Russell urges Belgian GP cancellation sense if rain threatens safety

George Russell has warned the FIA must not shy away from cancelling the Belgian Grand Prix should conditions pose safety risks.

Eighteen-year-old Dutchman Dilano van 't Hoff was killed earlier this month in a FRECA race when collected in a multi-car accident in treacherous conditions.

The incident was eerily similar to that which claimed the life of Anthoine Hubert and seriously injured Juan Manuel Correa in a 2019 F2 just a corner before at Raidillon.

Van 't Hoff's incident has led to concerns over safety entering the Belgian GP weekend and Mercedes driver Russell told media including RacingNews365: "I felt like the incident that happened in [Formula Regional], it was only really a matter of time [before] something like that happened.

"Drivers aren't going flat-out in the straight because they can't see, somebody gets rear-ended, and then there's a car in the middle of the track."

Russell: Right call to cancel 2021 race

The heavy rain forecast to fall at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend evokes memories of the truncated 2021 Belgian GP, with that race running for only two laps behind the Safety Car as the conditions were deemed too dangerous.

"I think, two years ago, that was the correct decision to call the race off," said Russell.

"For one single F1 car to drive around, the conditions are safe enough and suitable enough to drive, but it's when you've got 20 cars on track at once.

"Anybody from third position backwards literally cannot see 30 or 40 metres away.

"Obviously, to have a race cancelled is not perfect for anybody, but we don't want to see another huge incident."