Verstappen defends “safer” Red Bull pit call in Spa F1 sprint

To reduce spray after a late downpour, five formation laps were run behind the safety car ahead of a rolling start.

Although drivers reported conditions were clear for intermediate tyres, half the field stayed put for an extra lap on full wets. This was to avoid losing time to a double-stack pitstop and a delayed release in a congested pit-lane.

Polesitter Verstappen remained on circuit while second-starting Oscar Piastri dived into the pits….