In the history of Formula 1, all kinds of situations have been experienced, from floods that made the track impassable before the astonished gaze of the spectators from the stands and their homes, to fatal accidents that left everyone present cold. These are things that have caused several of the races in the highest category of motorsport to end prematurely.
Let’s take a look at the dates that have completed the shortest distance since the Great Circus was created.
Shortest races (in km) in the history of Formula 1
Photo by: Erik Junius
Photo By: Sutton Motorsport Images
Photo By: Sutton Motorsport Images
Photo By: Sutton Motorsport Images
Photo from: Motorsport.com/Japan
2021 Belgian Grand Prix (6.8km)
The list is headed by one of the greatest embarrassments and indescribable situations in Formula 1, the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where the threat of rain prevented the fastest single-seaters in the world from giving more than 6.8 km of the fastest of 308 scheduled in the 44 laps that were to be played. That did not even correspond to the total of a lap at Spa-Francorchamps (7,004 meters), and the FIA only delayed the start of the race with messages on the screen that exhausted the patience of the fans present, who spent hours and hours enduring the water in the hills of the Ardennes.
Even more embarrassing was a podium led by Max Verstappen and joined by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who popped the champagne having only driven behind the safety car. To this we had to add that the Race Directorate awarded half the points, when not a single meter of competition had been given under the green flag, which led the international federation to modify the regulations and receive hundreds of criticisms from the entire paddock . .
In addition, that appointment in Belgium is the shortest race in the history of Formula 1, with a total of 3 minutes and 27 seconds, but which had periods of red flags for several hours until it was decided to end the test.
1991 Australian Grand Prix (52.9km)
The Australian appointment began under the deluge at the Adelaide circuit, a test that was scheduled for 81 laps but finally ended after having given only 14 in the 52.9 km completed by the winner, Ayrton Senna. It was the second shortest timed race in Formula 1 history, totaling 24 minutes and 34 seconds.
The rain was such that nothing could be done with a Formula 1 on the track, and all the drivers, in Nelson Piquet’s farewell from the Great Circus, just tried to stay on the asphalt; Proof of this were the seven retirements due to accidents in the 14 laps of the race. That day was sweet for McLaren as they clinched the constructors’ title and celebrated Senna’s 33rd win in Australia with a double podium thanks to Gerhard Berger.
1984 Monaco Grand Prix (102.6 km)
Undoubtedly, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most remembered races by all Formula 1 fans and lovers, and it is the event in which Ayrton Senna surprised the world with a modest Toleman to climb for the first time in his life on the podium. The legendary Monegasque track was flooded, and only 31 laps could be completed, that is, 102.6 km, although the end was a bit watered down.
The Brazilian was making a comeback from 13th place, and in just 19 laps he was already second, only behind Alain Prost who, seeing the conditions of the track and how the young man from São Paulo cut him off, put his hand out of the cockpit as a sign that it was impossible to drive in the rain on the streets of the Principality. So, Race Direction decided to raise the red flag to end the test in what was a very sweet second place for Senna but knowing that it could have been his first victory in his debut year.
As a curiosity, Stefan Bellof would have also been on the podium, in which he would be the only one in his life to finish third, but the German was disqualified and his place was taken by René Arnoux’s Ferrari.
1975 Spanish Grand Prix (109.9 km)
The race in Spain in 1975 had a tragic outcome, and that is that when it came to lap 26, Rolf Stommelen suffered a serious accident that led to the death of four people. They were an Italian photographer, a Spanish firefighter and two spectators who witnessed the test on the Montjuic mountain. A dozen spectators were also injured, and one fan died in hospital, bringing the death toll to five.
The pilot, for his part, was rescued alive, although with a fractured leg, several ribs and an arm. Amazingly, he stayed in the race for three more laps to complete the 109.9km fourth-shortest round in Formula 1 history. It was also Jochen Mass’s first and only victory in motorsport’s top flight, and he was accompanied on the podium by Jacky Ickx and Carlos Reutemann.
The Spanish Grand Prix of that season marked a before and after in the sport, since it was not competed in Montjuic again, going on to do so in Jarama until in 1981 the single-seaters left for Jerez.
2022 Japanese Grand Prix (162.2 km)
The fifth shortest appointment in history took place at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, where heavy rain caused Formula 1 to only dispute 162.2 km in a grotesque race, with Max Verstappen proclaiming himself world champion without even know it due to the modification of the regulation due to the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.
In the Japanese test, Race Direction decided to start under normal conditions, under water, but Carlos Sainz’s accident caused a crane to come out in the middle of the track and made the participants even fear for their lives when remembering the accident by Jules Bianchi. Pierre Gasly explained that he had passed just two meters from the extraction vehicle, and if he had lost control, what happened in 2014 would have been repeated.
The bewilderment came after the red flags, as the event resumed with 40 minutes still to go, in a victory for Verstappen, who did not celebrate his second world title because Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line second, but a penalty sent him to the third place for a Red Bull double with Sergio Pérez. The modification of the regulation in the punctuation of the races with red flag and the maximum time limit meant that the entire prize was awarded and that the Dutchman won the championship.
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