Overview

• The Belgian Grand Prix began with an 80-minute safety-car hold after multiple drivers flagged dangerous spray and low visibility.
• Max Verstappen labelled the cautious delay and rolling start unnecessary, arguing that early laps would have cleared standing water.
• Lewis Hamilton said the track had dried enough to allow a conventional standing start without significant spray.
• Teams’ intermediate-tyre setups proved ill-suited once the circuit dried, and delayed switches to slicks hampered race pace.
• Verstappen’s fourth-place finish marked his third straight non-podium result and reignited scrutiny of F1’s wet-start protocols.