Fernando Alonso slams 'shocking' FIA points decision after rain-soaked Belgian GP

The Belgian Grand Prix (GP) was cancelled due to relentless rain at the Spa circuit on Sunday. Never, at any point in the day, did the conditions favor a racing environment. However, in spite of abandoning the race right away, the FIA made the fans, teams, and drivers wait for over two hours before ultimately calling the whole thing off. The top 10 qualifying drivers were awarded half points, a decision that was heavily criticised by the drivers later on. F1 legend Fernando Alonso was one who had finished outside the top 10 in qualifying. He went on to slam F1 over the points decision. Sebastian Vettel also criticised the outcome of the race and called it a joke.

“It was a terrible day to be honest for everyone,” Alonso said. “It was a little bit of an early Christmas because there were some gifts gave today to some people. We didn’t race but they still get the position and still get the points, so it’s a little bit shocking. I was P11, I was one place to the points. I was never allowed to fight for those points but they still gave the points. It’s shocking in a way, but it’s the way it is,” the Alpine driver added.

Alonso was also sympathetic to the fans who had made their way on the rain-soaked day to the Spa circuit. “I feel sad for the people, the fans have been amazing all weekend,” the former world champion said. “With this weather, they’re been always supporting. And after the pandemic, and after racing with no spectators for some part of the championship, now to see them is so nice. When you can give them nothing in the race is terribly sad. It’s a very strange day,” he added.

HAMILTON’S FRUSTRATIONS

Alonso was not the only one frustrated with the F1 decision. Defending champion Lewis Hamilton was also one of the drivers that were visibly upset. “Money talks. And it was literally, the two laps to start the race, it’s all money scenario,” he said. “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. There was no point at which we could race, so there wasn’t a race. But there is a rule that says to get to a legal race is two laps. So we did two laps behind a safety car. That activates a bunch of things. My biggest concern is that the fans should get their money back I think and I don’t know if by doing those two laps means they don’t. We have better values than that as a sport,” he added.

The track was being constantly monitored by the FIA, but at the end of the day, if there was no race, the sponsors would not be happy. That would mean a financial setback for the body. Following a three-hour wait after the first red flag, it was becoming clear that the weather was not going to let up. However, the FIA shied away from announcing an abandoned race and made fans, drivers, and teams wait further, only to cancel the event in the end. All in all, it was an extremely frustrating afternoon at Spa for pretty much everyone involved.