Belgium Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the race as he raised the red flag due to torrential rain, George Russell in second place

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The race control system called on drivers to return to the pits due to persistent rain conditions on the track.

The race control system called on drivers to return to the pits due to persistent rain conditions on the track.

The Belgian flag had to be raised just two laps behind the safety car due to constant rain and poor conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, where Max Verstappen finished off the official classification winner and lowered Lewis Hamilton’s lead.

Any hopes of the race, which was badly delayed during the afternoon, officially ended nearly four hours after the scheduled start time of 2pm BST, but crucially – with enough laps completed – half of the points were awarded to the top-10 runners. The first, who are basically stamped. Results through qualification.

That means number one Verstappen gets 12.5 points, while George Russell – Saturday’s star for Williams – has his first Formula One podium, in odd circumstances, scoring nine.

Hamilton’s third place gives him 7.5 points, although his championship lead is only three points short of Verstappen.

With heavy rain delaying the start of the race, there was plenty of time to chat, meditate and think about Grid!

With heavy rain delaying the start of the race, there was plenty of time to chat, meditate and think about Grid!

“It’s a win but not how you want to win,” Verstappen said, before applauding the bumper crowd who stayed put despite the circumstances.

“Today it is a huge credit to all the fans around the track for staying here all day in the rain, the cold weather and the wind. They are in fact the big winners today.”

“We don’t often get rewarded for great qualifying but we certainly did today!” added Russell, who joined Verstappen and Hamilton on the podium after the race.

The F1 hosts twice attempted to start the race – once at 2.25pm, when drivers expressed concerns about poor visibility during a formation course behind the safety car, with most insisting that the race not start.

Three hours later the light was finally green and the safety car then drove the 20 drivers off the pit lane for two laps – crucial for the classification – but conditions were deemed worse than before and soon the race was in red – reported again.

Sergio Perez crashes en route to the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez crashes en route to the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Despite the short circuit time, there was still crash drama, introduced by Sergio Perez as the Red Bull driver, set to start in seventh, crashed en route to the grid earlier in the day. Perez’s car – initially thought to have been badly damaged – was miraculously repaired during the long delay in the rain, but in the end it was insignificant as he was sent to the back of the grid as per F1 regulations.

His exit from the top ten lifted Carlos Sainz to the points, along with Nicholas Latifi as Williams scored two points in back-to-back races.

Belgian Grand Prix, final race results and points scored

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 12.5 points 2) George Russell, Williams – 9 points 3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 7.5 points 4) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren – 6 points 5) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin – 5 points 6) Pierre Gasly, Alpha Tauri – 4. points 7) Esteban Ocon, Albin – 3 points 8) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 2 points 9) Nicholas Latifi, Williams, 1 point 10) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 0.5 point.

The story of the race that never was and the reactions of the drivers

After the excitement and unpredictability of qualifying in the rain on Saturday, most fans were delighted to see the weather at Spa on Sunday. Unfortunately, the torrential rains were more heavier and prolonged.

More importantly, the drivers couldn’t see when they got off the track.

Two laps behind the safety car, Max Verstappen was confirmed to win the Belgian Grand Prix, as heavy rain prevented any competitive racing.

Two laps behind the safety car, Max Verstappen was confirmed to win the Belgian Grand Prix, as heavy rain prevented any competitive racing.

A scheduled start time of 2pm appeared to be planned when the drivers went to the grid on time – albeit with Perez crashing in the road – but F1 quickly delayed the start procedure, eventually starting the formation lap behind the safety car 25 minutes late.

The drivers were cruising around the famous high-speed 7km circuit, but while Verstappen said conditions were safe to race, those behind him, suffering from water mist, reported otherwise on the team radio.

“I can hardly see the car in front,” said Lando Norris, who was due to start 14th after his big crash in qualifying at McLaren. “Honestly, the conditions are not drivable,” added Antonio Giovinazzi of Alfa Romeo.

Max Verstappen spoke of his strangest race victories after his victory in Belgium.

Max Verstappen spoke of his strangest race victories after his victory in Belgium.

When the red flag for the race was raised, Daniel Ricciardo stated: “This is the right call.”

The drivers returned to the pit lane and got off their cars, waiting for the rain to calm down and the race to resume. They occupied the time, sometimes with interviews, sometimes with games and interviews, but if anything, the rain just got heavier.

Another complication was the fact that the official three-hour “race hour” started at 2pm, meaning the race had to actually end by 5pm. With an hour left in that window, the F1 hosts paused that hour to give them a chance to find a window that would fit a one-hour race.

They tried to do it at 5.17pm, and the drivers got back to the track behind the safety car again. But the track and visibility conditions looked worse, with Verstappen even admitting he was very wet.

George Russell, who was the star of the show on Saturday for Williams, climbed to the first podium in Formula One in strange circumstances.

George Russell, who was the star of the show on Saturday for Williams, climbed to the first podium in Formula One in strange circumstances.

After the two laps behind the safety car, which means the final classification will be confirmed with a half-point scoring, Formula 1 race director Michael Massey put the red flag for the race once again.

Shortly thereafter, there was acceptance that it would not restart at all.

More to follow…

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