F1 drivers gave conflicting views on safety of starting Belgian GP on wet track

Race control’s handling of the rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix drew some criticism after the race.

Most drivers agreed visibility was too poor to start the race at the original planned time. However when they returned to the track some 80 minutes later, many expressed differing views over whether the track was safe enough to race on.

Race director Rui Marques faced a difficult decision over when and how to start the race. Last year some drivers complained his predecessor, Niels Wittich, waited too long to halt the Brazilian Grand Prix as conditions deteriorated. One even remarked “I’m trying not to die” on his radio.

At Spa, race control originally committed to running two laps behind Safety Car before considering whether to start the race. They kept it out for a further two laps before finally letting the drivers go, albeit with a rolling start instead of a conventional one.

Some drivers, such as Max Verstappen, felt the race should have started sooner. Others, including Lewis Hamilton, complained about the decision not to order a standing start.

Race control rely on feedback from the drivers on the conditions to inform their decisions about when to start. However they have to keep in mind the fact drivers aren’t only thinking about their safety, but the competition.

For example a driver at the front of the field in a car running a low downforce set-up would want the Safety Car to stay out as long as possible as the track dries out. Conversely, a driver near the rear of the field on a wet weather set-up would be keen for the race to start right away in order to gain places.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

That mixture of self-preservation and self-interest was evident in the remarks made by drivers as they waited for Sunday’s race to start.

F1 drivers’ radio comments on the start at Spa

Jump to:

1st Norris: “Maybe a lap or two more”
2nd Piastri: “There’s a lot of steam on the track”
4th Verstappen: “10 times better than Silverstone”
6th Russell: “Verstappen needs to go over our grid slots to dry them”
11th Ocon: “I still can’t see”
17th Sainz: “Track is ready for a rolling start”
18th Hamilton: “Doesn’t need to be a rolling start”

1. Norris: “Maybe a lap or two more”

Pole-winner Lando Norris was prompted twice for his feedback on the conditions by race engineer Will Joseph. He reported the high-speed section between La Source and Les Combes was particularly bad for visibility.

2. Piastri: “There’s a lot of steam on the track”

Oscar Piastri, running second behind his team mate, gave some of the most thorough feedback on the conditions, and largely chimed in with what Norris said:

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

4. Verstappen: “10 times better than Silverstone”

Verstappen swapped the skinny rear wing he used to win the dry sprint race with for a higher downforce version for the grand prix. His claim the track would set “within five laps” proved somewhat optimistic – the first pit stops for slick tyres did not come until lap 11.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

6. Russell: “Verstappen needs to go over our grid slots to dry them”

Race control did not just have to decide when to start the race, but how. In the event of a standing start, George Russell was due to line up on the left-hand side of the grid directly behind Verstappen, and was concerned his rival wasn’t taking advantage of the opportunity to clean up their side of the grid by driving over it.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

11. Ocon: “I still can’t see”

Esteban Ocon, 11th on the grid, was in the opposite situation to Verstappen. Haas chose to split the rear wing levels between their drivers and Ocon had the low-downforce option.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

17. Sainz: “Track is ready for a rolling start”

A poor qualifying session left Carlos Sainz Jnr down in 17th. He said the track was ready to race on two laps before the start was given, but was at pains to point out he did not think it was safe enough for a standing start.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

18. Hamilton: “Doesn’t need to be a rolling start”

Hamilton, one place behind Sainz, was eager for a standing start, and said so again after the race.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

2025 Belgian Grand Prix

• “I’m down to try”: How Hamilton changed his mind about crucial Spa pit stop
• 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend F1 driver ratings
• F1 drivers gave conflicting views on safety of starting Belgian GP on wet track
• ‘We’ll probably kick ourselves’ for delaying pit stop, admits Norris
• Would another strategy have improved Norris’s chances of winning? Belgian GP data

Browse all 2025 Belgian Grand Prix articles