Marnik Kok caught the Formula 1 world around twenty years ago. A deep passion for motorsport, Ferrari, and a background in journalism led him to contribute to various (international) F1 platforms. Since 2020, Marnik has been active as an editor and journalist in the pinnacle of motorsport for several media outlets, including De Telegraaf. As of 2025, he brings that experience to GPblog as a seasoned editor.
During his active years as a journalist — now working as a freelancer — Marnik attended numerous events, with the Dutch Grand Prix standing out as one of the highlights. In addition to his work at GPblog, Marnik is also active in the communications sector at a major national provider and steps in wherever needed. Sitting still is not an option — especially not in motorsport!
It’s currently pouring down at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, and the heavy rain is expected to persist for a while. However, conditions are forecast to dry up after 4 PM—though with Spa, nothing is ever certain.
The intense downpour means the start of the Belgian Grand Prix will likely be delayed. But what exactly happens in situations like this?
Rules with rain races and delayed starts
Following the previous cancellation of the Belgian Grand Prix in 2021 due to heavy rain, the regulations have been slightly adjusted. For championship points to be awarded, at least two laps must be completed without the safety car. If that doesn’t happen, the race is considered void.
Once the race officially begins, the clock starts ticking. The total window is three hours, but only a maximum of two hours can be spent racing. For example, if there is a red flag that halts the race for 30 minutes, that time is deducted from the overall race window—meaning just 90 minutes of racing would remain. But how things unfold is still uncertain.
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Heavy downpour, possibly dry afterwards
At the moment, the rain is simply too heavy for racing action to begin. However, once the downpour eases, conditions are expected to improve. If a few formation laps can be completed behind the safety car, there is a chance we will see the green light — but that remains a huge probability.
Should a standing or a rolling start be given, the race clock will begin. From that point on, it's officially considered a race and points can be awarded — provided at least two laps are completed under green flag conditions. That said, if the race is shortened, a different points distribution will apply.
For now, all we can do is wait. Follow our live blog below for the latest updates.
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