F1 MD, Ross Brawn justifies the issuing of half points for Sunday's parade by claiming that they reward the bravery shown in qualifying.

Since taking office at F1 Towers in St James's Market, Ross Brawn has come out with some tripe but his reaction to Sunday's events takes the biscuit.

"Half points were awarded," said the Briton in his post-Belgium debrief on the sport's official website. "It's not ideal but if you can't reward someone for the race, reward them for the bravery in qualifying.

"A lap like George Russell did in qualifying in the absence of a full race should be rewarded," he added. "As I say, it's not ideal, but it's where we are. The weather just wasn't in our corner on Sunday."

Drivers and fans have already expressed fears that the introduction of Sprint Qualifying - another gimmick championed by Brawn - might dilute the value of the Grand Prix, now here we are with points being awarded for bravery shown in qualifying.

If this is the case, why stop with the ten drivers that finished at the front of Sunday's parade, who no points for Lando Norris' bravery in qualifying.

Indeed, if bravery in qualifying counts for points in Belgium why not every weekend… if nothing else, a 'Qualifying Bravery Award' sponsored by Megacrypto someone or other would bring in some much-needed wonga.

Those fans that waited out the endless messages from race control from the comfort of their homes - as opposed to the poor souls in the grandstands and lining the track - will be aware that from when the race was officially suspended, a number of drivers, including Russell, opined that only two laps needed to be completed in order for (half) points to be awarded.

While as MD and PR man for F1, Brawn might feel that awarding points - even for qualifying bravery – is justified, one wonders what Brawn the technical director and team boss might have had to say on the matter.

Always one to push the envelope to the limit... and then some, one can only imagine Brawn's reaction had a rival team been awarded points over his own for "bravery" in qualifying.

Meanwhile, in a classic case of cherry-picking, the media chaps at F1 Towers tweeted in reference to an article on the official site in which Lewis Hamilton's praise of the "incredible" fans at Spa was widely quoted.

Somehow, they omitted to mention the world champion's call for refunds to be issued.

Funny that.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by TokyoAussie, 02/09/2021 3:08

"No, Ross, there is no provision in the sporting regulations for rewarding bravery in qualifying with championship points. Dumb thing to say."

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2. Posted by Editor, 01/09/2021 18:47

"@ Bill Hopgood

Feel free to "rant" away Bill ;-)"

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3. Posted by BillH, 01/09/2021 18:45

"What a stupid thing for Brawn to say.
F1 has decided to take a social justice stand on a number of issues in the past couple of years.
Well, if that is the case then what about the folks left behind in Afghanistan that worked for the Coalition forces over a 20 year stretch?
That was bravery.
And now, they and their families have been left to a terrible fate.
I wonder what slogan, banner, F1 will come up with in regard to that situation.
"We evacuate as one"?
Then there is the folks out there fighting serious illness or injury.
That is brave.
This is what happens when sport / corporates step outside of their core activities.
The heads of F1 are more concerned about how they look to the woke corporates and others than the actual racing.
All the drivers are brave, we watch them do what they do and we know that there is very few humans that can do it.
We appreciate their skill and talent every time they race.
Time for F1 to cut the bull and get back to the racing rewarding the teams and drivers on race day.
The sport does not need participation certificates or points for showing up on race day.
Apologies to @editor and readers for the rant.
I'll get back to the racing too."

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4. Posted by Oil Leak77, 01/09/2021 13:15

"Perhaps Lewis Hamilton can refund fans who didn't want politics and political gesturing brought into Formula 1 ?
As for Lewis criticising on instagram that whites have always dominated this sport. He can't think much of Asians who provided the catalyst for his current team and have dominated in the past, as well as giving him decent competition this season. "

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 01/09/2021 10:17

"…good job Ross was not trying to award points back in the 50’s… 60’s… 70’s… I’m sure Sir Jackie is spinning in his tartan over this view over bravery…. Indeed I’d love to be a fly on the wall if Sir J. Has actually called Ross, and “applied some historic harmonisation” on quite what Brave is when it comes to climbing behind the wheel."

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6. Posted by equator180, 01/09/2021 6:36

"Like it or not, there would have been a race if Bernie was around.."

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7. Posted by GordonG47, 01/09/2021 6:11

"Fawlty Towers > F1 Towers"

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8. Posted by Steve W, 01/09/2021 1:00

"I quit paying attention to Ross Brawn a long time ago."

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9. Posted by Rock Doc, 31/08/2021 15:31

"No sure where they came up with the final podium from but for me the winner was the Medical car driver who did the most number of laps and entertained the crowds. Surely he had the fastest lap time of the day.

Next should be the safety car driver who led the field on ever lap they did. Max looked like he might overtake on occasions but could get passed.

Am I missing something ?"

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10. Posted by Editor, 31/08/2021 11:50

"@ jcr

Cowards the lot of them... an absolute shower, as TT would have said."

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11. Posted by jcr, 31/08/2021 11:40

"If the points were awarded for bravery in quali, what happened to the second half of the grid, They wer,nt brave enough ????"

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12. Posted by Superbird70, 31/08/2021 11:15

"This right up there with Brundle's pre-'race' comment about how Norris had a 'champions crash' during qualifying. All this spinning is making me dizzy."

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13. Posted by kenji, 31/08/2021 10:57

"@ Spindoctor....Farc....E."

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14. Posted by Spindoctor, 31/08/2021 10:36

"FIA stupidity test: Change "Race" into "Farce" changing as little as possible.
"

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15. Posted by Mad Matt, 31/08/2021 9:34

"@Max.. all good points, what about an award for "best example of virtue signalling", on the other hand that might unfairly discriminate against Kimi :-)"

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Brawn: Points awarded for qualifying bravery

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