Sainz says all the people criticising at home are talking nonsense
Aug.30 - Formula 1 is scrambling to learn from Sunday's farcical Belgian GP at fabled Spa-Francorchamps.
Amid the ongoing covid crisis, thousands of fans stood all day in teeming rain for a race that ultimately took place over two official laps behind the safety car.
Seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton was furious.
"It was a farce," said the Mercedes driver, who collected the trophy for third place behind pole-sitter and winner Max Verstappen, and Williams' George Russell.
"The only people to really lose out are the fans who paid good money to watch us race. But money talks. It was literally the two laps to start the race - it's an all-money scenario.
"So everyone gets their money, but I think the fans should get theirs back. I think the sport made a bad choice today," Hamilton said.
However, even Hamilton - whose championship lead was cut to just 3 points with the half-points outcome - admitted the track conditions were undriveable.
Only Verstappen, who lapped the safety car from the front, argued that the race could have taken place after 3pm despite the difficulties.
"First of all, it was the right decision not to race," Ferrari's Carlos Sainz said.
"All the people criticising at home are talking nonsense. Basically, you could not see from here," the Spaniard said, demonstrating a small distance from his eyes with his hand.
The other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, added: "With what happened here (to Anthoine Hubert) two years ago, I think it was the right choice.
"We are not afraid, but prevention is better than cure. We must appreciate that there are human lives behind the steering wheels."
Verstappen surmised: "I think with recent events, they didn't want to risk another big shunt happening. It just didn't feel right.
"Of course the fans won't agree but you also have to think about safety."
For some drivers, the biggest issue is that the two late safety car laps meant that Formula 1 could declare an official race and distribute half-points.
Sainz said: "Giving points for a race that didn't happen seems wrong to me. If you have not competed, why are you distributing points for a race that didn't exist?"
Former F1 driver Marc Surer told Sport1 he is expecting a "huge stink behind the scenes" in the following days.
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it doesn't matter the fia aren't going to change there minds on this job done , move on
What an absolute farce! A few laps behind the safety car where nobody is allowed to pass is not a race, it is a disgrace!
I completely understand why all drivers, except one, disagreed with the race being held in the prevailing treacherous conditions. Following his public statement that the race should be held regardless, Verstappen has lost any credibility that he may have had! God help us if he becomes F1 World Champion.
Spa is one of the greatest circuits on earth, however, history tells us that the weather there can be very unpredictable and also severe. FIA needs to define what constitutes a race, and a few laps following a safety car is without question NOT a race. A race must give the opportunity for drivers and cars to compete against each other, NOT follow each other around in a procession where nobody is permitted to pass.
Considering the conditions, this event should not have been permitted to commence.
obv the fia regs does define "what constitutes a race " , just because your opinion isnt the same as the fia , how will that change things?
Obv the fans are screwed, with ticket prices and sky tv pricing thats life we have what 23 races now, look at it another way in 1996 we only had 16 races . so we get to see our heroes More....
Im not after an argument, but as Jax would say for the championships its Karma and for this race it favoured Max and not boohoo , piss your pants its not fair Hamilton .
"All the people criticising at home are talking nonsense. Basically, you could not see from here," the Spaniard (Sainz) said, demonstrating a small distance from his eyes with his hand"
I am not sure what Sainz mean?
No points should have been awarded.There was no race.One more race out of the 2021 calendar.Every picture tells a story ,this was not nice.
Its no surprise that baby LH claims the race was a farce because it didn't suit his personal interests. He didn't have the same view when he intentionally took MV out of the race and got away with the points.
Actually lots of people did agree not to race most people i've seen on twitter including me agreed and points being given were silly when no one could overtake
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