Mekies Questions FIA’s Belgian GP Delay Decision

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies expressed surprise at the FIA’s decision to delay the Belgian Grand Prix by 80 minutes due to heavy rain. Based on an in-depth analysis by SPORTRIK of official Formula 1 interviews, Mekies, alongside drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, criticized the call. Consequently, this article examines Mekies’ perspective, the impact of the FIA’s decision, and Red Bull’s race outcome, with facts sourced from the official interview.

Heavy rainfall hit Spa-Francorchamps before the race, prompting FIA race director Rui Marques to delay the start by 80 minutes after initial laps behind the safety car. Additionally, four more safety car laps preceded a rolling start. However, this decision drew criticism from Verstappen, who called it illogical, and Hamilton, who labeled it an overreaction to a prior Silverstone incident involving Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar.

Mekies, a former FIA deputy race director, shared their surprise. “We were all surprised by how late we started the race,” he stated in the official interview. He noted that the delay extended until “the sun came out,” with excessive safety car laps. For this reason, Mekies questioned the FIA’s reasoning, though he acknowledged they had their considerations. Thus, the prolonged delay disrupted teams expecting more wet racing.

Red Bull had optimized Verstappen’s car for wet conditions, a choice that backfired due to the limited wet racing. As a result, Verstappen, starting fourth after missing third place by 0.003 seconds to Charles Leclerc, finished in the same position, unable to overtake the Ferrari driver. Mekies explained, “We made heavy choices thinking about a wet race, but we didn’t get much wet racing.”

Furthermore, the team’s high-downforce setup hindered overtaking in dry conditions. “Max spent every lap in Charles’ gearbox, but with our choices, passing was unlikely,” Mekies added. For example, the lack of wet running negated Red Bull’s strategic advantage. Therefore, the FIA’s decision significantly impacted their performance, contributing to a disappointing Sunday despite a sprint win on Saturday under Mekies’ new leadership.

Laurent Mekies, echoing Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, questioned the FIA’s delayed start at the Belgian Grand Prix, which undermined Red Bull’s wet-weather strategy. Thus, the team aims to refine their approach for future races. For this reason, fans anticipate how Red Bull will adapt at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. For in-depth analysis of Formula 1 dynamics, visit SPORTRIK.