Red Bull driver Sergio Perez failed to make the grid at Spa after crashing on his outlap to the grid. However, the lengthy rain delay allowed the team to fix the car.
Sergio Perez crashes out of Belgian GP before start
In torrential rain conditions at Spa, Perez was on his outlap from the pitlane to the grid when he crashed.
He ran wide at the Les Coombes chicane at the end of the Kemmel Straight.
He aquaplaned on the full wet tyre, hitting the tyre barrier on the outside of the circuit.
Perez’s Red Bull team informed the FIA that the car had suffered terminal damage.
His engineer told him to “kill” the engine.
However, due to the lengthy rain delay at Spa, the Red Bull team have been able to the damage to Perez’s car.
Team manager Jonathan Wheatley sought guidance from race control as to whether Perez could take part in the race.
After some uncertainty, race director Michael Masi confirmed that Perez would be allowed to race.
He will have to start from the pitlane.
Has Sergio Perez’s crash delayed the Belgian Grand Prix?
No, given the weather conditions at Spa, the race start has been delayed by FIA race control.
Masi has delayed the start until a break in the weather is achieved.
The formation lap, behind the safety car got underway at 15:25pm local time, after a delay of 25 minutes.
However, after a handful of formation laps behind the safety car, Masi red flagged the race.
The cars have been led in to the pitlane to await
What will happen to the Belgian Grand Prix?
The race will not be started until conditions are deemed safe and acceptable to race.
Laps completed under the safety car will be deducted from the race distance total of 44 laps.
Perez’s Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen qualified on pole position for the Belgian GP.
He is joined on the front row by Williams driver George Russell, who delivered a stunning lap for second place.
Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, and Sebastian Vettel round out the top five.
Lando Norris, who suffered a major accident in qualifying will start 15th, having picked up a grid penalty for a new gearbox.