Column | Promising race day on the grandstand at Spa ends in fiasco

The Belgian Grand Prix guarantees a true spectacle almost every year, but on Sunday the race was literally and figuratively in the water. Where Formula 3 had a smooth race in the morning, the track was a slide in the afternoon in some parts. The race director had no other option than to stop the race and send the fans home. This is how the day went through the eyes of a spectator.

In Wallonia, it always takes a while before the grandstands of Spa-Francorchamps fill up. The location of the circuit is not made for receiving many visitors, so every year they have to queue up in traffic jams to find a parking space and cheer on the Formula 1 drivers. Moreover, the rainfall had an effect on the created parking places in meadows in which cars sank, so the organisation had to look for a second plan. It took a while before the Belgian grandstands were full.

But early in the morning, there were hundreds of Dutch fans who were eager to see Max Verstappen in action and fans from around the world to watch F1. They had to work hard because people without a covered stand were soaked in the afternoon. The drivers seemed to make up for a lot at 15:00 local time, but nothing was further from the truth. While the Dutch spectators on the grandstand at the Rivage were scanning the name of Verstappen, the announcer informed us that the race had been postponed for ten minutes. Whistles sounded from the stands, but it was only the start of a long afternoon.

While the spectators tried to keep warm, race control decided to allow a lap behind the safety car. The people in the stands cheered loudly when Verstappen indicated after two laps that he was ready to start, but once again we saw the red flag pass us by. There was nothing to do but wait, even for the announcer who had less and less to say due to the lack of information. In the meantime, he gave the race management a taste of their own medicine when they decided to postpone the start again. "Will they really think it will suddenly be dry in ten minutes?", it sounded from the sound systems. It was more than a justified question.

Race diretor left visitors in uncertainty

The organisation tried to keep the fans entertained by putting on the Macarena and showing the drivers' reactions on the big screens, but the spectators couldn't let go of their impatience after an hour. Hundreds of people decided to make their way to the exit, to avoid extreme crowds in case of a final cancellation. Suddenly, however, there was good news when the race committee stopped the time and the three-hour window. Bringing hope back for a while. After the cars entered the track only just after 18:15 and went in again after two laps, the disappointment among the spectators was palpable and audible. The day in the traffic jam and rain had been for nothing. Verstappen may have won, but even he was not happy about it.

Although everyone understood that safety was paramount, the length of the decision was a matter of some debate. Why did the race committee wait so long? There was nothing left to do but get in the car and go home, with Lewis Hamilton rightly stating that the spectators deserved compensation. After all, the race may have officially taken place, but no spectator actually observed it on Sunday.