Max Verstappen criticized the FIA's decision to postpone the start of the Belgian Grand Prix due to poor weather, calling it unnecessary. His opinion was opposed by George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, who argued that any alternative choice by the governing body would have been reckless given the conditions and the demanding nature of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The race was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes after rain arrived just before the scheduled start. Following one formation lap, the FIA determined that visibility was too low due to spray from the cars. The track is known for its high speeds and technical difficulty, with past incidents including the fatalities of Anthoine Hubert in 2019 and Dilano van ’t Hoff in 2023.
Verstappen, whose Red Bull had been adjusted to perform well in the wet, believed the drivers could have managed the conditions, and that racing would have helped clear standing water.
When asked about the ideal start time, he said: “Three o’clock, immediately. It wasn’t even raining then. There was some water between turns one and five, but after a few laps behind the safety car, it would have improved. The rest of the track was ready.”
The Dutch driver, who finished fourth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, also expressed frustration toward the FIA. “Ultimately, they do what they want. It’s unfortunate—these classic wet races are disappearing.”
Russell, along with Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, supported the decision. “As a racer, you always want to drive, especially in the rain,” he said. “But at 200 mph out of Eau Rouge, visibility was zero—it wasn’t racing, just dangerous. With the forecast improving, they made the right call.”
Lewis Hamilton, who moved from 18th to seventh after a well-timed tyre switch, sided with Verstappen. “I agree with him. My car was set up for the wet, but they waited. By the end, the track was nearly dry with minimal spray.”
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