One month of summer vacation. For Formula 1 drivers, summer runs from the end of July to the end of August, that is, the month in which the World Cup is interrupted between the first half and the second half. A month in which Max Verstappen was caught in the pool with bracelets, in which Lewis Hamilton toured Africa and in which Lando Norris walked through Porto accompanied by his Portuguese girlfriend. This Sunday everyone put on their helmets again to accelerate on the track.
In the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Carlos Sainz left the pole position after a very unusual qualification: Max Verstappen was fastest over the weekend but was forced to start at the back of the pack due to engine changes made by Red Bull, as well as by Charles Leclerc, who was also starting from the back of the grid. Sergio Pérez set the second fastest time, followed by the surprising Fernando Alonso, and both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were unable to overcome Mercedes’ difficulties at the Belgian circuit, finishing 4th and 5th.
The Belgian GP and a Tetris classification in which Verstappen was the fastest but pole position goes to Sainz
In short, and despite starting 14th, Max Verstappen was clearly the main candidate for victory in Belgium due to the obvious advantage he showed during free practice and qualifying. “I think it was all very positive for us. It’s always very difficult to anticipate what the car will be like here, but I think we prepared very well before we got here and once we got the car out on track it was really nice to drive. I am surprised by the advantage. I don’t think it’s going to be that great in the race but it’s very positive, especially when you have to start from behind. The objective is to get on the podium and, with a bit of luck, win”, explained the Dutch driver in the run-up to the Grand Prix.
However, this Sunday Carlos Sainz had a good start and managed to maintain the lead, with Sergio Pérez losing some positions and being overtaken by Fernando Alonso. Even so, everything changed again in the first lap, with Lewis Hamilton colliding with Alonso in a corner and being forced to retire early in the race, motivating a car insurance at a time when Valtteri Bottas also retired after a clash with Nicholas Latifi. In the midst of the confusion, Pérez regained second place, Russell moved up to third and, further back, Verstappen and Leclerc tried to climb positions.
Hamilton goes up in the air in the crash with Alonso????
The Mercedes driver has damage and is told by his team to stop. Hamilton is out of the race. #Belgium GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/HGrde2u5BN
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022
Verstappen, however, proved much more capable of doing that than Leclerc, and by lap nine he was already third and with every chance of threatening Sainz’s lead. The Spaniard from Ferrari was the first to stop, on lap 12, which motivated Pérez to move up to first place. and leaving Verstappen with the road open to take the lead, something that happened quickly and prompted him to ask the team to postpone going to boxes.
Sainz, who had dropped to sixth position after stopping, took advantage of the Dutchman’s break to return to the lead after a commendable but It was soon overtaken by Red Bull again. All at a time when Leclerc was already in fifth position, behind Russell and ahead of Alonso.
ROUND 21/44
Pérez overtakes Sainz on the approach to turn 5
Red Bull is now 1-2 as we approach the halfway mark#Belgium GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/cTsv2IknUx
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022
Verstappen was gaining the upper hand on his main rivals and was calmly looking back, where Pérez put pressure on Sainz until he even managed to beat the Monegasque and climb to second place, quickly reaching a distance of several seconds in relation to the Ferrari.
Until the end, at least at the top of the ranking, little happened: the Dutch driver scored a resounding victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, Sergio Pérez did not miss the Red Bull double and Carlos Sainz closed the podium despite the effort of George Russell in the last laps, with Charles Leclerc completing the top 5 and Verstappen gaining even more advantage in the World Championship lead. with his colleague from a Mexican team he overtook the Monegasque from Ferrari and climbed to second place in the general classification.
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS AT THE SPA!!! ????????????
From P14 to P1… What. A. Performance ????#Belgium GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hqFiD4YzvU
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022
Source: Observadora
