Formula 1: Flying Dutchman Verstappen wins in Spa

“There was a demonstration of strength,” says Sky expert Timo Glock. “Everyone else will have a hard time pondering. Red Bull is making big strides and Max Verstappen was in a league of his own.” A historical comparison also shows this: Verstappen’s triumphal ride is reminiscent of 1995, when Michal Schumacher roared from 16th place to victory on the Ardennes rollercoaster.

As early as lap twelve, the reigning world champion takes the lead after plowing past all the stars of the scene through the field. In the end he has an 18-second lead: “An incredible Sunday,” said Verstappen on the pit radio. “I want more of that.” Perez verbally hits the nail on the head: “Max just played.”

Leclerc is flashed in the pit lane and given a 5-second time penalty.

Verstappen is now 92 points clear of teammate Sergio Perez and 98 over Leclerc. “It was easier than we thought,” says Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. “When Max had a clear run, he was one to 1.5 seconds faster than Perez. It’s an enormous ease with which he is currently delivering these performances. A combination of Verstappen’s confidence and driving class, Honda engine and a chassis that we are getting better at understanding and that is getting closer and closer to the weight limit.”

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is eliminated after touching Fernando Alonso on the first lap. At the end of the long Kemmel straight, the Mercedes star pulls in from the outside lane and drives Alonso over the left front tire. Hamilton takes off and has to park his silver arrow a little later.

Alonso rages on the radio: “What an idiot! Hamilton can only start at the front and drive at the front.” The Briton also gets a warning afterwards because he does not go to the medical center to be examined despite the warning light.

Sebastian Vettel drove a strong race.

Sebastian Vettel gets four points in eighth place. The Heppenheimer experienced his Zonta moment. On the Kemmel straight, the Aston Martin star is cornered by Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly and overtaken like in 2000 Ricardo Zonta by Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen. “But the Zonta was even slower than me on the straight,” laughs Vettel. “I felt like him: If I twitch left or right, it’s dangerous, I prefer to stay in the middle.”

Mick Schumacher is one place and 2.8 seconds behind his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen 17th. “It was quite warm in the car,” reveals the German. “We lost the isolation, so I got hot air all the time. We’re not where we should be in terms of speed, so we’re looking forward to Zandvoort where we can put on a bigger wing again. I hope that we can get back into midfield and get into the points.”

Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
result

failures:
Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes (1st lap)
Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo (2nd lap)

Driver Rating
Status after 14 of 22 races:

1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull 284 pts.
2. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull 191
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari 186
4. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari 171
5. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes 170
6. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes 146
7. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren 76
8. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine 64
9. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine 51
10. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 46
11. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas 22
12. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin 20
13. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren 19
14. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri 18
15. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas 12
16. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri 11
17. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo 5
18. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Williams 4
19. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin 4

Constructor Score
Status after 14 of 22 races:

1. Red Bull 475 pts.
2.Ferrari 357
3.Mercedes 316
4. Alpine 115
5. McLaren 95
6. Alfa Romeo 51
7.Haas 34
8. Alpha Tauri 29
9. Aston Martin 24
10.Williams 4