Nothing stops Max Verstappen. Fourteenth on the grid, the Dutchman made a tremendous comeback to win the Belgian Grand Prix, on the Spa-Francorchamps track, Sunday August 28, 2022. The Red Bull driver took advantage of the racing incidents and the power of his single-seater to climb to the top, and win his ninth success of the season. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), complete the podium. Starting 15th just behind Verstappen, Charles Leclerc finished sixth and saw his rival widen his lead in the drivers’ championship (98 points apart).
Another remarkable drive from @Max33Verstappen
He’s yours #F1DriverOfTheDay #BelgianGP @salesforce pic.twitter.com/F2pA3R0fFn
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022
Max Verstappen had the perfect race on the Ardennes circuit. From the first corners, he had made up for part of his delay, taking advantage of the mayhem in the lead which led to the retirements of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo). Having become the leader after the passage to the pits of poleman Carlos Sainz and the team play of Sergio Pérez, who let him pass, Verstappen then managed his race.
Faster, the Dutchman was no longer worried until the finish line, crossed 17 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez. A month later his victory since the 10th place in Hungary, it offers itself a new record rise. Author of a solid race despite a very bad start, Pérez did not lose position and finished second, his seventh podium this season. Carlos Sainz completes the podium at the wheel of his Ferrari.
Also penalized and starting 15th just behind Verstappen, Charles Leclerc did not experience as idyllic a comeback as his opponent. Trapped by an element of another single-seater that got stuck in his front wing, the Monegasque had to return to the pits on the first lap. A setback that complicated his return to the front.
Fifth on the line, he received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, in a desperate attempt to steal the fastest lap in the race, and eventually finished sixth. He is now 98 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, and sees Sergio Pérez take the place of runner-up.
More worrying for Ferrari, the Monegasque’s single-seater had to give way in the fight on the track against the Mercedes of George Russell, fourth in the race. The German firm confirms its return to form and rhythm for the second half of the season. She may regret the abandonment of Lewis Hamilton, the first in 2022, in the incidents of the first round, after a bad contact with Fernando Alonso.
P16 ➡️ P7.
Round of applause for you, @OconEsteban! #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/DCjltRig4x
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 28, 2022
At Alpine, the hour is also to satisfaction, with the fifth and seventh place of the Spaniard and Esteban Ocon. The French team takes the lead over McLaren, whose drivers scored no points this weekend, in the race for fourth place in the constructors’ championship. Ninth, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) raised his head a little and symbolically won his first points since June, for his 100th career Grand Prix.