Ferrari’s George Russell has defended the FIA’s decision to delay the start of the Belgian Grand Prix due to adverse weather conditions, stating that starting the race while visibility was poor would have been “stupidity.” The circuit is considered one of the fastest and most challenging tracks on the calendar, with a history of accidents, including two fatalities in recent years.
Drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton disagreed with the delay, arguing that they could have adapted to wet conditions. However, Russell argued that at high speeds, visibility was near zero, making it impossible to compete safely.
Russell’s comments were echoed by Hamilton, who praised the FIA for waiting for dry conditions before starting the race. The delay ultimately allowed drivers to make strategic changes to their cars, such as switching to slick tyres, which paid off for Hamilton and helped him finish seventh despite starting 18th.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/27/max-verstappen-decries-delayed-belgian-grand-prix-race-start-due-to-wet-weather-george-russell