After a delayed start, two formation laps and an hours-long break due to weather conditions, Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix. Without being the front car for a single lap, as the F1 grid only drove laps behind the safety car in a rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps. George Russell grabbed his first podium in this special way.

Prior to the GP-weekend it was already clear that it would rain a lot at Spa, but that it would rain so much and for so long on Sunday nobody predicted. Sergio Perez found out in the lap to the grid that the track is extremely slippery, by shooting off after the long straight.

Long break due to rain

It was an omen of the conditions. The FIA didn't dare, especially after the hard crash of Lando Norris on Saturday. After more than twenty minutes of delayed starts the FIA took the risk to start the race with two formation laps behind the safety car.

In the end, the conditions were too bad, concluded Michael Masi. The red flag was waved and the drivers entered the pit lane in battle order. What followed was a long period of waiting, with much uncertainty and much time for Red Bull Racing to repair Perez's broken car.

Russell takes his first podium

With no race laps completed under the green flag, the grid automatically became the result of the Belgian Grand Prix. This allowed Russell to take his first podium of his F1 career.