Max Verstappen wins 2021 Belgian GP without racing a lap

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a heavily rain-shortened Belgian Grand Prix that finished late into the evening amid torrential conditions at Spa-Francorchamps.

Half points were awarded as more than two laps – but less than 75% of the race – were completed.

This will be Dutchman’s 16th career win in the Formula One win, by far easiest win ever. Williams driver George Russell clinches first ever F1 podium with P2 finish while Lewis Hamilton clinches his 174th podium.

Delay Start and Perez crash

After a 25 minute of initial delay, a brace of formation laps behind the Safety Car followed, before Race Director Michael Masi threw the red flag. But there was big drama before that, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez crashed his car while coming on to starting grid during formation lap.

Both Red Bull and FIA thought he was done for the day, but three hour delay gave incredible Red Bull mechanics ample time to fix the car and send him before second race start under safety car.

After many more delays, the race finally resumed at 1817 local time – more than three hours after it was set to start – with the clock to tick down from one hour as Masi did everything in his control to try to get a race up and running.

But only a handful laps behind the Safety Car followed before another red flag, and Verstappen pulled back into the pits ahead of second-place Williams qualifier George Russell and third-place Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.

Most of the field would thus finish where they had qualified, with half points their consolation on a gloomy day at Spa, as it was finally announced the race would not resume, at 1845 local time.

“Now in hindsight it was very important to get that pole position but of course it’s a big shame to not do proper laps, but the conditions were very tricky out there. I mean, I said it at 1530 like, ‘let’s go’; I think the conditions were decent, but the visibility was very low, so I think if we would have started at three o’clock we had a better chance.

“But nevertheless, after that it just stayed really wet and it kept raining. Of course, it’s a win but it’s not how you want to win. I think for today, big credit goes to all the fans around the track to stay here. The whole day in the rain, in the cold, windy conditions, so I think they’re actually the bigger winners today” – said race winner, Max Verstappen.