2021 Belgian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix entered the Formula One record books, though not for reasons you might expect. During Sunday’s race, the downpour was so intense that teams would have been more suited to navigating Spa in boats rather than on Pirelli’s extreme wet weather tyres.

This event will be etched in memory as the briefest race in F1 history, with a mere two laps completed – both behind the safety car. So, the term ‘race’ should be used loosely. For context, the prior record for the shortest race was set during the 1991 Australian Grand Prix, where drivers managed only 14 laps, equivalent to 33 miles. The Belgian Grand Prix was also the sixth time in F1 that half-points were awarded.

Race Guide

Season: 2021 F1 World Championship
Race date: 29 August 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 1 lap (44 laps scheduled)
Circuit length: 7.004 km
2020 winner: Lewis Hamilton

Pole position
Driver	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
Time	1:59.765
Fastest lap
No official fastest lap was awarded.
Podium
First	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing
Second	George Russell	Williams
Third	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
27 August 2021	Practice 1	11:30 – 12:30
27 August 2021	Practice 2	15:00 – 16:00
28 August 2021	Practice 3	12:00 – 13:00
28 August 2021	Qualifying	15:00 – 16:00
29 August 2021	Race	15:00

All times are local (UTC+02:00). The race time is the scheduled start.

Championship background

Hamilton led Verstappen by eight points after the dramatic Hungarian round, and Spa began a run of three consecutive race weekends. The fast, undulating circuit promised a demanding return to action, but poor visibility and heavy rain became the dominant factors. Qualifying would ultimately matter far more than anyone could have expected.

Race entries

All 20 regular race drivers were entered. Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll arrived with five-place grid penalties from their roles in the opening-lap collisions in Hungary.

Free Practice

Valtteri Bottas topped FP1 with a 1:45.199, ahead of Max Verstappen (+0.164s) and Pierre Gasly. Bottas led the opening session, with Verstappen and Gasly completing the top three as teams worked through the changing conditions.

Max Verstappen topped FP2 with a 1:44.472, ahead of Valtteri Bottas (+0.041s) and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen set the fastest time in FP2 before crashing late in the session. Leclerc also had an accident, adding to the interruptions.

Max Verstappen topped FP3 with a 1:56.924, ahead of Sergio Perez (+0.947s) and Lewis Hamilton. The final practice session took place in wet conditions and ended with a Red Bull Racing one-two, ahead of Hamilton.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2021 Belgian Grand Prix FP1, 27 August 2021

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	1:45.199	18
2	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	+0.164s	14
3	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	+0.500s	20
4	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.619s	19
5	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	+0.736s	20
6	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing	+0.928s	17
7	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	+0.978s	19
8	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	+1.137s	17
9	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	+1.298s	16
10	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	+1.413s	16
11	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.450s	19
12	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	+1.484s	20
13	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing	+1.556s	17
14	63	George Russell	Williams	+1.573s	19
15	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	+1.729s	19
16	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	+1.902s	20
17	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Alfa Romeo Racing	+2.926s	15
18	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	+3.025s	17
19	9	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	+3.506s	16
20	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas	+3.860s	15

Free Practice 2 Classification

2021 Belgian Grand Prix FP2, 27 August 2021

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1:44.472	12
2	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	+0.041s	14
3	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	+0.072s	13
4	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	+0.481s	15
5	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	+0.493s	17
6	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+0.708s	14
7	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	+0.830s	15
8	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	+0.864s	16
9	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.914s	18
10	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing	+0.932s	13
11	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	+1.045s	14
12	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	+1.286s	17
13	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing	+1.317s	16
14	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Alfa Romeo Racing	+1.495s	18
15	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	+1.646s	14
16	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	+1.726s	17
17	63	George Russell	Williams	+2.193s	14
18	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+2.364s	13
19	9	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	+2.863s	14
20	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas	+3.057s	15

Free Practice 3 Classification

2021 Belgian Grand Prix FP3, 28 August 2021

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1:56.924	10
2	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing	+0.947s	7
3	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	+1.072s	9
4	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	+1.585s	11
5	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	+1.989s	15
6	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+2.281s	16
7	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	+2.400s	14
8	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	+2.512s	15
9	63	George Russell	Williams	+2.568s	9
10	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	+2.689s	16
11	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	+2.884s	14
12	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	+3.057s	11
13	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	+3.532s	13
14	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	+3.825s	17
15	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas	+4.345s	18
16	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+4.446s	14
17	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	+4.586s	20
18	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing	+4.588s	20
19	9	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	+4.868s	19
20	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Alfa Romeo Racing	+7.458s	3

Qualifying

Max Verstappen took pole position with a 1:59.765, but George Russell produced the standout surprise by putting his Williams second, only 0.321s behind. Lewis Hamilton qualified third, followed by Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.

The wet session was interrupted by a heavy crash for Lando Norris at Eau Rouge early in Q3. Norris was able to leave the car, but the accident reinforced the concerns about conditions. Russell briefly held provisional pole when the session resumed before Verstappen’s final effort moved Red Bull Racing back to the front.

Qualifying Classification

2021 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying, 28 August 2021

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1:58.717	1:56.559	1:59.765	20
2	63	George Russell	Williams	1:59.864	1:56.950	2:00.086	24
3	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:59.218	1:56.229	2:00.099	22
4	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	2:01.583	1:57.127	2:00.864	22
5	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	2:00.175	1:56.814	2:00.935	23
6	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	2:00.387	1:56.440	2:01.164	23
7	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing	1:59.334	1:56.886	2:02.112	22
8	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	1:59.870	1:56.295	2:02.502	22
9	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	2:01.824	1:57.354	2:03.513	23
10	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:58.301	1:56.025	No time	19
11	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	2:00.728	1:57.721	—	16
12	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	2:00.966	1:58.056	—	17
13	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	2:01.184	1:58.137	—	15
14	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	2:01.653	1:58.205	—	16
15	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	2:01.597	1:58.231	—	16
16	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing	2:02.306	—	—	9
17	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	2:02.413	—	—	9
18	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas	2:03.973	—	—	9
19	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Alfa Romeo Racing	2:04.452	—	—	9
20	9	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	2:04.939	—	—	8

Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll both received five-place grid penalties for causing collisions at the previous round.

Lando Norris received a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Kimi Räikkönen was required to start the race from the pit lane for a rear wing change.

2021 Belgian Grand Prix

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, officially known as the Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix, took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on the 29th August 2021. This race marked the twelfth event of the 2021 F1 World Championship, and Spa hosting its 54th Grand Prix. The race saw Max Verstappen secure the win, followed by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Initially a 44-lap Grand Prix, the race was prematurely halted during the third lap due to severe rain. The first two laps were behind the safety car, eventually leading to a red flag on the third. According to sporting regulations, at the time, results were based on the first lap’s end, with half points awarded to the top 10 finishers as less than 75% of the intended distance was covered.

Formula One History Recommends

Distinguished as the shortest race in F1 history, both by distance (6.880 km or 4.275 mi) and by laps (just 1). This surpassed the previous shortest distance during the 1991 Australian Grand Prix and the fewest laps during the 1971 German Grand Prix. Notably, this was the first time since the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix that half points were awarded and the sixth time in F1 history. Changes introduced in 2022 ensured half-points couldn’t be granted in subsequent seasons. The choice to run the race in such a manner attracted significant controversy. The FIA and race director, Michael Masi, faced criticism for handling the event, with the race becoming the only World Championship race without any full green flag conditions.

Many debated the sporting integrity of classifying and awarding points when “racing” only occurred behind the safety car when no overtaking was allowed. Some in the sport felt the race prioritised commercial gains over genuine racing and fan engagement. They argued the event should have been called off without results and spectators compensated. Others, however, felt that half points were warranted for those who excelled in qualifying despite the wet racing conditions.

In light of the backlash, Formula 1 took measures to prevent a similar issue in the future. Starting in 2022, for points to be granted, a race needed at least two green flag laps without interruptions from safety or virtual safety cars. The point structure for truncated races was also adjusted in 2022, with points allocated to fewer drivers based on the distance covered during red-flagged races. After uncertainty of points allocation at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, regulations were further refined in 2023. Points were now determined based on the proportion of race distance completed, regardless of race end conditions. Moreover, since 2022, efforts have been underway to enhance race conditions during wet weather, minimising the reliance on safety measures. In 2023, Pirelli unveiled a new, Full Wet Tyre Compound, which made its first apperance at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. This innovative tyre, not requiring warm-up blankets, promises improved racing in wet conditions. Pirelli is also considering adding another wet weather tyre or enhancing the performance of a single wet tyre to ensure consistent racing across varying wetness levels.

What happened in the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix?

Race delays

The race, scheduled to start at 15:00 local time (CEST), faced multiple delays due to relentless rain. Sergio Pérez seemed out of the race almost immediately before the start, having had a crash en route to the grid. Despite earlier indications from FIA race director Michael Masi that Pérez could not participate, in the end race officials allowed him to compete. This decision came after the Red Bull Racing team successfully repaired Pérez’s car during the pause after the first red flag.

In an effort to restart the race at 15:25 CEST, the race director decided to allow two formation laps (not counting towards the final race classification) to be executed behind the safety car. However, the start was soon halted, with vehicles lining up in the pit lane again. By 17:00 CEST, referencing the powers under article 11.9.3.o of the 2021 FIA International Sporting Code, the stewards temporarily halted the race clock, citing force majeure.

Race start and finish

After enduring more than three hours of interruptions and halted starts, the race was officially restarted from the pit lane at 18:17 local time. Two additional laps under the safety car were recognised as official race laps, enabling race results to be classified and half points to be awarded. On the third lap, the race faced another suspension and wasn’t resumed. The final standings were based on completing the first lap, which was in line with Formula One’s two-lap countback rule.

Max Verstappen clinched the top spot, marking his 16th F1 win and sixth of the season. He was followed by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in second and third, respectively.

Other points finishers included Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc, Nicholas Latifi, and Carlos Sainz.

This win for Verstappen added to Red Bull Racing’s tally and their fourth Belgian Grand Prix win, the first since Ricciardo’s triumph in 2014. Notably, it was Honda’s first F1 victory at Spa since 1991. Clocking in a mere 6.880 km (4.275 mi) with a solitary official lap, this event is the shortest race in F1 history.

Russell’s second position marked his debut podium finish and Williams’ first since Lance Stroll‘s 2017 achievement in Azerbaijan.

Stroll ended the race in 18th but was later dropped to 20th due to a penalty, paving the way for Kimi Räikkönen and Pérez to move up positions. Charles Leclerc‘s tyre switch during the race’s delayed start was investigated but went unpunished.

As of 2022, this race remains unique. It’s the only World Championship Grand Prix without an official fastest lap. It also joins the list as the eleventh (at the time) F1 World Championship Grand Prix without any race retirements and the twelfth to conclude under the safety car’s supervision.

2021 Belgian Grand Prix driver reactions

The race’s outcome was far from what the drivers had in mind on race day. Verstappen voiced his sentiments, stating, “What can you say? This is of course not what you like, especially not for the people at the side of the track, the fans. They expect a race. But the conditions today were not good. It just kept raining all the time. I think from 3pm onwards it just got worse and worse and when you already start that late in the day there is not much room to move around, even though we still waited for like three hours.”

Russell saw his points as a testament to his qualifying skills. He remarked, “We don’t often get rewarded for great qualifyings but we absolutely did today. I want to say sorry to all the fans. It was amazing, their support, to stay out here throughout, and we were all in the same boat.” While he meant it figuratively, given the conditions, it could have been a real scenario.

Hamilton, who finished third, questioned the decision to proceed with the race. He shared, “We obviously can’t control the weather. I’m sure all of us love racing in the rain, especially here in Spa. It’s one of the greatest circuits in the world. [I’m just] really disappointed for the fans. They stood out there for absolute hours in the rain.

“More importantly, they had to spend so much money with travelling, accommodation and then they didn’t get a race. Unfortunate, and I’m a little bit confused as to why they restarted the race because between the two hours when they stopped us the first time to the last time, there was no change in weather.

“I mean I know why, but I do feel the fans were robbed of a race today and I think they probably should get their money back.”

While weather is unpredictable, and there is a responsibility to the fans to go racing, the question remains: Was it wise for F1 to restart that late and for only two laps?

2021 Belgian Grand Prix race results

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix was held on 29 August 2021, with a scheduled start of 15:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1	3:27.071	12.5
2	63	George Russell	Williams	1	+1.995s	9
3	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1	+2.601s	7.5
4	3	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	1	+4.496s	6
5	5	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	1	+7.479s	5
6	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	1	+10.177s	4
7	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	1	+11.579s	3
8	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1	+12.608s	2
9	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	1	+15.484s	1
10	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1	+16.166s	0.5
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	1	+20.590s	0
12	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	1	+22.414s	0
13	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing	1	+24.163s	0
14	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1	+27.109s	0
15	22	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	1	+28.329s	0
16	47	Mick Schumacher	Haas	1	+29.507s	0
17	9	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	1	+31.993s	0
18	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Alfa Romeo Racing	1	+36.054s	0
19	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing	1	+38.205s	0
20	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1	+44.108s	0

Half points were awarded, as less than 75% of the race distance was completed.

Sergio Perez‘s grid position was left vacant due to an accident that occurred when he was making his way to the grid. Once his mechanics repaired his car, he was allowed to start the race from the pit lane.

Lance Stroll finished 18th on track, but received a post-race 10-second time penalty for a rear wing change during the red flag period.

2021 Belgian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

No official fastest lap or fastest-lap bonus point was awarded. The race ran behind the safety car and the classification was taken after one lap.

2021 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings for drivers and teams after the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

2021 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Mercedes	202.5
2	Max Verstappen	NED	Red Bull Racing	199.5
3	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren	113
4	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Mercedes	108
5	Sergio Perez	MEX	Red Bull Racing	104
6	Carlos Sainz	ESP	Ferrari	83.5
7	Charles Leclerc	MON	Ferrari	82
8	Daniel Ricciardo	AUS	McLaren	56
9	Pierre Gasly	FRA	AlphaTauri	54
10	Esteban Ocon	FRA	Alpine	42
11	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Alpine	38
12	Sebastian Vettel	GER	Aston Martin	35
13	Yuki Tsunoda	JPN	AlphaTauri	18
14	Lance Stroll	CAN	Aston Martin	18
15	George Russell	GBR	Williams	13
16	Nicholas Latifi	CAN	Williams	7
17	Kimi Räikkönen	FIN	Alfa Romeo Racing	2
18	Antonio Giovinazzi	ITA	Alfa Romeo Racing	1
19	Mick Schumacher	GER	Haas	0
20	Nikita Mazepin	RAF	Haas	0

RAF denotes the neutral Russian Automobile Federation designation used by Nikita Mazepin in 2021.

2021 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Mercedes	310.5
2	Red Bull Racing	303.5
3	McLaren	169
4	Ferrari	165.5
5	Alpine	80
6	AlphaTauri	72
7	Aston Martin	53
8	Williams	20
9	Alfa Romeo Racing	3
10	Haas	0

Seen in:

2020s Races

Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.