Motorsport
Lucky thirteen! Max Verstappen wins Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull extends record winning streak
Max Verstappen continued to toy with the competition during the Belgian Grand Prix, taking the win ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Red Bull thus went into the traditional four-week break still unbeaten.
Before Formula 1 could take a well-deserved summer break, the popular race at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit had to be completed. However, neutral fans of the queen of motorsport were once again not disappointed. Max Verstappen toyed with the competition during the Belgian Grand Prix as well, winning ahead of Ferrari teammate Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc. Red Bull went into the traditional four-week break still unbeaten.
The Belgian Grand Prix represented a turning point into the second half of this year’s Formula One season. However, contrary to tradition, this was not the opening race after the annual summer break, but the last race before this four-week break.
The third sprint of the season took place at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit before Sunday’s climax of the twelfth Grand Prix of 2023. Max Verstappen was the winner of the shortened and rain-affected race. The reigning world champion’s lead also increased to 118 points due to the retirement of teammate Sergio Pérez.
A heartbreaking start to the race for Piastri
The first corner of the Spa circuit witnessed a large number of collisions and accidents in its history. And this year was not without casualties either. The hero of Saturday’s sprint, Oscar Piastri, was closed down by Carlos Sainz, resulting in a mutual collision. Both the McLaren driver and the Ferrari driver sustained damage, with the Australian having to retire after a puncture and a damaged front wing.
Meanwhile, official pole position holder Charles Leclerc lost the lead, with Pérez taking over the top spot. This season’s dominator Max Verstappen did not make a blistering start from sixth position, but he did conquer fourth place thanks to a collision between Sainz and Piastri.
On the other hand, Alexander Albon made a phenomenal start to the Belgian GP in the Williams. The Thai jumped up six positions from 15th place at the start of the first lap.
Pérez’s pace matched Red Bull’s current form and his lead over second-placed Leclerc grew. The Mexican teammate was emulated by Verstappen, who was also gaining the necessary scalps against his rivals and worked his way up to second place within a nine-lap interval. By contrast, Sainz’s slightly tattered car was being outperformed by one driver after another.
As quickly as the rain came, it went
It wasn’t even ten laps before it was time for the first pit stop. The drivers starting on the softest set-up went for new compounds, including both Red Bull drivers. The pit stops didn’t change the order between Verstappen and Pérez.
The Dutchman obviously didn’t push too hard and waited until his teammate had finished and passed him on lap 17 with the help of DRS. The almost certain three-time world champion then took the top spot for himself and immediately began to pass Pérez.
Behind the convincing Red Bull, battles were fought both on track and through strategy. Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell managed to hold off the dark green Aston Martin cars of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
The teams in the middle of the field swapped track positions lap after lap so often that it was almost impossible to read their strategies against the others.
An interesting element of potential drama came around lap 20 when raindrops began to fall on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The drivers had to adjust their driving, but the intensity of the shower did nothing to convince them to go for intermediate tyres. On lap 21, Verstappen survived a moment on the run-in to the famous Raidillon corner when his monoplane got wet and he had to tame it vehemently.
However, any hope for a thrilling race was dashed just minutes later. The rain cloud quickly moved away, so the rest of the Grand Prix was played out on a completely dry track.
Unlucky thirteen? Not at all
Sainz’s formula eventually suffered so much damage that the Spaniard took it to the garage on lap 23. It was the first retirement from a grand prix this year for the 28-year-old Madrid native.
As usual, Red Bull controlled its own pace and the overall course of the race. The second half of the race was devoid of any major moments. Lap 28 brought an attempt to undercut Hamilton for third Leclerc, but to no avail.
Although the cameras don’t often pay attention to him, the midfield once again offered some good racing for the spectators in attendance. Esteban Ocon provided one of the finest moments of the Belgian Grand Prix when his overtaking manoeuvre on Júki Cunda didn’t end during the braking at the end of the Kemmel straight, but only on the run through the subsequent Les Combes corner.
The Frenchman rounded the outside of his Japanese rival and found the gap between him and the kerb with precision. In the end, this meant eighth position and four points for Alpine.
If anyone guessed that number thirteen would bring Red Bull bad luck, they were wrong. Verstappen had also conquered the Belgian Grand Prix at home, extending his team’s triumphant streak to number thirteen. Pérez brought home second place and Leclerc drove to third place and his third podium of the season.
Finally, let’s mention two milestones from the Belgian Grand Prix. AlphaTauri, statistically the worst team, scored a tenth place thanks to Cunod, and therefore one championship point. However, the team is still seven points behind ninth-placed Alfa Romeo in the Constructors’ Cup.
In addition, all drivers finished the race on the same lap as the winner Verstappen, without the race being neutralised in any way.
Belgian Formula One Grand Prix results (race 12/22, 44 laps = 308.052 km; top 10 only):
1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 1:22:30.450
2. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) +22.305
3. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) +32.259
4. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) +49.671
5. Fernando Alonso (Span., Aston Martin) +56.184
6. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) +1:03.101
7. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) +1:13.719
8. Esteban Ocon (Fra., Alpine) +1:14.719
9. Lance Stroll (Can., Aston Martin) +1:19.340
10. Yuki Cunoda (Jap., Alpha Tauri) +1:20.221
2023 Formula One drivers’ standings (after 12/22; top 10 only):
1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 314 points
2. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) 189
3. Fernando Alonso (Spain, Aston Martin) 149
4. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) 148
5. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) 99
6. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) 99
7. Carlos Sainz (Span., Ferrari) 92
8. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) 69
9. Lance Stroll (Can., Aston Martin) 47
10. Esteban Ocon (Fra., Alpine) 35
Source: F1
