Motor racing-Rain forces suspension of Belgian Grand Prix start

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium - August 29, 2021 Red Bull's Sergio Perez crashes out before the start of the race REUTERS/Johanna Geron

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) -The start of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix was suspended after torrential rain drenched the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Sunday and two hours later the race still looked unlikely to get underway.

The formation lap, which kicks off proceedings, was initially delayed by 25 minutes but after two laps behind the safety car in poor visibility, with the field kicking up plumes of spray even at that relatively slow speed, Formula One's race director Michael Masi decided to suspend the start procedure.