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Can you call it a race?

30 Aug 2021 
by Ziv Knoll
4394 views

Max Verstappen brilliantly won the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix from pole, showing his immense skills on a very wet track. The Belgian-born Dutch driver was masterful in horrendous conditions, never relinquishing the lead.

His performance reminded us of the ones seen in the past in similar conditions, by the greatest in history: Senna, Schumacher, Stewart, Clark or even from local hero Jacky Ickx.

In second place, George Russell, a future champion for sure, fended off none other than 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes, to take a miraculous second place for Williams. It was a joy to see these three great drivers celebrating on the podium.

Russian Nikita Mazepin, countered all his critics by capturing in the fastest lap of the race in his Haas, proving he is much more than a pay driver.

You surely get my point here. What I describe is the race we all wanted to see, yesterday at Spa-Francorchamps although I am convinced the race director Michael Masi and the FIA, ultimately took the right decision to choose safety above all other considerations. The conditions were too bad, and the visibility too poor to race. That’s a fact.

Where I do feel uncomfortable with, is to call it a valid Formula One Grand Prix, to name a winner, to allocate (half) the points, a fastest lap award, and to stage a podium ceremony, where there was no competition at all.

In a couple of days time, we’ll be in Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, and hopefully we’ll have an exciting race, the fans of the F1 deserve it.

 

 


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