Overview

• The FIA halted the start at Spa-Francorchamps due to heavy rain and visibility concerns before resuming behind the safety car and switching to a rolling start when conditions improved.
• Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton described the delay as an overreaction that prevented genuine wet racing and cautioned that excessive conservatism could end F1’s rain-soaked spectacles.
• Red Bull’s choice of a high-downforce, wet-weather setup became a disadvantage when the track dried, leaving its cars slow on slick tyres and off the podium.
• Carlos Sainz and GPDA directors argued that prioritizing safety was essential to prevent accidents at a high-speed track with a history of rain-related crashes.
• The incident has reignited discussions on balancing F1’s tradition of wet-weather drama with evolving safety protocols.