Not even a short scare within the rain might cease Max Verstappen because the world champion romped to an eighth straight victory from sixth on the grid as his Red Bull crew secured one other Formula One report on the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen had gained qualifying however served a five-place grid penalty over a gearbox change past the authorized season restrict, a tactical transfer by the crew as a result of overtaking is simpler in Spa than at different tracks.
And like final yr, when he had gained from 14th, Verstappen delivered, taking the lead from team-mate Sergio Perez in lap 17 of 44.
He virtually misplaced the automobile on the well-known Eau Rouge part as rain set in briefly at across the midway mark, however regained his composure for one more comfy tenth season victory and forty fifth general forward of team-mate Perez and pole sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
Red Bull made it 12 wins in a row, transferring forward of McLaren for one more report. In all, they’ve gained 13 straight races now, beginning with the 2022 season-ender.
Verstappen could have an opportunity to equal Sebastian Vettel’s report of 9 wins in a row from 2013 after a four-week break at his Dutch dwelling grand prix on August 27 in Zandvoort.
Verstappen elevated his championship result in 125 factors – or 5 victories – over Perez after 12 of 23 races, with a 3rd straight world title all however a foregone conclusion, barring catastrophe.
“I knew that we had a great car and it was just about surviving Turn One,” Verstappen stated.
“I could see it getting really tight so I was just going to stay out of that and it worked out. From there onwards we made the right overtakes and moves.”
Looking at his scary second, he added: “Eau Rouge is the worst corner to have a moment. It was tricky in those laps where it was raining because you could see it was raining but not how much. I had a little sideways moment, luckily nothing happened but it’s certainly not a corner you want it to happen.”
Perez, gained twice early within the season however had not completed second since Miami in May, admitted “there was nothing I could have done” to cease Verstappen.
Leclerc, who misplaced the result in Perez in lap one, was proud of the consequence however stated that Red Bull stay “quite far ahead.”
Oscar Piastri in the meantime suffered heartbreak the day after his second-place end within the dash race behind Verstappen as he needed to retire his McLaren after contact with Carlos Sainz’ within the opening flip.
Sainz additionally picked up harm on the facet of his automobile and slipped down the rankings however he continued after an early pit cease till lastly retiring in lap 25.
Hamilton was fourth, forward of Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, who had turned 42 on Saturday, and Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Lando Norris of McLaren, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri accomplished the highest 10.
There have been additionally extra exchanges between Verstappen and his race engineer Gianpiere Lambiase – who had a little bit of a spat on Friday -, with Lambiase telling him after the second cease “to use your head a bit more” regarding tyre degradation.
Verstappen stated: “I could also push on and we do another stop? A little bit of pit stop training.” But the reply was a transparent: “No, not this time.”
Vettel later admitted he did decelerate after the messages – nonetheless successful by 22 seconds.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
