Spectators who attended Formula 1’s 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was abandoned after just three laps due to bad weather, will not receive a refund on their tickets.
The race at Spa-Francorchamps was called off after three laps, two of which were behind the Safety Car, a result of heavy rain.
Fans had hoped for a refund due to the lack of racing and while race promoter Spa Grand Prix wrote to spectators offering them compensation, this did not include any sort of refund on their tickets, according to RaceFans.net.
Instead, fans will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win seats at next year’s race, though only 170 seats will be up for grabs; 20 of which will be ‘VIP’ tickets, 50 ‘Gold’ seats and 100 ‘Silver’.
Winners can redeem their tickets for the showpiece Sunday race or the whole grand prix weekend, but competition will be extremely high, given the circuit has a total capacity of approximately 70,000.
Fans with tickets to the abandoned 2021 race will also be able to claim one F1 TV pass per person as well as have the chance to attend an “exclusive event” on the Thursday prior to next year’s race.
The offer is available to spectators until the end of January.
“We were disappointed for all the fans that the race could not go to full distance, but the safety of the drivers, marshals and spectators was, and must always be, the priority,” the promoter said.
“The weather conditions did not improve sufficiently to complete more laps.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was declared the 2021 race winner after leading in the one lap that did not feature the safety car, with half points awarded to drivers.
Incidentally, the race was declared the shortest ever in Formula 1 history.
Image: Sebastian Pociecha on Unsplash