This is how the British F1 press reacted to the farcical Belgian Grand Prix

Let's be honest. The rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix never really happened. But two laps were completed meaning a result was confirmed and half points awarded. Max Verstappen took the biggest haul of points and managed to close the gap on rival Lewis Hamilton in the World Championship. This is how the British press reacted to the event. 

Daily Mail

The Daily Mail highlights straight away that the Belgian Grand Prix was indeed a farce. "Max Verstappen won a farce of a Belgian Grand Prix – a procession behind a safety car for TWO laps. The crowd at the rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps circuit waited three-and-a-half hours for the results as the highest-paid drivers on earth sat in their garages waiting for the weather to clear. George Russell of Williams finished second with Lewis Hamilton third. That is where they started."

The Guardian

The Belgian Grand Prix was the shortest race in F1 history, aside from the lengthy three-hour rain delay. The British newspaper highlights this in their reaction to the event. "The record books will record the Belgian Grand Prix as a race, and honours were duly awarded, but there was little dignity in how Formula One went about it on a rain-soaked afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps. It was the shortest race in the sport’s history, over in just three laps and eight minutes, all behind the safety car."

"Max Verstappen was declared the winner for Red Bull, with George Russell second for Williams and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in third. However, in what must count as a farcical determination by F1 to declare a result come what may, none of the drivers actually did any racing."

BBC Sport

BBC Sport highlight how George Russell's qualifying lap translated into a podium and his best finish in Formula 1 They suggest it was one of the greatest in history. "Red Bull's Max Verstappen was declared the winner of a Belgian Grand Prix that lasted two laps behind the safety car. And Russell has achieved his first podium finish, thanks to a qualifying lap in the wet on Saturday that will go down as one of the greatest in F1 history."

The Telegraph

The Telegraph describes the event as a torrid affair: "Some of the sodden spectators pumped their fists in delight, with Verstappen’s fans lighting orange flares on the Kemmel Straight. But their celebrations were short-lived. After just two laps of the 4.35-mile circuit, the race was red-flagged for a second time, and 19 minutes later, at 6:44pm, the torrid affair was called off."