Dutchman Max Verstappen, on Red Bull, won the Belgian Grand Prix, despite starting from the 14e place on the grid, due to a penalty.
As he had done at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, when he started from the 10e place before winning, Verstappen delivered another imperial performance in Belgium.
This victory allows him to consolidate his position at the top of the drivers’ classification, he who now holds a 93-point lead over his nearest pursuer. But it is no longer Charles Leclerc, who slipped to third place due to a difficult weekend for Ferrari, but his teammate at Red Bull Serio Perez, second on the legendary circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.
“It’s a weekend that I couldn’t have imagined,” said Verstappen. I believe we want more and will continue to work hard.”
“It was very chaotic, very difficult to avoid problems in the first lap. Once in the lead, all that remained was to manage it all. But this whole weekend has been fabulous. »
Carlos Sainz, starting from pole position in his Ferrari, completed the podium in this race, ahead of George Russell (Mercedes).
Verstappen took the lead in the race on the 12the lap (out of 44) and also collected the bonus point offered for the fastest lap. His third consecutive victory is his ninth of the season the 29e of her career.
“Max, you were brilliant. In a class of its own all weekend,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner told him after he crossed the finish line. »
Party 15e, Leclerc moved up to fifth place. He was, however, relegated to sixth place in the final standings due to a five-second penalty imposed on him for excessive speed in the pits, which allowed Fernando Alonso (Alpine Renault) to finish fifth.
“I didn’t even know, nobody told me about it, said a surprised Leclerc by this penalty. Why did I receive this penalty? »
As for his championship run with Verstappen, Leclerc appears to have given up.
“I’m not focusing on the championship right now. The Red Bulls were on another planet today. We have to find out why they are so much in front of others. »
Lewis Hamilton’s (Mercedes) quest for a third podium in a row came to an end on the first lap, when he touched Alonso and his car was briefly airborne.
Quebecer Lance Stroll, who started ninth, fell two places to finish in 11e rank, out of points. His teammate at Aston Martin, Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, improved his spell by two places from his starting position to finish in eighth position.
Toronto’s Nicholas Latifi (Williams) was the last driver to complete the race, in 18e square. He had left from the 11e place on the grid.
Esteban Ocon (Alpine) finished seventh, followed by Vettel, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) and Alex Albon (Williams).
Good start for the Mercedes
Sainz found himself on pole as Verstappen and Leclerc were part of a group of several drivers to be penalized from grid positions. He stayed ahead of the field at the start, while Russell and Hamilton passed Perez to find themselves behind Alonso.
Hamilton then tried to pass Alonso from the outside, but he hit the side of his car, which had the effect of lifting his own. The race marshals reviewed the incident, but did not impose any additional sanction.
“What an idiot to close the track from the outside,” Alonso complained to his team. We had a great start, but this guy can only drive and start from pole. »
When a reporter wanted to report Alonso’s words to him, Hamilton cut him off.
“I don’t care what he says, I haven’t seen him in my blind spot. »
In a subsequent interview, however, the Briton admitted his wrongdoing.
“It was my fault. I paid the price. But I was ahead. »
Seconds after Hamilton had to retire, Latifi slid onto the track and pushed Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo into the gravel, forcing the intervention of the safety car.
Hamilton stood alongside his car as smoke billowed from it, before walking back to the garages. He later received a warning for refusing to visit the medical center.
Ferrari once again made a bizarre decision during this botched season: the team recalled Leclerc for a set of fresh tires with one lap to go, in a futile quest to clock the fastest lap. Leclerc was passed by Alonso as he came out of the pits, had to pass the Spaniard, but was unable to complete that fastest lap.