Belgian Grand Prix – The best/worst of the editorial staff

The party was spoiled this Sunday. The fault lies with the most capricious weather, regulations that did not anticipate such a particular race, and increasingly sophisticated single-seaters to drive.

However, on Friday and Saturday we experienced four great sessions. Admittedly, the race did not take place, but the editorial team notes that two drivers distinguished themselves.

The TOP of the weekend

1/ Lando Norris in full attack mode

For better or for worse, the Englishman livened up the qualifying session.

From Q1, he managed to take the lead in the timed lap exercise. Confident in his McLaren, he leaves Max Verstappen four tenths behind. For Q2, he repeats the feat of outpacing the championship leaders. This time it is Lewis Hamilton who falls short by two tenths of a second.

While many think that the session will be stopped until the rain weakens, Lando Norris decides to attack the Spa circuit. Galvanized by his results in Q1 and Q2, he feels capable of conquering the pole position. Unfortunately, right at the beginning of his flying lap, he loses his car in the middle of Eau Rouge.

His accident is impressive. When we linger on the remains of his McLaren, we say to ourselves that it could have been catastrophic.

What we remember is that he managed to tame an extremely complicated and dangerous circuit. On two occasions, he proved the extent of his talent, his mastery, and his top speed.

The other Briton in top form achieved an even greater feat by qualifying second with his modest Williams.

Certainly, the weather conditions can play in his favor because a wet track levels the performance of the single-seaters. But unlike a Grand Prix winner who can benefit from very favorable circumstances to win, the battle against the clock on a single flying lap leaves no room for chance. Especially not in such precarious grip and visibility conditions.

It is only thanks to his talent that the Englishman achieved a feat worthy of a future champion.

Only Max Verstappen managed to beat him at this point in the qualifying session where the perfect lap determines the starting grid for the next day.

And even if there was no race on Sunday, it allows Williams to once again score a lot of points and especially to step onto the second step of the podium.

A well-deserved reward for someone who, alongside Lando Norris, undoubtedly represents the future of F1.

The Weekend Flops

1/ Single-seaters that can’t drive in the rain…

Formula 1 is supposed to represent the pinnacle of auto racing worldwide. All the best in terms of chassis, engine, and driving skills can be found in this category.

Here everything is optimized to its maximum. State-of-the-art technologies allow these single-seaters to almost defy the laws of gravity. The insane cornering speeds are there to testify to it.

Yes, but all this is only valid on dry ground or a slightly wet track.

As soon as it rains, the spectator rejoices. He starts to dream of fiercely contested races. He thinks he will finally see a show, rather than a procession of highly technological machines.

But modern F1 cars cannot race in such extreme conditions. As strange as it may seem, this outdoor sport cannot hold a race if it starts to rain.

It therefore seems urgent to review the technical regulations of a Formula 1 car so that it can take part in a Grand Prix despite the rain. As long as the races do not take place in weather-protected stadiums (which we do not want to see), it seems necessary to consider all situations during which a race could take place.

2/ New farce in F1

All spectators, whether they are present on the track or behind their screen, pay to enjoy their passion. That of the emotions provided by motor racing, and in the case of this Belgian Grand Prix, for the emotions specific to a race where the best in this sport engage in a fierce battle for three days.

This Sunday, the race could not take place (as per the first failure). In any case, not between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. It was obvious, the rain never lost its rhythm, and the thick fog never dissipated. The weather forecasts were clear from Sunday morning.

So why did you delay the decision not to run until 6:45 pm?

The FIA has become bogged down in incomprehensible decisions with endless delays.

The watchword is driver safety, and fortunately the race never started. At this point, the FIA deserves a TOP.

But why choose to do these few laps under a safety car regime in order to complete the two laps to validate a race result?

The race did not take place. The protagonists did not battle it out.

However, there is indeed a winner, a podium, a fastest lap in the race.

Does Max Verstappen deserve this victory, on the pretext that he was the fastest the day before on a timed lap?

If the drivers had been let go even for just three laps, at least they would have expressed themselves, and above all they would have fought for what they all come to conquer: the trophy of victory. None of that happened on Sunday.

Obviously, this was clearly not possible. We all have in mind the dreadful accident of Jules Bianchi, in the rain.

But also, the accident involving Lando Norris as well as the one that occurred in the W-Series.

Without mentioning the annual tribute paid by some drivers to Anthoine Hubert as early as Thursday.

The FIA should have made the courageous decision to cancel (or postpone) the race, as the weather conditions did not allow for a competition to take place this Sunday.