Marked by uninterrupted rain, the Spa Francorchamps circuit was the scene of many twists and turns during the qualifications for the Belgian Grand Prix, contested this Saturday, August 28.
Four weeks after the victory of French Esteban Ocon at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 resumed its rights this weekend, on the occasion of the 12th race of the season.
Security called into question
Qualifying was especially marked by the crash of 21-year-old British driver Lando Norris (McLaren), who lost control of his car in the rise of Eau Rouge due to a particularly wet track.
However, the quadruple world champion Sébastian Vettel (Aston Martin) had asked for the red flag to interrupt the race but the organizers did not have time to deploy it before the unfortunate incident.
Big Norris Crash at Raidillon.#GPBelgium #BelgiumGP pic.twitter.com/YJVF0HfM5H
– Polle #DS (@Marcus_Polle) August 28, 2021
Even more spectacularly, the huge pile-up in the women’s W Series race on the same circuit on Friday August 27 impacted six female drivers, as can be seen below. Fortunately, no woman was injured but security is highly debated at the sight of the impressive images.
Like an air of deja vu …
Thanks to the halo and all the other protections that allowed the girls to survive this!
This is the qualification for the women’s race of the W Series (in parallel with the #BelgianGP), which resumed after this very serious accident. https://t.co/kVc2yUO7jK
– Juliette (@TenMoreDays) August 27, 2021
Russell caps Hamilton on the starting grid
In Dantesque atmospheric conditions, the last 9 drivers had to decide between themselves during the third qualifying round.
Summary of the times and the results of these qualifiers of the #BelgianGP
https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/ZJYrejlT7n
– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) August 28, 2021
Author of a great time, George Russell (Williams) finally signed second place in qualifying, behind the German Max Verstappen (Red Bull) but just ahead of the leader of the drivers’ classification, the Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
The race will begin Sunday, August 29 at 3 p.m., on the channels of Canal +.