This Grand Prix was the first to enforce article 12.8.4 of Formula One technical regulations, which stated “devices which are used to fit or remove wheel fasteners may only be powered by compressed air or nitrogen. Nikita Mazepin stated that he "hope it's dry." Going into the event the entry list for the event contained five former winners of the Belgian Grand Prix, these being Lewis Hamilton (with wins in 2010, 2015, 20), Kimi Raikkonen (with wins in 2004, 2005, 20), Sebastian Vettel (with wins in 2011, 20), Charles Leclerc (who won in 2019) and Daniel Ricciardo (who won in 2014) for whom this race was also a 200th Grand Prix start. Mick Schumacher stated that he was "looking forward to getting onto some rain", while Lando Norris said that he was "hoping for a bit of rain" in the race. It rained throughout the weekend which excited some drivers. It marked the sixty-sixth time the Belgian Grand Prix appeared on the season calendar. 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 Formula One World Championship after a four-week summer break. In 2023 Pirelli announced they have introduced a new Full Wet tyre compound to improve racing conditions during wet conditions, not requiring tire blankets. Since 2022, Formula One has been exploring how to improve the raceability of cars in wet conditions in an attempt to reduce the need for safety cars and red flags in wet conditions. Subsequent changes in point structure for shortened races from 2022 mean that reduced points will be awarded to fewer drivers (depending on distance covered) in cases where a race ends under a red flag. It was decided to change the sporting regulations, which from 2022 onwards state a race must involve a minimum of two laps under green flag without a safety car or virtual safety car for points to be awarded. In response to the negative reactions, the sport set about finding suitable methods of preventing a repeat scenario. Other commentators and competitors felt the awarding of half points was justified to reward competitors who had qualified well, even if the race scenario was not ideal. Some commentators and competitors accused Formula One of putting commercial interests above those of paying spectators and fans in general by not abandoning the event with no race result, and not giving spectators a partial ticket refund. This led commentators to question the validity and sporting integrity of officially classifying and awarding points when the only laps completed were behind the safety car. The race is the only World Championship race not to have any running under full green flag conditions. The FIA and then race director Michael Masi were criticised by media, fans, teams and drivers for their decision-making during the weekend, and particularly on race day. The decision to run two laps behind the safety car and red flagging the race on lap three stirred much controversy. The race was also marked the first time since the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix that half points were awarded, the sixth time this occurred in Formula One, regulation changes for the 2022 season meant that half-points could no longer be awarded in subsequent seasons. This beats the previous short distance record of 52.920 km (32.883 mi) set at the 1991 Australian Grand Prix and the fewest laps record, 12, set at the 1971 German Grand Prix. The sporting regulations required the results be taken from the end of lap one, with half points given to drivers who finished in the top 10 positions as less than 75% of the originally scheduled race distance had been completed.Īs of 2023, it holds the record for the shortest Formula One World Championship race in terms of distance (6.880 km (4.275 mi)) and number of laps raced (1). Laps one and two took place behind the safety car before a red flag stopped the race on lap three. The race was planned to run for 44 laps, but ended during the third lap due to wet conditions. The race was won by Max Verstappen, ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The race was also the 77th overall running of the Belgian Grand Prix, the 66th time the event was run as part of the Formula One World Championship, and the 54th World Championship Belgian Grand Prix held at the Spa circuit. It was the twelfth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix (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.
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