Heavy rain delays start of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa
Torrential Rain Delays Belgian Grand Prix Start at Spa-Francorchamps
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Torrential rain wreaked havoc at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, delaying the start of the Belgian Grand Prix and setting the stage for what promised to be an unpredictable race.
The rain began as Formula 1 cars made their way to the grid, growing heavier during the crucial 30-minute lead-up to the planned start. With worsening conditions creating a dangerous lack of visibility, drivers reported unsafe track conditions during the initial formation lap behind the Safety Car. The race directors quickly responded, bringing out the red flag and sending cars back to the pits to wait for the weather to subside.
McLaren was among the first to relay the grim weather forecast to their rookie star and championship leader, Oscar Piastri, advising him to expect heavy rainfall for at least 40 minutes. However, weather radar readings suggested a potential break in the storm later in the afternoon.
After more than an hour of delays, the race was cautiously restarted under Safety Car conditions at 4:20 PM local time. The drivers completed four laps behind the Safety Car before Race Control opted for a rolling start, eschewing the traditional grid launch.
Spa’s History with Rain: A Double-Edged Sword
Rain and the Belgian Grand Prix have a long, intertwined history. Spa-Francorchamps, one of Formula 1’s most challenging tracks, has often been the setting for dramatic weather-induced chaos. The infamous first-lap, multi-car pile-up of the 1998 race remains one of the sport's most infamous calamities under similar conditions.
More recently, the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix became a lightning rod for criticism after only two laps were completed — all behind the Safety Car — due to torrential rain. That event ended with half points being awarded to the drivers, leading to widespread calls for a revision of the rules.
Formula 1’s Revised Points System
In response to the 2021 debacle, Formula 1 amended its points system to ensure races must feature at least two laps of competitive, non-Safety-Car racing before any points can be awarded. The revised points structure also introduced varying scales depending on how much of the race distance is completed:
- Less than 25% (11 laps at Spa): Points are awarded to the top five drivers (6-4-3-2-1).
- 25-50%: Points are given to the top nine drivers (13-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).
- 50-75%: The top ten drivers score points (19-14-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1).
- Over 75%: Full points are distributed (25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1).
A Dramatic Chapter at Spa
As the drivers fought their way through the challenging weather, the stage at Spa was set for a race that could go down in the history books. Whether this year’s event would mirror the chaos of past editions or reveal new storylines remained unclear as fans braced themselves for another dramatic chapter at Belgium’s most famous circuit.
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