2021 Belgian Grand Prix

The **2021 Belgian Grand Prix** was a Formula 1.5 motor race held on 29 August 2021 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the twelfth round of the 2021 Formula 1.5 World Championship.

Heavy rain resulted in the race being delayed, and after 3 of the scheduled 44 laps had been completed behind the safety car, a red flag brought an end to the race. In line with Formula One regulations, the result was taken after lap 1. It holds the record for being the shortest Formula One World Championship race ever held, beating the previous record held by the 1991 Australian Grand Prix, which was 14 laps long. The race was won by George Russell ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel, it was Russell's first F1.5 victory and podium.

## 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. It marked the sixty-sixth time the Belgian Grand Prix appeared on the World Championship calendar. The race was the first one after a three weeks break. It also rained throughout the weekend, exciting some drivers. Mick Schumacher stated that he's "looking forward to getting onto some rain", while Lando Norris said that he was "hoping for a bit of rain" in the race. Nikita Mazepin stated that he "hope[s] it's dry."

### **Entrants**

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

### **Tyres**

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

### **Penalties**

After causing a collison at the previous race, Lance Stroll received a five-place grid penalty for the Grand Prix.

## 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. The latter also hit the inside pit wall, ending his session. Charles Leclerc ran wide at turn 7, before saving himself from spinning. The AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly was fastest, followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.

Free practice 2 took place at 15:00 CEST on the same day. The session was interrupted by two incidents, resulting in red flags. First, Leclerc lost control of the rear end on the exit of Les Combes, causing him to crash into the wall, ending his session. F1.0 driver 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 back to the pits. Fernando Alonso was fastest with Gasly in 2nd and Stroll in third.

Free practice 3 took place on 28 August at 12:00 CEST. The final practice session ended with no major incidents, but saw many drivers sliding off the track. 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. Gasly also spun. Norris finished the session fastest, ahead of Ocon and Stroll.

## Qualifying

Qualifying took place on 28 August and was due to start at 15:00 CEST. Qualifying was delayed due to extreme rainfall and so started at 15:12. Everyone went 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, George Russell in second and Sebastian Vettel in third. Nikita Mazepin, Kimi Raikkonen, Mick Schumacher, Yuki Tsunoda, and Antonio Giovinazzi were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying.

The second session was completed on intermediate tyres. Norris once again was first, with Gasly second and Vettel third. Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz Jr, Nicholas Latifi, and Charles Leclerc were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying. The third segment of qualifying started with worsening rain. Immediately, drivers were asking for a delayed session or red flag. Norris then aquaplaned at Eau Rouge resulting in a heavy crash at Raidillon and a red flag. Sebastian Vettel stopped at the scene to check on Norris. Russell took pole on his final lap, taking his maiden F1.5 pole and first Williams' pole position since Lance Stroll in Italy 2017. Daniel Ricciardo finished the session second and Vettel in third. Norris was cleared to race after precautionary checks and an X-ray after his Q3 crash. After the Grand Prix, race director Michael Masi admitted it was a mistake to let the third segment of qualifying start on time.

## Race

The race was due to start at 15:00 CEST on 29 August but was delayed multiple times due to persistent rain. 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. 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 eventually was not resumed.

The race result was taken after the first lap, in compliance with Formula 1.5 regulations which require a two-lap count back. With only a single lap completed officially, it is the shortest ever race in the history of the sport, eclipsing the previous record set at the 1991 Australian Grand Prix. The officially completed distance was recorded as 6.880 km (4.275 mi). For the sixth time in Formula 1.5 history, and the first time since the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, half points were awarded. Russell's win was his first F1.5 podium of his career, and the first for Williams' since Azerbaijan 2017 with Lance Stroll.

### Post- Race

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, and arguing that points should never have been awarded and the race abandoned. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Alfa Romeo Racing criticised the decision to award points for the race but Daniel Ricciardo defended the decision to do so. Ricciardo's McLaren team mate 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". Carlos Sainz Jr. called for spectators who bought tickets to be refunded. Haas F1 team Guenther Steiner suggested the criteria for awarding half points was possibly becoming outdated and needed updating. Pundit Scott Mitchell was also of the opinion than fans who attended the deserve compensation and Formula 1.5 risks alienating some of its' fanbase if it does not refund ticket holders in some way. Formula 1.5 and the race promoters are working on options for ticket holders following the race's suspension. Two-time World Champion Mika Häkkinen defended the decisions made by officials during event. AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly stated that Formula 1.5 needed to find a solution in order to reduce the amount of spray Grand Prix cars produce in wet conditions to improve driver visibility.

## Championship Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

Constructors' Championship standings

## External Links

1. ↑  Lando Norris received a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.
2. ↑  Lance Stroll received a 5 place penalty for a collison at the previous round
3. ↑  Kimi Räikkönen was required to start the race from the pit lane for a rear wing change.
4. ↑  Half points were awarded, as less than 75% of the race distance was completed.
5. ↑  Lance Stroll finished 15th on track, but received a post-race 10-second time penalty for a rear wing change during the red flag period.