolute farce!
I paid €90 to get in to Spa in 2016 & we were thinking of going again next year but today has guaranteed we'll never go there again.
Anyone who paid to get into Spa today should be offered free entry for next year IMO. That said I understand why it was cancelled, just glad I dont have Sky Sports and wasted half my sunday watching it.
Agree with refunds, but that needs to come out of the FIA's pocket.
So who got the bonus point for fastest lap?
I feel sorry for anyone at the race, fourteen kilometres behind a safety car is not a Grand Prix. Should've been run tomorrow.
So who got the bonus point for fastest lap?
No one.
Bizarrely Mazzapin has the FL, which will forever be recorded on his career stats, but he didn't get a top ten finish so no point for him.
Should’ve been run tomorrow.
A lot of the marshalls wouldn’t have been able to make tomorrow at short notice, they’d be at their day jobs (it’s not a bank hol in Belgium tomorrow).
Bizarrely Mazzapin has the FL, which will forever be recorded on his career stats
LMAO. I still think the Indy debacle back in 2005(?) was worse because it was pretty much deliberate, but this is the second most FU thing I've seen. Just total amateur hour.
With hindsight, I think they should have just run three laps behind the safety car at the start (or just a few laps under a yellow flag, as Gary Anderson says) then stopped the race and announced that they would just award half points for the starting order if they couldn't restart the race. That way, it would have been clear all along what was going to happen instead of pretending they were going to have a race.
I know a lot of people are saying they shouldn't have awarded points because there was no race, but I think awarding half-points for starting order when it is impossible to race is reasonable. Some drivers nailed it (Russell and Verstappen, obviously), others didn't (Norris and Perez). The ones who nailed it deserve something to show for that effort. Just be transparent about what's really happening instead of pretending there was a race.