Verstappen accuses race organisers of being overcautious with rain delay
"It wasn't even raining," he said, referring to the decision taken at the scheduled race start time of 1500 local time (1300 GMT). "Of course, between Turns One and Five, there was quite a bit of water.
"But if you do two or three laps behind the Safety Car, then it would have been a lot more clear -- and the rest of the track was ready to go anyway.
"It's a bit of a shame. I knew that they would be a bit more cautious because of Silverstone, but this also didn't make sense.
"Then, it's better to say 'let's wait until it's completely dry' and we'll start on slicks because this is not really wet weather racing for me."
Instead of staying out, however, the field were taken back into the pit lane to wait for more than an hour, waiting until improved weather conditions prevailed.
The race then began with a rolling start after four laps behind the Safety Car.
Verstappen finished off the podium for the third consecutive race as series leader Oscar Piastri led team-mate Lando Norris home in a convincing McLaren 1-2.
"On the intermediates, we made a choice with the set-up and then they only allowed us to drive in almost slick conditions," said the Dutchman.
"That was a bit disappointing because we spoke, after Silverstone, about being a little more cautious, but this was the other extreme for me.
"So, the choice that we made with the set-up of the car was then the wrong one, because they didn't allow us to race in the wet.
"And, once we had the dry tyres, we were just too slow on the straights. That with all the general balance problems I have with this car just made everything worse."
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France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Verstappen accuses race organisers of being overcautious with rain delay
The four-time world champion said he believed that instead of suspending the race after one formation lap behind the Safety Car, Race Control should have kept the field out on the track to clear standing water. "It wasn't even raining," he said, referring to the decision taken at the scheduled race start time of 1500 local time (1300 GMT). "Of course, between Turns One and Five, there was quite a bit of water. "But if you do two or three laps behind the Safety Car, then it would have been a lot more clear -- and the rest of the track was ready to go anyway. "It's a bit of a shame. I knew that they would be a bit more cautious because of Silverstone, but this also didn't make sense. "Then, it's better to say 'let's wait until it's completely dry' and we'll start on slicks because this is not really wet weather racing for me." Instead of staying out, however, the field were taken back into the pit lane to wait for more than an hour, waiting until improved weather conditions prevailed. The race then began with a rolling start after four laps behind the Safety Car. Verstappen finished off the podium for the third consecutive race as series leader Oscar Piastri led team-mate Lando Norris home in a convincing McLaren 1-2. "On the intermediates, we made a choice with the set-up and then they only allowed us to drive in almost slick conditions," said the Dutchman. "That was a bit disappointing because we spoke, after Silverstone, about being a little more cautious, but this was the other extreme for me. "So, the choice that we made with the set-up of the car was then the wrong one, because they didn't allow us to race in the wet. "And, once we had the dry tyres, we were just too slow on the straights. That with all the general balance problems I have with this car just made everything worse."
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri turns personal disappointment into motivation to win at Spa
The 24-year-old Australian was disappointed with himself on Saturday when he was beaten by title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in qualifying for Sunday's race, but he turned the tables with a masterly lap one passing move after a rolling start on a damp track. He then hung on and, after pitting to switch from intermediates to slicks, he managed his medium compound tyres perfectly to stay ahead of Norris, running on a more durable hard tyre, in the closing stages to win and extend his lead in the title race to 16 points. "I knew lap one was going to be probably my best chance of winning the race," said Piastri. "I got a good exit out of Turn One and then lifted a little as I dipped through Eau Rouge and it was enough. "The rest of the race we managed really well. I was struggling a bit at the end -- so maybe the medium wasn't the best for the last five or six laps, but we had it mostly under control, which is what I wanted. "I was pretty disappointed with myself after yesterday, but it turns out starting second in Spa isn't too bad after all!" He added that he was concerned that the rolling start, after four laps behind the Safety Car, would reduce his chance to grab the initiative, but showed he was sharp and focussed by taking advantage of Norris at the first opportunity. "I got a good exit out of Turn One and was able to stay close and then, when I was going close, I just knew I was going to lift a little bit less than Lando (Norris) did and try and keep it on the track. "It was a bit lively up over the hill, but I managed to make it stick and then, from there, the tow helped me out." 'Difficult conditions' He said he knew that tyre strategy was going to be critical and expected Norris's decision to take hard tyres – the only driver to do so when all the rest went for mediums. "I had the same plan, if I was going to be second, so I kind of knew that was going to be a likely decision for Lando. For me, medium was the safest tyre to be on at that point. "You never know if someone is going to crash and there's a Safety Car and you want a medium for the restart. Also, the medium seemed pretty good in the sprint yesterday so I think it didn't make too much difference. "But when you're fighting like that, one-two, you're always going to try and get an advantage in one way or another." Norris admitted he had not done enough to win the race as he slipped 16 points behind Piastri in the championship after 13 of the 24 races. "He had a better start and he deserved it today," said Norris, who made three mistakes in the difficult conditions. "It's should-a, would-a, could-a…. Oscar deserved it. I'm sure he would have made a couple of mistakes too and I'll review my own. It's a great result for the team our first 1-2 here in many years." It was McLaren's first Belgian triumph since Jenson Button won from pole in 2012. © 2025 AFP
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri holds off Norris at Spa, extends championship lead
The 24-year-old Australian managed his tyres expertly to remain out of reach in the closing laps as the Briton, 25, who had started on pole, closed in on a harder-wearing compound, finishing 3.415 seconds clear as McLaren reeled off their sixth 1-2 in a dominant season. It was Piastri's first win at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, his sixth this season and the eighth of his career, extending his lead in the drivers' championship to 16 points after 13 of this season's 24 races. For McLaren, it was a 10th win this year. Charles Leclerc came a solid third for Ferrari ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, under the race leadership of new team boss Laurent Mekies for the first time, and Mercedes George Russell. Alex Albon clung on to finish sixth for Williams ahead of chasing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who started from the pit lane, and Racing Bulls' rookie Liam Lawson. Gabriel Botoleto was ninth for Sauber ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpine. "That was lively!" said the cool Piastri, who swept past Norris on lap one. "Very lively. I knew that lap one was probably my best chance of winning the race. I lifted a little as I went through Eau Rouge and then it was enough. "The rest of the race we managed really well. Maybe the medium wasn't the best in the last five-six laps, but we had it almost under control! I was disappointed after yesterday, but it turns out that starting second was not too bad." Norris conceded he couldn't have won. "Oscar just did a good job – there's nothing much more to say. He was committed a bit more in Eau Rouge and that was it. Oscar deserved it today." Leclerc said: "Max was behind me all race within two seconds so it's never easy. I knew the first part was the trickiest and I'm pretty happy we managed to keep that third place." The race began, after an 80-minute delay due to heavy rain, with the entire field on intermediates to run for four laps behind a safety car, clearing standing water. Piastri's craft and calm Four drivers started from the pitlane – Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton – having made changes to their power units or set-up overnight. They began at the rear of the field ahead of the rolling start at the start of lap five. As the lights went green, Norris powered away to lead through La Source, but he was unable to resist when Piastri sneaked out of his slipstream to take the lead going into Les Combes chicane. "Why do I have no pack?" asked Norris, realising he lacked electric power. "We used a lot on the safety car re-start," McLaren responded. On lap 12, Hamilton was the first in for medium slick tyres, rejoining 18th, followed by Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell and more. Norris stayed out one lap longer for hards, hoping to profit if his rival's rubber degraded in the closing laps. He was the only one. By lap 15, everyone else had switched to mediums and it was Piastri on top ahead of Norris by 9.3 with Leclerc third leading Verstappen, Russell, Albon and… in flying form, Hamilton. As Norris closed in, Piastri said his tyres were already degrading. "I think it will be tough to get to the end," he told race engineer Tom Stallard, raising the prospect of a dramatic finale. On lap 26, Norris slid wide at Puhon, falling back to nine seconds adrift before remounting his charge. It was a process of marginal gains as Piastri managed his tyres. Norris was close but Piastri's craft and calm prevailed.
