Source:REUTERS/Manon Cruz
[Saba Sports News] Max Verstappen has made a rare public critique following the F1 Belgian Grand Prix, lambasting the FIA’s handling of wet-weather racing as “far too cautious.” He argued that the sport’s iconic slippery conditions—a core part of F1’s allure—are being phased out. Last Sunday, heavy rain hit Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit, delaying the scheduled 3 PM start by a full hour and a half. Verstappen insisted the race could have begun on time, claiming just two laps behind the Safety Car would have cleared an ideal racing line. Instead, the first four laps were completed under the Safety Car before the green flag, and within just eight laps, most teams had switched to slick tires—a move that left Verstappen fuming. Red Bull’s RB21 had been tuned for wet conditions, yet barely encountered true wet-weather racing. The Dutchman was equally unsparing toward drivers complaining about poor visibility: “If you can’t see, lift off the throttle. When you can see again, press it.” His blunt, almost sarcastic remark underscored his frustration with F1’s growing conservatism.