Uncompromising in Belgium, Verstappen comes back and signs his 9th victory of the year

Simply too strong! This Belgian Grand Prix was a show of strength from the clan Red Bull with Max Verstappen spearhead. Author of the best time in qualifying on Saturday but deprived of pole position due to an engine penalty, the reigning world champion left no chance to the competition, powerless in the face of the domination of the Batavian machine.

However, the mission did not look easy for Max Verstappen. Passed from 1^st the 14^e place on the grid, the Dutchman had a lot of people to overtake before hoping to enter the fight for victory against the “poleman” Carlos Sainz. In the end, the task turned out to be easier than expected. Fourth after only 7 laps, the Red Bull driver was in steamroller mode, wanting to take advantage of the difficulties of Charles Leclerc (he also penalized and 15^e before the start) to make their way through the peloton.

If the Monegasque did not follow the pace of the leading group, Max Verstappen was ahead of him. After having easily swallowed George Russell for the victory of 3^e position at 8^e passage, the protégé of the Austrian team began to put pressure on Carlos Sainz, immediately called back to the pits for his 1^er stop at 11^e round. With the way clear in front of him, the Dutchman took control of the race ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez who logically showed no sign of resistance.

Although released 2^e after its 1^er pit stop at 15^e lap, Max Verstappen had no trouble regaining his possession 3 laps later by dropping off Carlos Sainz at the exit of Raidillon. From then on, everything was decided. Alone in the world and decidedly too strong for the entire field, the reigning world champion was not even going to lose his position when it came time to dive for 2^e times in the pit lane. Thus, the Batavian flew towards his 9^e victory of the season with almost 20 seconds ahead of Sergio Pérez allowing Red Bull to take a double in front of the Ferrari by Carlos Sainz.

Leclerc dropped

Placed one place behind Max Verstappen on the grid, Charles Leclerc has not experienced such a Grand Prix. Braked at the start of the race by debris stuck in a brake duct, the Monegasque had to make a stop on the 3rd lap which thwarted his recovery plan. Although fast enough to get rid of drivers like Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel or even Lance stroll, the Scuderia driver then did not have the necessary pace to hang on to the leading group.

Too short to catch up with George Russell then in 4th position, Charles Leclerc decided to stop on the penultimate lap to steal the point for the best lap in the race from Max Verstappen. In vain. In addition, the man from the Rock was caught by the patrol for speeding in the pit lane. Result ? He moved back one place, offering 5th position to a combative Fernando Alonso, equaling his best result of the season obtained in Great Britain in July.

Hamilton down from the start

The Belgian Grand Prix will not have lasted more than one lap for Lewis Hamilton. In the fight with Fernando Alonso for a place in the Top 3, the Englishman suddenly fell back on his former teammate at McLaren unable to avoid contact in Les Combes. Thus, the seven-time world champion took off after hitting his counterpart and stopped a few hectometers further on to give up. He later admitted that it was a mistake on his part.

The contact between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton which literally flew away 😳💥#BelgianGP | ▶️ https://t.co/t7uFs3hjPH pic.twitter.com/zwSi7KUV9S

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) August 28

On the Tricolors side, the copy was good. Forced to leave the pits when he was 8th, Pierre Gasly also made a good comeback. Stuck in the middle of the pack and in the various battles for the last points, the Norman arrived in 9th position, regaining the points for the first time since Baku last June. His compatriot Esteban Ocon also distinguished himself by chaining overtakes throughout the Grand Prix. Starting at the back of the peloton, the driver Alpine left with 6 points for 6th place. With his plus the 10 of Fernando Alonso, the A arrow clings to 4th place among the Manufacturers since McLaren did not place any of its mounts in the Top 10. 

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