2021 Belgian Grand Prix

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 August 2021 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the twelfth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.

2021 Belgian Grand Prix
Race 12 of 22[lower-alpha 1] in the 2021 Formula One World Championship
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Layout of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Race details
Date 29 August 2021
Official name Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021
Location Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Distance 1 lap, 6.880 km (4.275 mi)
Scheduled distance 44 laps, 308.052 km (191.414 mi)
Weather Wet, persistent rain
Pole position
Driver
Red Bull Racing-Honda
Time 1:59.765
Fastest lap
Driver Not recognised[2]
Time None
Podium
First
Red Bull Racing-Honda
Second
Williams-Mercedes
Third
Mercedes
Lap leaders

The official results were declared after one lap of the scheduled 44 laps had been completed. Due to very wet conditions, two laps took place behind the safety car before a red flag brought an end to the race during lap three, with the regulations requiring the results to be taken from the end of lap one. It currently holds the record for being the shortest Formula One World Championship race ever held, beating the previous record of 14 laps held by the 1991 Australian Grand Prix. The race was won by Max Verstappen ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Half points were given to the drivers who finished in the top 10 positions. The race result brought up discussions about changing the criteria for awarding points—regulations and procedural changes are expected to be proposed to prevent a repeat of the race scenario.

Background

The event, which was held over the weekend of 27–29 August at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, was the twelfth round of the 2021 World Championship after a four-week break. It marked the sixty-sixth time the Belgian Grand Prix appeared on the World Championship calendar. It rained throughout the weekend,[3] exciting some drivers. Mick Schumacher stated that he was "looking forward to getting onto some rain",[4] while Lando Norris said that he was "hoping for a bit of rain" in the race.[5] Nikita Mazepin stated that he "hope[s] it's dry."[6]

Championship standings before the race

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix one month earlier, Lewis Hamilton led the Drivers' Championship by 8 points from Max Verstappen. Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Pérez who were third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. Mercedes led the Constructors' Championship by 12 points from Red Bull Racing. Ferrari were third and McLaren fourth, each with 163 points (140 points behind Mercedes).[7]

Entrants
See also: 2021 Formula One World Championship § Entries

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race.[8]

Tyre choices

Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated the C2, C3, and C4 compounds of tyre to be used in the race.[9]

Penalties

After causing collisions at the previous race, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll each received a five-place grid penalty for the Grand Prix.[10][11]

Practice

Free practice 1 took place on 27 August at 11:30 CEST and ended without major incident. Yuki Tsunoda and Kimi Räikkönen spun at La Source in separate incidents.[12] Räikkönen also hit the inside pit wall, ending his session.[13] Charles Leclerc ran wide at turn 7, but was able to recover without incident.[14] The Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas was fastest, followed by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, and AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly.[15] Championship leader Lewis Hamilton finished in 18th,[16] after his lap was impeded by a slow Nicholas Latifi.[17]

Free practice 2 took place at 15:00 CEST on the same day. The session was interrupted by two incidents, both resulting in red flags. First, Leclerc lost control of the rear end on the exit of Les Combes and crashed into the wall, ending his session.[18] Verstappen had an incident at Malmedy, also losing control of the rear and hitting the wall. Esteban Ocon also spun but was able to recover and return to the pits. Verstappen finished fastest, with Bottas in second and Hamilton in third.[19]

Free practice 3 took place on 28 August at 12:00 CEST.[20] The final practice session ended with no major incidents, but saw many drivers sliding off the track. Bottas, Nikita Mazepin, Russell, Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz Jr. all went off during FP3. Raikkonen finished his session early when his brakes failed—he managed to recover to the pits but didn't come back out.[21] Gasly also spun.[22] The Red Bulls took first and second, with Verstappen beating teammate Sergio Pérez. Hamilton finished third.[23]

Qualifying

Qualifying took place on 28 August and was due to start at 15:00 CEST.[20] Due to extreme rainfall, the start was delayed to 15:12.[24] Everyone started on the full wet tyres, except for George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, who were first and second after the first qualifying laps. Everyone then fitted the intermediate tyres. The first session ended with Lando Norris in first, Max Verstappen in second, and Lewis Hamilton in third. Nikita Mazepin, Kimi Räikkönen, Mick Schumacher, Yuki Tsunoda, and Antonio Giovinazzi were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying.[25]

All drivers completed the second session on intermediate tyres. Norris once again was first, with Hamilton second and Valtteri Bottas third. Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz Jr, Nicholas Latifi, and Charles Leclerc were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying.[26] The third segment of qualifying started with worsening rain. Immediately, drivers were calling for a delayed session or red flag.[27] Norris soon aquaplaned at Eau Rouge resulting in a heavy crash at Raidillon and a red flag.[28] Sebastian Vettel stopped at the scene to check on Norris, after complaining over the radio about the dangerous conditions. Verstappen took pole on his final lap, with George Russell in second, and Hamilton third.[29] Russell secured Williams's first front row start since the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, and equalled his career-best start. Norris was cleared for Sunday's race after precautionary checks and an X-ray following his Q3 crash.[30] After the Grand Prix, race director Michael Masi admitted it was a mistake to let the third segment of qualifying start on time.[31]

Qualifying classification
Pos. No. Driver Constructor Qualifying times Final
grid
Q1 Q2 Q3
1 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda 1:58.717 1:56.559 1:59.765 1
2 63 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 1:59.864 1:56.950 2:00.086 2
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:59.218 1:56.229 2:00.099 3
4 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren-Mercedes 2:01.583 1:57.127 2:00.864 4
5 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin-Mercedes 2:00.175 1:56.814 2:00.935 5
6 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 2:00.387 1:56.440 2:01.164 6
7 11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda 1:59.334 1:56.886 2:02.112 7
8 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:59.870 1:56.295 2:02.502 131
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 2:01.824 1:57.354 2:03.513 8
10 4 Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 1:58.301 1:56.025 No time 152
11 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 2:00.728 1:57.721 N/A 9
12 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 2:00.966 1:58.056 N/A 10
13 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 2:01.184 1:58.137 N/A 11
14 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault 2:01.653 1:58.205 N/A 12
15 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin-Mercedes 2:01.597 1:58.231 N/A 191
16 99 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 2:02.306 N/A N/A 14
17 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri-Honda 2:02.413 N/A N/A 16
18 47 Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari 2:03.973 N/A N/A 17
19 7 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 2:04.452 N/A N/A PL3
20 9  Nikita Mazepin[lower-alpha 2] Haas-Ferrari 2:04.939 N/A N/A 18
107% time: 2:06.582
Source:[33][34]
Notes

Race

Race report

The race was due to start at 15:00 CEST on 29 August but was delayed multiple times due to persistent rain.[20] Sergio Pérez was not expected to start the race after he crashed on his way to the grid;[37] however, the Red Bull mechanics were able to repair Pérez's RB16B during the delay following the first red flag. A first attempt was made to start the race at 15:25 CEST, with two formation laps being completed behind the safety car before the starting procedure was suspended and the red flags were brought out. At 17:00 CEST the stewards used the powers given to them under article 11.3.9.o of the FIA's International Sporting Code to suspend the race clock on grounds of force majeure.[38] After over three hours of delays, two more laps were completed under the safety car, which allowed for the results to be classified. During the third lap, the race was suspended again and was not resumed.

The race result was taken after the first lap, in compliance with Formula One regulations which require a two-lap countback. Verstappen was declared the race winner ahead of Russell in 2nd and Hamilton 3rd.[39] With only a single official lap completed, it is the shortest ever race in the history of the sport, eclipsing the previous record set at the 1991 Australian Grand Prix.[40] The officially completed distance was recorded as 6.880 km (4.275 mi), which is shorter than the official length of the circuit because all cars started the official race from the pit lane behind the safety car. For the sixth time in Formula One history, and the first time since the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, half points were awarded. Russell's second place was his first career podium and the first for the Williams team since Lance Stroll finished third for the team at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.[41] Lance Stroll finished the 2021 race 18th on the road but was classified in 20th, having been handed a 10-second time penalty for a rear wing change under parc fermé conditions during the red flag period. This promoted Kimi Räikkönen to 18th and Pérez to 19th. Charles Leclerc was investigated for the same infringement, but was not penalised as the change was quickly reversed.[42] This race is the only World Championship Grand Prix, as of 2021, where there is no officially recognised fastest lap.[43]

Post-race reaction and aftermath

Media and drivers criticised race director Michael Masi's decision to hold two laps under the safety car in still-raining conditions, calling the race a "farce" and an attempt to fulfill the requirements for awarding points. They argued that points should never have been awarded, with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton amongst the critics.[44][45] Sebastian Vettel,[46] Fernando Alonso[47] and Alfa Romeo Racing[48] criticised the decision to award points for the race, but Daniel Ricciardo defended the decision to do so.[49] Ricciardo's McLaren teammate Lando Norris was left conflicted by the FIA's decision to award points since this benefitted his fellow driver, but ultimately thought it was not a race "deserving of points".[50] Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lewis Hamilton called for spectators who bought tickets to be refunded.[51] Hamilton stated his belief that Formula One had "made a bad choice" to complete two full laps behind the safety car before abandoning the race, claiming this was done purely to ensure Formula One fulfilled its commercial obligations.[52] Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali quickly rejected these claims.[53] Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner suggested the criteria for awarding half points was possibly becoming outdated and needed updating.[54] Pundit Scott Mitchell was also of the opinion that fans who attended the race deserve compensation, and that Formula One risked alienating some of its fanbase if it did not refund ticket holders in some way.[55] Formula One and the race promoters are working on options for ticket holders following the race's suspension.[56] Two-time World Champion Mika Häkkinen defended the decisions made by officials during the event.[57] AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly stated that Formula One needed to find a solution in order to reduce the amount of spray Grand Prix cars produce in wet conditions to improve driver visibility.[58] Pirelli's Head of Motorsport Mario Isola said he felt the sport's decision to move to wider tyres from the 2017 season onwards was a contributing factor to drivers having more visibility problems in wet conditons, as they disperse more water compared to pre-2017 tyres.[59]

Journalist Josh Suttil considered the events at the race to be Formula One's biggest race-day debacle since the 2005 United States Grand Prix (where 14 cars withdrew at the end of the formation lap due to tyre safety concerns, leaving six cars in the race).[60] Gary Anderson, Formula One pundit and ex-Formula One technical director, and Martin Brundle, ex-Formula One driver turned commentator, suggested that the race would have been better if cars had been running in virtual safety car conditions. Brundle also mentioned the idea of Formula One possibly introducing 'slow zones', where a speed limit is imposed on part of the track.[61][62] Anderson also proposed that the criteria for half-points should be extended going forward to require that at least 50% of the original scheduled race distance be run, without changing the current distance requirement for full points (75% of scheduled distance complete). He included the additional stipulation that at least 25% of the laps completed before race-end must be done under green flag conditions for a race to be considered eligible for points-scoring of any kind.[63] 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell said that if he had been in charge of running the race, he would have relaxed parc fermé conditions for a wet race to allow teams to make needed set-up changes to make the cars driveable in tricky conditions.[64] 1996 Formula One World Champion and 22-time Grand Prix winner Damon Hill called the Grand Prix "a parade, not a race".[65] Fellow ex-Formula One drivers Pedro De la Rosa and Hans Joachim Stuck said that races would have started under such conditions in the past, with De La Rosa stating the sport had reduced its risk threshold compared to what was acceptable 10 or 15 years ago.[66]

The Formula One regulations mandate that more than two laps must be completed to award any points.[45] However, Michael Masi stated in an interview that there was a genuine attempt to race under green-flag conditions before the rain got worse.[67][68] The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile noted that it was "impractical" to delay the race until the following day.[69][70] Formula One Management stated in the race aftermath that it intended to have discussions with the teams and the FIA regarding changes to sporting regulations to prevent such an occurrence from happening again.[71] The proposed changes would attempt to formulate a more satisfactory minimum requirement for a classification to be achieved than is required under the current rules, as well as discussing the possibility of written provisions in the rules enabling race organisers to reschedule a race if it were unsuitable to run the race on its original date.[72] After one of the races of the 2021 Sochi Formula 3 round had its start time changed due to poor weather, Masi suggested that Formula One could adopt a similar rule to reduce the chances of having to abandon a race for bad weather.[73][74]

At a Formula One Commission meeting held in October 2021, changes concerning how points are awarded were discussed.[75] The F1 Commission has recommended that the matter be discussed further at the next meeting of the FIA's Sporting Advisory Committee, on a date yet to be confirmed, to set out proposals for regulatory and procedural changes regarding the awarding of points at shortened races. Any changes agreed upon by the Sporting Advisory Committee would then go to the FIA's World Motorsport Council for final ratification.[76][77][78][79] In response to race, Formula One started research into how to improve wet weather racing, looking at possiblity of redesigning the cars to reduce spray whilst also preventing aquaplaning.[80]

George Russell's performance in qualifying was praised and considered the high point of the weekend by pundits Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell.[81][82]

Race classification
Pos. No. Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points1
1 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda 1 3:27.071 1 12.5
2 63 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 1 +1.995 2 9
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1 +2.601 3 7.5
4 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren-Mercedes 1 +4.496 4 6
5 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin-Mercedes 1 +7.479 5 5
6 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 1 +10.177 6 4
7 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 1 +11.579 8 3
8 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1 +12.608 9 2
9 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 1 +15.484 10 1
10 55 Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 1 +16.166 11 0.5
11 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault 1 +20.590 12
12 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1 +22.414 13
13 99 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 1 +24.163 14
14 4 Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 1 +27.109 15
15 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri-Honda 1 +28.329 16
16 47 Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari 1 +29.507 17
17 9  Nikita Mazepin[lower-alpha 2] Haas-Ferrari 1 +31.993 18
18 7 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 1 +36.054 PL
19 11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda 1 +38.205 PL2
20 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin-Mercedes 1 +44.1083 19
Fastest lap: None recognised[2]
Source:[34][83]
Notes
  • ^1 – Half points were awarded, as less than 75% of the race distance was completed.[83][lower-alpha 3]
  • ^2 – Sergio Pérez's grid position was left vacant due to an accident that occurred when he was making his way to the grid. Once his mechanics repaired his car, he was allowed to start the race from the pit lane.[84]
  • ^3 – Lance Stroll finished 18th on track, but received a post-race 10-second time penalty for a rear wing change during the red flag period.[83]

Championship standings after the race
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

See also

Notes
  1. At the start of the event Formula One planned to hold twenty-three Grands Prix.[1]
  2. Nikita Mazepin is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency in response to the state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.[32]
  3. Results have been calculated in accordance with Article 51.14 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, namely at the end of lap 1 being the penultimate lap before the lap during which the signal to suspend the race was given. However, for the determination of points, Article 6.5 is applicable, the leader having crossed the Control Line 3 times, therefore complying with the requirement for the leader to have completed more than 2 laps in order for half points to be awarded.[83]

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