Several Formula One drivers have urged the sport's governing body, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), to cancel this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix if conditions become too dangerous.
Weather forecasts indicate that it will be rainy throughout the weekend at the historic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps track.
Weather predictions around the Belgian GP call for rain. 🌧️
— DRSnation (@DRSnation) July 27, 2023
Friday: 84% chance of rain
Saturday: 88% chance of light rain
Sunday: 52% chance of showers
This will reduce highest speeds and will be a great equalizer for drivers trying to navigate this legendary track.
Mercedes driver George Russell, also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, raised his concerns about the potentially hazardous nature of going through with the race despite the forecasted wet conditions.
The 25-year-old ranked Spa as one of the riskier circuits in the calendar, alongside Jeddah, Monaco, and Suzuka to a degree.
"Then when you've got a combination of the weather, it's very challenging. It's the visibility, we just have no visibility whatsoever. The way I describe it to try and give some perspective is driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off," Russell added.
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Concerns rise amid death of Dutch teenager
The concerns about the Belgian track's safety during the wet conditions were brought up again after the death of Dutch teenager Delano van 't Hoff while racing in heavy rain at the track during a Formula Regional European Championship race earlier this month.
French driver Anthoine Hubert also lost his life at the Spa-Francorchamps track during a Formula 2 race in 2019, but it was in dry conditions.
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly led a tribute for the two drivers by running around the track today alongside F1, F2, and F3 personnel.
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