F1 Belgian Grand Prix start aborted as FIA issues statement after stopping race

The Belgian Grand Prix was stopped after the formation lap amid safety concerns at the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps. Wet weather in the Ardennes Forest put the start at the race at risk and it soon became clear that there was a significant amount of standing water on track.

All cars went round the track on the formation lap at 2pm UK time, when the Formula 1 race was supposed to begin. But drivers were reporting over the radio that visibility was very poor with a lot of spray being thrown up into the air.

And the FIA confirmed that was the reason why race control then hastily red-flagged the Grand Prix and ordered all cars back to the pit lane. "Most drivers have reported poor visibility during the formation lap, hence the red flag," a statement from the governing body read.

Lando Norris, who qualified on pole for the race, was one of those who reported significant visibility concerns over the radio. As he followed the safety car on the formation lap, he told his McLaren race engineer that he could see very little and assumed that it was much worse for those behind him.

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Many other drivers agreed, though Max Verstappen was clearly not on board with the decision to abandon the start of the race. Starting from fourth on the grid, the Dutchman made it clear that he would have much preferred to get going.

He said over his Red Bull radio intercom: "Well that's a bit silly, I mean, you should just run a few laps, Jesus. They're way too cautious, now the heavy rain is coming, and then it's going to be a three-hour delay."

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As Verstappen pointed out, there was more heavy rain coming on the weather radar. It meant a delay of more than an hour, before the FIA finally announced that another formation lap would take place at 4:20pm local time – one hour and 20 minutes after the first – with at least two more laps of 'racing' behind the safety car after that until conditions were deemed safe enough for the green flags to fly.

It is a common issue for the Belgium race with that particular part of the country often affected by turbulent weather. The 2021 edition of this race famously lasted for three hours despite only two laps being completed, both of which were behind the safety car because the conditions were simply too treacherous. Because there was no overtaking possible, every driver finished in their qualifying position, but only half points were handed out.

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the iconic venues in F1 history, having been one of the original venues in the first year of the World Championship back in 1950. Other circuits in the country hosted some F1 races in the 1970s and '80s, but the Belgian GP returned to Spa in 1985 and has been a near ever-present since.

But that will change after F1 confirmed that Belgium no longer has a guaranteed annual slot on the grid going forward. Spa will host a race in only four of the next six seasons after this, absent in 2028 and 2030. It is one of several European venues which is set to go rotational in the coming years, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya likely to suffer the same fate after next season.