JAKARTA - Lewis Hamilton on Sunday said Belgian Grand Prix fans deserve their money back after waiting hours in the cold and rain without witnessing a competitive lap in the shortest race in Formula 1 history.
The wet race at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit was stopped after the drivers, guided behind the Safety Car, had completed the minimum two laps needed for half the points to be awarded to the top ten drivers and also as a liability for rights holders.
"The talk of money and two laps to start the race is all a money scenario," seven-times world champion Hamilton, who finished third for Mercedes, told Sky Sport.
To everyone hanging in there with us, whether you're at home or at the track THANK YOU! 🙏#BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/UMnMpB919e
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 29, 2021
"So everyone gets their share of the money and I think the fans should be refunded too. Because unfortunately they don't get what they paid for."
The Briton said he was very disappointed not to be able to entertain the crowd due to track conditions that made it impossible to race.
Cheers ring out around Spa The race will resume at 18:17 local time! #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/VedwRFXSrs
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 29, 2021
"Obviously we can't control the weather, and I love racing when it rains, but today was different. You really can't see the car in front, there's aquaplaning, unfortunately it's a mess on the track," Hamilton said.
"But the fans are still raining. They still have energy, they create the atmosphere but we lost today's race. I think they deserve their money back."
It was not possible to overtaking, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was entitled to become the champion, followed by Williams' George Russell, and Hamilton who completed the podium.
The race was stopped at 6:44 p.m. local time, or three hours 44 minutes after its original schedule.
Verstappen, who had so much support from the Orange fans, also sympathized with the audience.
"I think today's credit goes to all the fans at this track who stayed there all day in the rain, cold and windy conditions, so I think they were the real winners today," said Verstappen.
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