Hamilton Slams Belgian GP Delay as Overreaction

Lewis Hamilton of the Ferrari team criticized the decision to delay the Belgian Grand Prix due to wet conditions. According to an analysis of his post-race interview by SPORTRIK, Hamilton called the delay an overreaction influenced by a prior incident at Silverstone. Consequently, this article examines Hamilton’s perspective, the reasons for the delay, and its impact on race strategy, with facts sourced exclusively from the official interview.

Heavy rain hit the Spa-Francorchamps circuit before the race, causing poor visibility during the formation lap. As a result, several drivers raised concerns, prompting the FIA to halt the start procedure and issue a red flag. The race was delayed for over an hour, with multiple laps behind the safety car before a rolling start. However, Hamilton argued the delay was excessive.

“We started the race a bit too late,” he stated in the interview. “I kept shouting ‘it’s ready to go, it’s ready to go’.” He attributed the FIA’s caution to a collision at Silverstone between Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar in low-visibility conditions.

Furthermore, Hamilton asserted that a standing start was feasible. “There was hardly any spray at the end; it was almost a dry line,” he added. Thus, he believed the race could have started earlier without requiring a rolling start, which he deemed unnecessary.

Starting from the back of the grid after a poor qualifying, Hamilton capitalized on the wet conditions to overtake and finish seventh. Although a well-timed pit stop helped him reach the points, he was frustrated as his car was optimized for wet conditions. “My car was set up for [rain], but they waited for it to dry,” he explained. Consequently, the setup became less effective as the race transitioned to dry conditions, which lasted less than a third of the race distance.

Moreover, Hamilton noted that the FIA’s decision limited the potential for an exciting wet race. His views aligned with those of Max Verstappen, who also criticized the delay, suggesting that a few laps behind the safety car could have cleared standing water. Therefore, the delay not only affected team strategies but also diminished the race’s dynamic nature.

Lewis Hamilton sharply criticized the Belgian Grand Prix delay as an overreaction by the FIA, driven by the Silverstone incident. Despite scoring points, he regretted the missed opportunity for a competitive wet race. For this reason, Hamilton hopes the FIA will better balance safety and racing dynamics in the future. For the latest Formula 1 updates, visit SPORTRIK.