Defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton wasn’t pleased with what happened at this past weekend’s Belgian GP, calling it a farce. Hamilton was unhappy that F1 authorities decided to run a two-lap race behind the safety car, the minimum required for it to be classified as a race.
The seven-time world champion stated that the decision taken by F1 was to do with money and demanded that the fans be refunded their money.
On his Instagram account, Hamilton said the race should not have taken place as the weather was poor and the safety of the drivers was at risk.
“Today was a farce and the only people to lose out are the fans who have paid good money to watch us race. Of course, you can’t do anything about the weather, but we have sophisticated equipment to tell us what’s going on and it was clear the weather wasn’t going to let up. We were sent out for one reason and one reason only.
“Two laps behind a safety car where there is no possibility to gain or lose a place or provide entertainment for fans isn’t racing. We should have just called it quits, not risked the drivers and, more importantly, refunded the fans who are the heart of our sport,” said Hamilton.
Following the race, Hamilton asserted that visibility was very poor and that he couldn’t see even five meters ahead of him on the track. He thinks that the only reason why the F1 authorities sent the drivers out to drive two laps behind the safety car was for it to be classified as a result.
F1 Race Director Michael Masi explained that the reason the drivers were sent behind the safety car was because of information they received about the weather clearing. He also stated that there was no option for the race to be held the following day.
Hamilton finished third in the race, while his arch-rival Max Verstappen, who qualified first, won his 16th F1 race. Half points were given to the top 10 drivers as 75% of the race was not completed.
Three points separate the leader Hamilton and Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings after the Belgian GP, while seven points separate Mercedes and Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
The 2021 F1 Championship heads to the Zandvoort circuit in Netherlands, the first time the race will take place at the circuit since 1985. Verstappen will be hoping to close the gap or even overtake Hamilton in the standings on home turf.
