‘It’s Just Too Dangerous’: Wolff Puzzled By Farcical Belgian GP But Agrees Conditions Were Undriveable

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has described drivers and teams being awarded half points in Spa as “annoying.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed his frustration at the farcical Belgian Grand Prix.

Proceedings were interrupted by heavy rain, and no racing action took place on the day.

READ: Lewis Hamilton Unhappy With ‘Massive Bump’ At Eau Rouge

Instead, the “grand prix” consisted of a couple of laps behind the Safety Car – and, as per the regulations, this was enough for half points to be awarded.

Speaking after the grand prix, Wolff said it was “annoying” for any points to be awarded under such circumstances.

“Half points are annoying, but that’s what the regulations say,” Wolff told Austria’s ORF broadcaster.

“We now have to go and see how it went. All the team bosses are going to Race Control anyway.

“We clearly shouldn’t have started, but the procedure behind the Safety Car could probably have been omitted,” he added.

During the three-hour wait between the first and final laps behind the Safety Car, Wolff was asked for his thoughts on Race Control running a two-lap race – not under Safety Car conditions – to provide some action and generate a classification.

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The Austrian was opposed to this, as he warned that the opening laps of a grand prix in such conditions are typically the most dangerous.

Continuing, he said: “It is just too dangerous through Eau Rouge, Raidillon and on the straight.

“From the second or third car you have almost no visibility so as much as I love racing and also the risk of racing, this is a step too far.”

With Max Verstappen winning the race and Sir Lewis Hamilton finishing third, the Dutchman now trails the seven-time World Champion by just three points as we head to Zandvoort.

Hamilton, for his part, said he hopes that spectators get a refund due to the absence of any action on Sunday.

“I feel really sorry for the fans today,” he said after the race.

“It was no one’s fault obviously with this weather, but the fans have been incredible today just to stick with us this whole time and hold out for a potential race.

“They knew when they sent us out at the end there that the track wasn’t any better, and they did it just so that we could start two laps behind the Safety Car which is the minimum requirement for a race.

“I really hope the fans get their money back today.”

Asked for his thoughts on half points being awarded for the farcical race, Hamilton replied: “Well, money talks.

“It was literally two laps to start the race, all money scenario, so everyone gets their money and I think the fans should get theirs back too, because unfortunately they didn’t get to see what they came and paid for.

READ: Vettel On Farcical Belgian GP: Formula 1 ‘Probably’ Made The Right Decision

“It’s a shame we can’t do the race tomorrow. Today wasn’t a race.

“I think the sport made a bad choice today, of course we wanted to race, but there is a minimum of two laps you need to do to count as a race, and between that gap of stopping the first time and the second time, it had rained consistently.

“So there is only one reason why they sent us out, so that’s why I feel more bad for the fans,” Hamilton added.

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