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      F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE REACTION: Verstappen WINS farcical rain-delayed race, Russell second and Hamilton third

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      THE Belgian Grand Prix has ended in farcical fashion, with Max Verstappen declared the WINNER after hours of rain delays.The drivers completed four laps on a rain-sodden Spa racetrack.
      And officials have been forced to simply award the win to the Dutchman, who will take half points.
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      GOODBYE!
      Well that’s it from tonight, folks.
      It was a stop-start… and then stop weekend which Max Verstappen took full advantage of as he was named the winner of the Belgian GP.
      The race was suspended twice before finally being called after earlier in the afternoon thanks to some blustery, rainy conditions.
      Those poor F1 fans.
      Well they don’t have to wait too long as the Italian GP is in just TWO weeks.
      We’ll see you then.
      LECLERC WEIGHS IN
      Gutted that we couldn’t go racing today. Really feel for all of you at the track who stayed in the rain and to everyone who was just watching the rain on TV. Hopefully next Sunday will be a lot more fun 🤞 pic.twitter.com/SWq1xICM6p— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) August 29, 2021

      WINNING MOMENT
      The moment Max Verstappen found out he’d won the Belgian GP, albeit in less than ideal circumstances.

      MASI SPEAKS
      Race director Michael Masi speaks following the suspension of the Belgian GP.
      “There’s no ability to postpone the race until tomorrow.
      “Safety is paramount for drivers and spectators. We were given the opportunity to be able to complete a race, but we could not go the full distance.
      “There’s pages long that would run between organisers, everyone here… there’s no ability to postpone to the following day. Don’t know logistically if it could have been [run later in the year].”
      HAMILTON SPEAKS
      “I feel so very sorry for the fans today. They have been incredible to stick with us,” he said.
      “[FIA, Formula 1] knew the track wasn’t any better but they sent us out for the two laps behind the safety car to get a race. I hope the fans get their money back.
      “You couldn’t really see five metres in front of you. It was hard to even see down the straight. You couldn’t go flat out. It’s a shame, I wanted to race. It could’ve been a good race had it not rained.”
      POLE POSITION
      Well, they went through with a ceremony so Verstappen could pick up his gong.
      Russell 2nd, Hamilton 3rd.
      Credit: Getty
      RUSSELL SPEAKS
      George Russell, who grabbed second, has apologised to the fans for the way proceedings unfolded today.
      “We don’t often get rewarded for a great qualifying but today we absolutely did.
      “I want to say sorry to the fans, it’s a shame we didn’t get the race under way but from our side of things for me and the team, its an amazing result.
      “There’s been so much hard work gone into this over the past few years and here we are on the podium, I didn’t expect that this year at all.”
      VERSTAPPEN HAPPY
      “Now, in hindsight, it was important to get the pole position – but it was a shame not to do proper laps,” he said.
      “The visibility was very low. If we had started at 15:00 (local time), we would have had a better chance.
      “It’s a win but not really in the right way. Credit to the fans to stay here all day. In the cold and rain. They are the bigger winners today.
      “We have to keep on pushing, keep trying. We have a few more races, we have a good car and we will keep trying.”
      RACE WILL NOT RESUME
      A decision has been made!
      And it’s not one that F1 fans will have been hoping for, but it’s the one they probably expected.
      The race won’t resume as conditions are too blustery out there.
      Max Verstappen WINS the Belgian Grand Prix!
      36 MINUTES TO GO
      Drivers and teams alike are sitting around waiting for a verdict but fans are beginning to leave.
      Not much hope here.
      Over to you Michael Masi.
      COUNTDOWN
      If we don’t get going in the next 45 minutes, the race won’t go ahead and the current placings will stay as is.
      That means Max Verstappen will finish 1st, Russell in 2nd and Hamilton in 3rd.
      Weird day.
      RACE SUSPENDED
      And there we have it, the race has been suspended again – it’s been red flagged.
      The decision has been taken to stop proceedings, with the rain continuing to fall as heavy as it did earlier.
      Both Hamilton and Russell had been complaining that the rain was still having a detrimental effect on the race.
      Who knows if we’ll be back out at this point. The clock continues to tick down. We can go until 6.17pm BST, and they’ll probably persist.
      But it’s not looking good.
      LAP THREE
      Sergio Perez seems up for it, despite what it looks like out there.
      “At the back is getting better. Final sector is getting better,” he tells his team radio.
      Nine minutes of the race gone, and every car is behind the daftly car still.
      LAP TWO
      Every car is still following the safety car, so we’re not officially racing yet, but the hour is ticking down.
      The best way to dry up this track will be to get some tyres on there, so that’s what we’re doing.
      But it really does look bad out there.
      LAP ONE
      There’s still plenty of spray on the track, it actually looks worse than before.
      Anyway, on we go, Verstappen in the lead, Russell in 2nd with Hamilton in 3rd place.
      It’s all looking pretty unsteady out there at the moment, though.
      AND WE’RE OFF… FINALLY!
      We have a one hour race on our hands, with half points awarded.
      12.5 for the winner, 9 for the runner-up, 7.5 for 3rd and so on.
      RACE IS ON
      Today’s race WILL resume at 5.17pm.

      RACE PACE
      With the event countdown clock stopped, there could yet be some joy for F1 fans today.

      LEWIS HAMILTON SPEAKS TO THE RAIN-SOAKED FANS
      He’s taken to social media telling fans it is too dangerous to race in these conditions.
      He said: “Guys, sorry you’re out there waiting. This rain just won’t let up. It’s far too dangerous for us to go out. “Puts everyone at risk. Safety has to come first. Sending you positivity and thank you for your patience.”
      FINALLY EFFORTS BEING MADE TO CLEAR THE TRACK
      Road sweepers deployed to remove the standing water.

      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.
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      F1 farce as Belgium GP RAINED OFF after THREE laps with Verstappen winning and Brit Russell claiming first podium at Spa

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      LEWIS HAMILTON accused F1 chiefs of making a “bad choice” as Max Verstappen won one of the most farcical races in F1 history.After a rain delay of three hours and 17 minutes, sodden fans in the grandstands witnessed the sport’s shortest-ever race – a three-lap tootle behind the Safety Car that lasted just eight minutes.
      Rain stopped the Belgian GP from proceeding beyond three lapsCredit: EPA
      But Brit George Russell secured his maiden podium at SpaCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton said: “It was a farce and the only people to lose out are the fans who have paid good money to watch us race.
      “Money talks. It was literally the two laps to start the race; it’s an all money scenario.
      “So everyone gets their money, and I think the fans should get theirs back too, because unfortunately, they didn’t get to see what they came and paid for.
      “I think the sport made a bad choice today.”
      The start of this dreary Belgian GP was delayed FOUR times, as race bosses prayed for a break in the weather, which never came.
      With light fading deep in the Ardennes, the only way of satisfying F1 rules regarding a classified race result was to complete two laps.

      Once that target had been achieved, instead of the 44 laps it had meant to be – all behind the Safety Car – Race Director Michael Masi hit the stop button.
      It means half-points were awarded to the top 10 so Verstappen cut Hamilton’s lead in the championship to three points, with the Brit finishing in third.
      It also means that George Russell secured second place – his first podium in F1 after qualifying in second place on the grid the previous day.
      However, this race makes the sport look ridiculous on so many levels, particularly to the new fans it strives to attract.
      To the man on the street, these are the best drivers in the world and should be able to cope with the tricky conditions, such as poor visibility.
      The obligatory three laps to tick the box that would allow this to be classified as an official race leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
      Even more so the time it took to complete them, as this race which was due to start at 3pm, eventually was stopped at 6:44pm.
      Cynics would suggest it was to help F1 fulfil their ambitions of a now 22-race calendar, or rather their lucrative TV contracts.
      It is difficult to escape that view when considering the FIA crucially stopped the clock on their three hour race limit, citing force majeure, with 60 minutes to go.
      It was unprecedented but crucially allowed themselves an extra hour to get those laps in before it got dark.
      The drenched fans had a further 20 minutes to wait before they were finally put out of their misery and the race was officially ended by Masi.
      I feel so very sorry for the fans today. They have been incredible to stick with us… I hope the fans get their money back.Lewis Hamilton
      While they trudged back to their muddy campsites and their soaked tents, there was the added insult of Masi’s decision to hold a podium ceremony.
      But there was nothing to celebrate, as this farce proved that this treacherous old race track, its reputation, in these conditions, is simply too dangerous to race at.
      There was a reminder of that on Saturday when Lando Norris had a very lucky escape after crashing at 185mph at Eau Rouge.
      Just the previous day at the same spot there was a six-car pile up that again saw miraculous escape for all the female racers.
      Brit Jake Aitken was hospitalised with severe injuries when he crashed there just a few weeks earlier.
      And two years ago, Anthoine Hubert was killed in an F2 race at the next turn.
      Yes, motorsport is dangerous and the majority of the drivers are paid a considerable sum of money.
      But there is no price on safety, so you can quit all the talk about men versus boys in the wet.
      The big questions that need to be addressed is the safety at Spa, although some improvements are due to me made over the winter.
      Then there is F1’s scheduling. Moving back the race from 2pm to 3pm local time has been done to try and lure more of the American TV audiences.
      However, it has only served to increase the pressure to get the race done before the light fades.
      However, it is worth pointing out that the conditions earlier on Sunday were OK for the Formula 3 and the Porsche Super Cup races.
      Verstappen says he felt that the F1 race should have started earlier in the day.
      Lewis Hamilton was not impressed with F1 chiefs’ decision to have three-lap raceCredit: Splash
      Drivers had minimal visibility thanks to the heavy Belgian rainCredit: Getty
      He said: “It’s a big shame to not do proper laps, but the conditions were very tricky out there.
      “I said at 3.30pm ‘let’s go’, I think the conditions were decent but the visibility was very low.
      “I think if we would have started at 3pm we would have had a better chance but, nevertheless, after that it just stayed really wet and it kept raining.
      “It’s a win but not how you want to win. Today a big credit goes to all the fans around the track for staying here the whole day in the rain, the cold, windy conditions. They are actually the bigger winners today.
      “With recent events you don’t want to risk a big shunt. The fans probably won’t agree, but safety is the priority.
      “I just think that when you have days like this, it is better to start at 1pm because otherwise the day drags on, the weather gets worse and it gets dark.” Hamilton also felt the conditions and poor visibility made holding a proper race was too dangerous.
      He said: “You couldn’t really see five metres in front of you, the car disappears, so it was very difficult down the straights to even know where that flashing light was.
      “You couldn’t even go flat out because you didn’t know what part of the track they would be on.
      “It’s a shame because of course I wanted to race and it could have been a great race if it hadn’t rained so hard.”
      Verstappen has closed the gap on title rival HamiltonCredit: Splash
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      Here’s how F1’s championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen stack up More

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      F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Race start suspended due to rain, Verstappen on pole, Hamilton 3rd on grid – updates

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      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.”
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      F1 stars face gruelling run with jam-packed second half of season including ludicrous Mexico-Brazil-Qatar triple-header

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      FORMULA ONE teams, drivers and support staff face a gruelling end to the season as F1 chiefs announced the second half to the calendar.A new race in Qatar will join the bill in a somewhat ludicrous triple-header that takes place in Mexico and Sao Paulo, which are currently on the UK’s covid red list.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      F1 have been forced to abandon their plans for a record 23-race calendar due to the covid complications but are still committed to holding 22 GPs.
      The Turkish Grand Prix has been moved to October 10th to fill the slot vacated by the cancelled Japanese Grand Prix.
      However, with Turkey also on the UK’s red list, it means teams will be forced with a logistical headache to avoid putting staff into a 10-day hotel quarantine, possibly sending staff straight to the US for the Grand Prix in Austin.
      FIA President Stefano Domenicali outlined the calendar to team bosses ahead of the Belgian GP.
      However, there are some serious concerns about the impact on team staff as F1 look to fulfil their commitments to TV companies.
      Some staff face the potential of being away from home for weeks on end, while teams will stump up more in hotel bills.

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      The current schedule is F1’s longest ever season, which F1 says is “a major achievement for an international sport against the back drop of an ongoing global pandemic”.
      Domenicali said: “The pandemic continues to present the season with challenges but we have proven we can adapt and we are confident we can deliver a record-breaking 22 races this year despite a global pandemic.
      “I want to thank the promoters in Brazil, Mexico and Turkey for their patience and flexibility and we will provide the details of the final addition soon.
      “This season is proving to be an incredible battle on the track and this is hugely exciting for our fans around the world and we look forward to the intensity continuing in the races ahead.”
      The season will finish as planned with the new Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on December 5th followed by the Abu Dhabi GP on December 12th.
      Terrifying moment six female racing drivers crash in six-car horror pile-up with two rushed to hospital at Belgian GP More

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      F1 Belgian Grand Prix: UK start time, TV channel, live stream and schedule for TODAY’S race at Spa-Francorchamps

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      F1 is back on our screens this weekend after a month-long summer break.. And it’s set to be a fascinating race with Lewis Hamilton third, behind Max Verstappen and surprise package George Russell.
      F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE – Follow all the action from Spa-Francorchamps
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will resume their heated rivalryCredit: Splash
      The last time the pair faced off was at the Hungary GP, which outsider Esteban Ocon won.
      But Hamilton will be aiming to pull level with Verstappen on five race wins this season in Belgium.
      When is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix?

      This year’s F1 Belgian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, August 29 – TODAY.
      It gets underway at 2pm UK time – 3pm local time.
      The race will take place Stavelot, Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
      There will be 75,000 fans in attendance at the race.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      All of the action from the Belgian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend.
      First practice coverage begins at 10am UK time on Friday, August 27.
      You can live stream practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix from the NOW TV or Sky Go apps, both of which you can download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      F1 Belgian Grand Prix race schedule
      Friday, August 27

      Practice One – 10.30am UK time
      Practice Two – 2pm UK time

      Saturday, August 28

      Practice Three – 11am UK time
      Belgian GP Qualifying – 2pm UK time

      Sunday, August 29

      Belgian Grand Prix – 2pm UK time More

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      George Russell’s move to Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate next season all-but confirmed after pole heartbreak

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      GEORGE RUSSELL’s proposed move to Mercedes was all but confirmed by boss Toto Wolff after he narrowly missed out on a shock pole position. The Brit is expected to be confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate for 2022 within days, replacing Valtteri Bottas.
      George Russell narrowly missed out on pole in BelgiumCredit: Alamy
      Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff are set to be joined by Russell next seasonCredit: Reuters
      Russell looked to have done the unthinkable and taken pole for the Belgian GP in his Williams only to be pipped by Max Verstappen at the death.
      When quizzed on two occasion if he had made his decision over his driver pairing, Wolff simply said ‘yes’.
      He also added: “Like George, I was a bit disappointed he was not on pole.”
      SunSport understands the delay in confirming the switch is down to securing a place for Bottas in a different F1 team. 
      Wolff said: “If it would have been an easier decision, we would have made it earlier because we know what we have with Valtteri and we know what we have with George.
      “Both of them deserve being looked after in the best possible way because both of them are part of the family and we hold them up high.”
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      Russell is now targeting a top-five finish after qualifying ahead of Hamilton, who will start in third place.
      Russell, 23, said: “I thought we would have done a good job to get out of Q1 but I had so much confidence and the car was feeling great.
      “I was in a fortunate position having got into Q3 with nothing to lose, so we thought, let’s go for it.
      “I am buzzing for tomorrow, which of course is the important one, so all eyes on that. We have to be realistic. We have fast cars behind us but I don’t see why we cannot finish in the top five.”
      Russell’s heroics came in a rain-soaked qualifying session in Spa, that was delayed by 40 minutes due to a huge crash involving Lando Norris at the notorious Eau Rouge section of the track.
      Lando Norris suffered a high speed crash during heavy rainCredit: Rex
      In treacherous conditions, Norris lost control at speed and slammed into the tyre barriers only to be catapulted back on track, with his McLaren spinning on its side.
      It was almost a carbon copy of an accident in the W Series qualifying session held the previous day that saw six cars slam into each other.
      Thankfully, Norris’s crash was not near any other driver, although Sebastian Vettel was next to arrive on the scene and slowed down his Aston Martin to check on the 21-year-old, who gave him the thumbs up.
      Vettel was furious having just told the race director, Michael Masi to stop qualifying due to the wet conditions. A plea that was ignored.
      He fumed: “Well, what the f*** did I say? What did I say? Yeah, red flag. It’s unnecessary.”
      Vettel later complained to Masi and says he gambled with drivers’ lives by starting qualifying in the heavy rain.
      He said:  “I think Michael is not proud of what happened either.
      “It’s always easy to play Captain Hindsight. But I think we need to find a way that we listen more to the information that we have.
      “Inside the garage, it’s very limited, because it’s like looking out of the window. But three kilometres that way, I have no clue what is going on.
      “When I went down to Eau Rouge and came up the hill, it was a lot of water and I was calling for a red flag.
      “I think the truth is, the session should not have started at all.
      “There’s plenty of things we could have done better. I think it’s better to be safe one time too many than one time too little.

      “It’s good that nothing happened, that’s the main news, but it could have been a different outcome for Lando.”
      Meanwhile, Norris has been given the all clear to race after undergoing an x-ray on his elbow.
      McLaren boss Andreas Seidl said: “The checks were done in the hospital, also on his elbow that was hurting a bit. Everything is good, and he’s good to be back racing tomorrow.”
      Max Verstappen groans in pain and shouts ‘argh, f***’ on Red Bull team radio after F1 star’s crash with Lewis Hamilton More

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      Watch terrifying on-board footage of Lando Norris’ 180mph crash at Belgian GP qualy as McLaren ace, 21, taken for X-ray

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      LANDO NORRIS was taken for an X-ray after a terrifying 180mph crash in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.The incident sparked a debate over whether the final run of Saturday’s session should have been delayed due to torrential rain at Spa.

      The heavens opened moments before Q3 and the McLaren racer, 21, lost control at the high-speed Eau Rouge before slamming into the barriers.
      It was the same location as Friday’s horror W-Series crash and Sebastian Vettel, who had already called for a red flag to allow the weather to pass, quickly shot over his team radio: “What did I say!?”
      Vettel slowed next to Norris’ wreckage to check the Brit was okay and Norris was able to gingerly climb out before being taken for an X-ray on an apparent elbow injury.
      Safety renovations are already planned for later this year, at a cost of £68m, but Sunday’s race is also set to take place in the wet.
      Footage of the crash showed Norris lose control of his car at the peak of the bend, hit the barrier, and spin several times across the track.
      Fortunately, no other cars were approaching that corner and a red flag was quickly produced.

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      Vettel, 34, said afterwards: “It’s always easy to play Captain Hindsight.
      “But I think we need to find a way that we listen more to the information that we have.
      “Inside the garage, it’s very limited, because it’s like looking out of the window. But three kilometres that way, I have no clue what is going on.
      “When I went down to Eau Rouge and came up the hill, it was a lot of water and I was calling for a red flag. I think the truth is, the session should not have started at all.
      “There’s plenty of things we could have done better. I think it’s better to be safe one time too many than one time too little.
      “It’s good that nothing happened, that’s the main news, but it could have been a different outcome for Lando.”
      Lando Norris lost control of his McLaren on the high-speed Eau Rouge bendCredit: AFP
      The Brit’s car hit the barrier and spun across the trackCredit: Sky Sports
      Norris fortunately walked away from the scene and was taken for an X-rayCredit: AFP
      Norris officially qualified tenth having looked good for a strong finish in F1 qualifying around Spa.
      But McLaren will likely have to change several parts of his car ahead of the race, which could incur a pit-lane start.
      Fellow British youngster George Russell qualified his Williams in second with a star performance after the red flag, and will start between pole sitter Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in Belgium.
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      in Motorsport

      George Russell denied spectacular pole at Belgian GP by last-gasp Max Verstappen lap as Lewis Hamilton qualifies third

      by

      GEORGE RUSSELL stunned Spa to qualify SECOND behind Max Verstappen for the Belgian Grand Prix.Lewis Hamilton could only take third as the Williams star slotted himself between the championship rivals with just his latest mega performance on the toughest Saturday of the season.
      George Russell took second in qualifying for the Belgian Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      Mercedes have delayed their decision over who will partner Hamilton next season but Valtteri Bottas will start only 13th in Sunday’s race, with a five-place penalty for crashing in Hungary added to his eighth in qualifying.
      The wet conditions at Spa promised a thrilling jostle for the grid but the Belgian circuit’s reputation for danger continued to grow after Lando Norris crashed heavily.
      The heavens opened moments before Q3 and the McLaren racer, 21, lost control at the high-speed Eau Rouge before slamming into the barriers.
      It was the same location as Friday’s horror W-Series crash and Sebastian Vettel, who had already called for a red flag to allow the weather to pass, quickly shot over his team radio: “What did I say!?”
      Vettel slowed next to Norris’ wreckage to check the Brit was okay and he was able to gingerly climb out before heading for an X-ray on his elbow.
      Safety renovations are already planned for later this year, at a cost of £68m, but Sunday’s race is also set to take place in the wet.

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      Mercifully, a long red-flag period allowed the downpour to pass and the nine drivers left standing battled huge spray trailing behind each car.
      Hamilton’s best time was pushed aside by Russell, who at one point looked like bagging his first-ever Formula One pole.
      Lando Norris crashed out in the heavy rain at the start of Q3Credit: AFP
      Sunday’s race at Spa is set to take place in more damp conditionsCredit: Alamy
      Verstappen struggled on his first Q3 hot lap yet soared to pole as he looks to fight back in the championship duel with Hamilton.
      Following the madness of the Hungarian Grand Prix that left the season on a huge summer-break cliffhanger, race winner Esteban Ocon took ninth on the grid after Fernando Alonso put his Alpine 14th.
      Williams duo Nicholas Latifi and Russell snapped up a valuable haul of points in Budapest and could do so again this weekend, the Canadian spinning before securing 12th with Russell chasing a podium in second.
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