“Vicious cycle” meant slicks were quicker in the wet at F1 Belgian GP

Spa was seen by the Williams team as a track that would favour the low-drag characteristics of the FW45 and give Albon a chance to repeat the points-scoring form that he’s previously shown this year at Sakhir, Montreal and Silverstone.

He jumped up from 15th to 10th with a strong first lap and ran as high as seventh before his early first stop.

However, with his focus on saving his tyres, and while struggling to maintain pace through the…