THE Belgian Grand Prix start has been SUSPENDED because of persistent heavy rain at Spa-Francorchamps with race organisers going over their OWN time limit to push back a start time.
The FIA’s own rules say the Grand Prix should begin within three hours of the race’s ‘start’, but they are determined to conduct the race TODAY.
Max Verstappen is set to start on the front of the grid, with George Russell second and Lewis Hamilton directly behind his Dutch rival in third.
But there is likely to be a safety car start due to the rotten conditions, which have concerned some about driver safety.
Lando Norris has suffered a five-place grid penalty after yesterday’s chaotic smash during qualifying, with his team forced to change the gear box.
Meanwhile Sergio Perez’s weekend is over after an innocuous-looking crash before the grid formation saw him bump the barriers.
- Grand Prix start time: 2pm UK – suspended awaiting a new start time because of heavy rain
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: Now TV
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
CLOCK STOPPED
The FIA have now confirmed they have stopped the 3-hour race limit. It has been held with one hour to go with an attempt to get some running in.
ONE HOUR TO GO – AND LANDO NORRIS HAS FALLEN ASLEEP
It’s proving to be a real wash out. Such a shame for all those fans in the stands and on the muddy hills.
The McLaren man has nodded off. He’s not the only one…
ALL TOO MUCH FOR GIOVINAZZI
The Alfa Romeo man takes a break from waiting for the rain to stop.
AN UPDATE FROM THE FIA
They say it will be a 39 lap race or the three hour time limit, remember that the clock started at 3pm.
PEREZ ALLOWED TO START
He is given permission start from the pitlane, despite his crash on the way to the grid.
IT WILL BE A TIMED RACE
Race Director Michael Masi says the three hour countdown started at 3pm. So, if we do get underway, we are unlikely to get he full 44 laps in.
MORE RAIN EXPECTED
Toto Wolff says he does not expect conditions to change. He said: “It is not going to get better for the next 45 minutes, there’s heavier rain coming.”
MEDICAL CAR IS OUT
Not the safety car. The bigger, slower Medical car. But still, at least we now have a vehicle actually assessing the conditions.
NO FURTHER UPDATE
Sad to say that we are still awaiting news from the FIA with regards to the start of this race.
For the meantime, the rain is expected to continue for another 30-40 minutes.
A FURTHER DELAY BUT VERSTAPPEN IS EAGER TO GET GOING
Red Bull: “Start procedure suspended.”
Verstappen: “It really isn’t that bad. But OK.”
Worth nothing that the time limit is three hours for the race although the clock has not started yet.
START HAS BEEN SUSPENDED – THE RACE HAS BEEN RED FLAGGED
It has not even started. But we are heading for another delay.
VISIBILITY IS TERRIBLE
Drivers complaining they cannot see the car in front. It will be difficult to see the race starting like this.
Perhaps a few laps behind the Safety Car to clear the water.
Hamilton: “I really can’t see anything…”
Verstappen: “I need to leave a little more space to the Safety Car because I can’t see anything.”
Norris: “It’s pretty awful. I can barely see the car in front.”
OFF WE GO…
Formation lap is underway. A tentative start for the Belgian GP.
BAD TO WURST
Pierre Gasly: “If you can get a couple of sausages for me on the barbecue…Is the race still going to last two hours?”
Engineer: “Are you thinking about your dinner?”
Gasly: “I’m thinking we might need some lights”
ALL THIS DELAY IS HELPING RED BULL REBUILD PEREZ’S CAR
He could be back in this GP after all. They are making good progress.
IT IS STILL RAINING HERE AT SPA
Start has been delayed even more. This time by another 10 minutes, so pencilled in for 15:25 local time.
JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, ALL DRIVERS STARTING ON WET TYRES
Hamilton, however, is on a set of used wet tyres. Verstappen is on a new set.
DELAYED START
Due to the rain, the race director has delayed the start of the GP in the hope of a break in the weather, which is unlikely.
ICYMI – LANDO NORRIS IS RACING
The Brit suffered a 185mph smash yesterday and went to hospital for an x-ray on his elbow.
The good news he is ok, and fit to race. McLaren have rebuilt his car and, with subsequent penalties, starts 15th.
RISK OF RAIN IS 100 PERCENT
No real shock to see that. It is still raining at Spa, as it has done for the past few hours.
This race is really going to be a test. The goal for Hamilton is to “bring the car home”. Says all you need to know.
Remember, he starts in third place, behind George Russell and Max Verstappen.
PEREZ HAS CRASHED AND IS OUT
The Red Bull man, who was seventh on the grid, crashed on the way to his grid slot.
In the rain, he was travelling at low speed and hit the brakes but aquaplaned into the barriers.
Poor mistake from an experienced racer causing irreparable suspension damage to his car.
APPROACHING LIGHTS OUT
There’s just 45 MINUTES to go now until lights out at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Who will come out on top today with just eight points between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the drivers standings?
NORRIS DROPS DOWN
Lando Norris has been handed a five-place grid penalty after McLaren were forced to change the gearbox on his car after his horror crash yesterday.
Norris failed to set a time in Q3 so was given tenth place on the grid, before being moved to ninth due to a grid penalty for Valteri Bottas.
But now Norris will drop down to 14th after the gearbox has been replaced.
A McLaren official spokesperson has said: “After assessing the damage to Lando’s car, we have decided to change the gearbox, resulting in a five-place grid penalty.”
LEWIS LOWDOWN
Here’s all you need to know about Sir Lewis Hamilton before he takes to the track this afternoon in Belgium.
Hamilton has 99 Grand Prix wins to his name, meaning a win today would take be a landmark 100th win.
LEWIS LATEST
Lewis Hamilton has contradicted the thoughts of his fellow F1 drivers, who have called for changes to the notoriously dangerous Eau Rouge corner at Spa.
It’s the same corner that Lando Norris crashed out on yesterday, but Hamilton is reluctant to see change.
He said: “I think they’ve just got to get rid of the bump and then leave Eau Rouge as it is, in my opinion.
“The fact this track still holds the essence of that danger, I think it’s good. I just hope the changes don’t take that away.
“Eau Rouge is already flat in the dry, easy. It’s really nice and tricky in the rain and that’s why Eau Rouge is Eau Rouge.
“I hope the changes make it safer but don’t make it any less special, heart in your mouth, you know?
“They’ll do what they do but I don’t think they need to spend the money.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
