Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen feels it is “totally unnecessary” to resume the regional Formula 1 race in Spa that took the life of his Dutch compatriot Delano van te Hoff.
Van ‘t Hoff, an 18-year-old racing talent for the Dutch MP Motorsport team, was killed when he collided directly with Kemmel in pouring rain and was then hit by a competitor, unable to see van ‘t Hoff’s car. Because of the sheer amount of spray on the straight that follows the dreaded Raidillon corner.
Four years after Antoine Huppert’s fatal crash at the 2019 F2 round at Spa, the tragedy has raised uncomfortable new questions about the future of the Eau Rouge and Raidillon complex, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll saying one of the drivers in the corner and its blind exit must change.
But it also refocused on the problem of single-seater racing in the rain where open wheels generate massive amounts of spray that limits visibility, no matter the circuit or corner combination.
Formula Regional Europe by Alpine racing restarted with one lap to go after a safety car period for an earlier accident.
At Saturday’s press conference at the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen said it was “easily to blame the circuit” and instead felt questions should be asked about why racing should resume at all in the circumstances.
“It’s very sad, of course, my condolences to the whole family and to the parliamentary team,” Verstappen later told a Dutch broadcaster. Viaplay.
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR23, rest of the field at the start of the Sprint
Photography: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
“We have to look at what we can improve. I saw some pictures from the race and it was very wet, so I think it was totally unnecessary to restart this race.
“You know when you restart with lots of water and splashing, you won’t see anything.
“The people in the back have nothing to lose, so they easily get out and then you have this kind of accident that shouldn’t happen.
“We have to find solutions. We have to look at how we can improve the spray and we always have to keep looking at car safety, but right now it’s very sad.”
Meanwhile, F1, which will visit Spa in three weeks for the Belgian Grand Prix, is working with the FIA on solutions to reduce the amount of splash cars it generates.
Mercedes and McLaren will hold the first wet-weather trial of the new F1 wheel arches, which will take place at Silverstone on July 13.
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