Race director, Michael Masi has confirmed that talks will be held with F1 bosses and the teams in a bid to avoid a repeat of the situation that has put the sport back on the front pages for the wrong reasons.

While George Russell and Williams seem happy to reflect on Spa as the scene of the Briton's first 1 podium, it is unlikely that Daniel Ricciardo will look back as fondly on his 200th Grand Prix start, nor Honda its 50th race with Red Bull.

And while Lewis Hamilton voices the opinion of many fans, certainly those that actually braved the conditions, imagine if yesterday had marked his iconic 100th Grand Prix win.

And while Nikita Mazepin basks in the glory of posting the fastest race lap - on the second lap of a race that only officially consisted of one lap - one wonders what Crypto.com feels about the somewhat inauspicious start to its 'Overtake Award'.

Race director, Michael Masi has confirmed that the FIA is to meet with F1 bosses and the teams to discuss how best to avoid a repeat of yesterday's farce.

"After this weekend, at our next meeting for next year, we'll look at a whole lot of things that you know we can all look at, to see what everyone wants to do," said the Australian.

"As you're all well aware we're at one of those points that the FIA works with all ten teams and F1 to develop the regulations. And so we'll go through all of the various scenarios and see what everyone thinks."

Following a day when at times it appeared officials were making it up as they went along, there will be much to discuss, in terms of why the event couldn't have been postponed, the decision to award points for a two (one) lap parade and the decision to allow Sergio Perez to race after crashing over three hours earlier. And that's for starters.

Sponsorship guru, Zak Brown took to social media to call for an urgent review of the situation, (rightly) insisting that F1 and the FIA need to look into the definition of the word 'race'.

"The regulations state that after you do a few laps it can be called a race," said the American in a video on Twitter. "I think that needs to be reviewed.

"I don't think there is anyone who would argue the weather was safe to race in," he admitted, "but we need a better solution as a sport when that type of situation happens.

"The outcome should not be a race after three laps behind a safety car," he added. "That is what the rules say but that now needs to be reviewed by all of us, to learn from today and realise that we if are given that type of situation, what would we do differently to make sure the outcome is everyone gets their race in, whether that is the following day or it comes back.

"I don't think anyone would say it felt right calling that a race, so we will work on this and hope that something like this doesn't happen again."

Meanwhile, two well-connected sources have told Pitpass that the saga is far from over and that there are likely to be legal repercussions.

Indeed, in 1985 when the Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled after the freshly laid tarmac broke up. Bernie Ecclestone, aware of the potential legal implications, rescheduled the race which was duly run later in the year.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Spa, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Jolemo, 31/08/2021 12:08

"You do realise there is a website called Crypto.com.
Just thought I would mention that in case there are some legal issues.😂"

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 31/08/2021 11:38

"Avoiding this in future is simple: don't do it again. There you go, I claim my £1.5million consultancy fee paid direct to my Cayman Islands Account, of course.

"

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3. Posted by kenji, 31/08/2021 1:01

"What the outcome of Sunday has done has exposed quite a few contentious issues that need to be addressed. Too many people rush to judgment without first analysing the depth and complexities of the points in question. There is a mile of difference between fact and opinion. One issue in particular is how does the governing body avoid being tainted by outrageous claims from outside parties? Bringing the 'sport' into disrepute is one area that has always been fiercely protected and from a business sense, and F1 is a business, needs to be pursued with the utmost vigor. The other issue that I have personally is rather minor by comparison, but the entire 'podium' was not only cringeworthy but embarrassing as well. Drivers high fiving and jumping and leaping as if they'd just driven 44 laps under unimaginable conditions was totally hollow. Yes, if legally, the awarding of half points would stand scrutiny, so be it, but lets not pretend it was anything else. To dump on Masi is both unfair and unwarranted...IMO. I'm sure that he and his team did the very best that they could under circumstances that are indeed rare."

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4. Posted by RP, 30/08/2021 19:02

"Wikipedia defines an auto race as "motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition." The farce yesterday insulted the fans and the drivers. If any championship is decided by the half points issued it will be meaningless. How noble that everyone is going to sit down and decide how to avoid this happening again.
Their was no "race" as there was no competition. If you needed any solid proof, besides what you saw with your own eyes, think about this - FASTEST LAP TO NIKITA MAZEPIN. If you had not turned the "race" on and didn't know it never happened, you would think you were in another dimension seeing that statistic.
No sentient human who was actually there would have sent the field out behind the pace car to award points. If it had actually been a wet race, George Russel would likely have earned some points. Shame on F1.
If the driver were not embarrassed to stand on the podium awarded by Michael Masi, shame on them too. I have been watched Grand Prix racing since I was young, a long time ago, and I don't recall seeing any display like this one."

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F1 and FIA to discuss means of avoiding repeat of Spa farce

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