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2021 Belgian Grand Prix

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2021 Belgian Grand Prix
Race 12 of 22[a] in the 2021 Formula One World Championship
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Layout of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Layout of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Race details
Date 29 August 2021
Official name Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021
Location Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 7.004 km (4.352 miles)
Distance 3 laps, 21.012 km (13.056 miles)
Scheduled distance 44 laps, 308.052 km (191.414 miles)
Weather Wet, persistent rain
Pole position
Driver
Red Bull Racing-Honda
Time 1:59.765
Podium
First
Red Bull Racing-Honda
Second
Williams-Mercedes
Third
Mercedes
Lap leaders

The 2021 Belgian Insomniac Cure (officially known as the Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 August 2021 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the twelfth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.

Background

The event, which was held over the weekend of 27–29 August at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, was the twelfth round of the 2021 World Championship. It marked the sixty-sixth time the Belgian Grand Prix appeared on the World Championship calendar. The race was the first one after a three weeks break. It also rained throughout the weekend,[3] exciting some drivers. Mick Schumacher stated that he's "looking forward to getting onto some rain",[4] while Lando Norris said that he was "hoping for a bit of rain" in the race.[5] However, Nikita Mazepin stated that he "hope[s] it's dry."[6]

Championship standings before the race

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix one month earlier, Lewis Hamilton leads the Drivers' Championship by 8 points from Max Verstappen. Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez are third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Mercedes lead the Constructors' Championship by 12 points from Red Bull Racing. Ferrari are third and McLaren fourth, both with 163 points (140 behind Mercedes).[7]

Entrants

See also: 2021 Formula One World Championship § Entries

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race.[8]

Tyre choices

Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated the C2, C3, and C4 compounds of tyre to be used in the race.[9]

Penalties

After causing collisions at the previous race, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll both received five-place grid penalties for the Grand Prix.[10][11]

Practice

Free practice 1 took place on 27 August at 11:30 CEST and ended without major incident. Yuki Tsunoda and Kimi Räikkönen spun at La Source in separate incidents.[12] The latter also hit the inside pit wall, ending his session.[13] Charles Leclerc ran wide at turn 7, before saving himself from spinning.[14] The Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas was fastest, followed by Red Bull's Max Verstappen and AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly.[15] Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton finished in 18th,[16] after his lap was impeded by a slow Nicholas Latifi.[17]

Free practice 2 took place at 15:00 CEST on the same day. The session was interrupted by two incidents, resulting in red flags. First, Leclerc lost control of the rear end on the exit of Les Combes, causing him to crash into the wall, ending his session.[18] Verstappen had an incident at Malmedy, also losing control of the rear and hitting the wall. Esteban Ocon also spun, but was able to recover back to the pits. Verstappen finished fastest, with Bottas in second. Hamilton finished in third.[19]

Free practice 3 took place on 28 August at 12:00 CEST.[20]

Qualifying

Qualifying took place on 28 August and was due to start at 15:00 CEST.[20] Qualifying was delayed due to extreme rainfall and so started at 15:12. Everyone went on the full wet tyres, except for George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, who were first and second after the first qualifying laps. Everyone then fitted the intermediate tyres. The first session ended with Lando Norris in first, Max Verstappen in second and Lewis Hamilton in third. Nikita Mazepin, Kimi Raikkonen, Mick Schumacher, Yuki Tsunoda and Antonio Giovinazzi were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying.

The second session was completed on intermediate tyres. Norris once again was first, with Hamilton second and Valtteri Bottas third. Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz Jr, Latifi and Charles Leclerc were eliminated from the remainder of qualifying. The third segment of qualifying started with worsening rain. Immediately, drivers were asking for a delayed session or red flag. Norris then aquaplaned at Eau Rouge resulting in a heavy crash at Raidillon, resulting in a red flag. Sebastian Vettel stopped at the scene to check on Norris. Verstappen took pole on his final lap, with George Russell in second and Hamilton third. Norris was cleared to race after precautionary checks and an X-ray after his Q3 crash. Russell secured Williams’ first front row start since the 2017 Italian Grand Prix.

Qualifying classification

Pos. No. Driver Constructor Qualifying times Final
grid
Q1 Q2 Q3
1 33 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda 1:58.717 1:56.559 1:59.765 1
2 63 United Kingdom George Russell Williams-Mercedes 1:59.864 1:56.950 2:00.086 2
3 44 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:59.218 1:56.229 2:00.099 3
4 3 Australia Daniel Ricciardo McLaren-Mercedes 2:01.583 1:57.127 2:00.864 4
5 5 Germany Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin-Mercedes 2:00.175 1:56.814 2:00.935 5
6 10 France Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 2:00.387 1:56.440 2:01.164 6
7 11 Mexico Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda 1:59.334 1:56.886 2:02.112 7
8 77 Finland Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:59.870 1:56.295 2:02.502 131
9 31 France Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 2:01.824 1:57.354 2:03.513 8
10 4 United Kingdom Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 1:58.301 1:56.025 No time 152
11 16 Monaco Charles Leclerc Ferrari 2:00.728 1:57.721 N/A 9
12 6 Canada Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 2:00.966 1:58.056 N/A 10
13 55 Spain Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 2:01.184 1:58.137 N/A 11
14 14 Spain Fernando Alonso Alpine-Renault 2:01.653 1:58.205 N/A 12
15 18 Canada Lance Stroll Aston Martin-Mercedes 2:01.597 1:58.231 N/A 191
16 99 Italy Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 2:02.306 N/A N/A 14
17 22 Japan Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri-Honda 2:02.413 N/A N/A 16
18 47 Germany Mick Schumacher Haas-Ferrari 2:03.973 N/A N/A 17
19 7 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 2:04.452 N/A N/A PL3
20 9 Russian Automobile Federation Nikita Mazepin[b] Haas-Ferrari 2:04.939 N/A N/A 18
107% time: 2:06.582
Source:[22][23]
Notes

Race

The race was due to start at 15:00 CEST on 29 August, but was delayed multiple times due to persistent rain.[20] Sergio Pérez was not expected to start the race, after he crashed on his way to the grid.[26] However, the Red Bull mechanics were able to repair Pérez's RB16B during the delay. After over three hours of delays, two laps were completed under the safety car which allowed for the results to be classified when the decision was made not to restart the race after a final red flag.

Race classification

Pos. No. Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 33 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda 3 1 12.5
2 63 United Kingdom George Russell Williams-Mercedes 3 2 9
3 44 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 3 3 7.5
4 3 Australia Daniel Ricciardo McLaren-Mercedes 3 6
5 5
6 4
7 3
8 2
9 1
10 0.5
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Fastest lap:
Source:
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1/2 point for fastest lap.

^2 – Half points were awarded as less than 75% of the race was completed.

Notes

  1. ^ Formula One plan to hold twenty-two Grands Prix. This remains subject to the cancellation of rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the replacement of any rounds which are cancelled.[1][2]
  2. ^ Nikita Mazepin is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency in response to the state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.[21]

References

  1. ^ Richards, Giles (12 August 2021). "F1's off-track drama heats up as Covid threatens to scupper busy schedule". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. ^ Benson, Andrew (6 July 2021). "Australian Grand Prix: Formula 1 race and Moto GP round called off". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  3. ^ "What's the weather forecast for the 2021 F1 Belgian Grand Prix?". Crash. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Mick Schumacher Q&A: Belgian Grand Prix". Haas F1 Team. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "McLaren's Lando Norris says Hungary DNF blotted 'almost perfect' first half of season as he prays for rain in Spa". Formula1. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Nikita Mazepin Q&A: Belgian Grand Prix". Haas F1 Team. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Hungary 2021 - Championship". StatsF1. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "2021 Belgian Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ Noble, Jonathan (19 February 2021). "Pirelli unveils tyre choices for 2021 F1 season". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Luke (1 August 2021). "Bottas handed grid penalty for Belgian GP after Hungary crash". Autosport. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ a b "Stroll also handed penalty after opening lap crash in Hungary". RacingNews365. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Raikkonen and Tsunoda spin at La Source". Formula 1. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "2021 Belgian GP FP1: Räikkönen hits the pit wall at Spa-Francorchamps". Formula 1. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Benson, Andrew (27 August 2021). "Bottas top in Belgium first practice". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  15. ^ "2021 Belgian Grand Prix FP1 report and highlights: Bottas leads Verstappen in damp first practice session at Spa". Formula1. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (27 August 2021). "F1 Belgian GP: Bottas tops FP1 from Verstappen, Hamilton only 18th". autosport. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Gomes, Arpit (27 August 2021). "Watch: Hamilton Narrowly Avoids Huge Crash With Williams F1 Driver During Spa Free Practice". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "2021 Belgian GP FP2: Leclerc crash at Turn 6 brings out red flags". Formula 1. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Benson, Andrew (27 August 2021). "Verstappen tops practice despite crash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  20. ^ a b c "Belgian Grand Prix 2021 - F1 Race". Formula1. Retrieved 24 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Luke Smith (5 February 2021). "Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021 – Qualifying". Formula1.com. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2021 – Starting Grid". Formula1.com. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Norris to take 5-place grid penalty at Spa as McLaren confirm gearbox change after Q3 crash". Formula1.com. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Raikkonen set to start from pit lane at Spa after rear wing change". Formula1.com. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  26. ^ Smith, Luke (29 August 2021). "Perez out of Belgian GP after crash on lap to the grid". Autosport. Retrieved 29 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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