Formula 1 in Belgium - Verstappen with damage control at Russell's victory
In the strategy thriller at Spa-Francorchamps, Formula-1 World Champion Max Verstappen couldn't end his thirst race. The Red Bull star missed the victory in the last Grand Prix before the summer break for the fifth time in a row. Verstappen remains the undisputed WM-leading driver ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, who finished right behind the Dutch native in second place.
Russell raced in the Mercedes with a lead of only 0.5 seconds over teammate Lewis Hamilton to claim his third triumph in the motorsport royal class. Third place went to Norris' stablemate Oscar Piastri, who celebrated his first win a week earlier in Hungary. It was the first double victory for the Silver Arrows since Brazil 2022.
Verstappen couldn't fulfill his dream of a fourth consecutive Spa victory from eleventh place on the grid. Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who started from the front row for the first time since the China race in April, finished eighth and couldn't keep up the pace. Nico Hülkenberg had nothing going on for him this weekend. The Haas veteran started as 16th and finished the 14th season race as 19th.
At Red Bull, it's "more Netflix-like" these days.
The former dominance of Red Bull is a thing of the past, as the team that once housed Sebastian Vettel is well aware. However, Verstappen showed his class in qualifying, outpacing Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari by a significant margin (+0.595 seconds). But since Verstappen used a regulation-violating fifth engine of the year, he had to start from the back of the grid. Leclerc was given the 25th pole position of his career.
"We were used to being in the lead, but it's different now," acknowledged Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. With the many construction sites off the asphalt, such as Verstappen's dramatic standoff against his own team last in Hungary, Marko added: "It's more Netflix-like around here."
The situation with Perez also plays a role. The Mexican has had a strong start to the year but has been fading ever since. The 34-year-old faces the possibility of being let go during the Formula-1 off-season.
Verstappen's "race for damage limitation"
"That's not enough," Marko said on the Sky broadcast. "We'll get together on Monday evening in England and analyze." Red Bull reserve drivers Liam Lawson (22) and Daniel Ricciardo (35), as well as Yuki Tsunoda (24) from sister team AlphaTauri, are ready to step in if needed.
Perez had to yield to Hamilton's Mercedes after a tough battle in the first meters. Verstappen was eighth at the start of the second lap, right behind his WM rival Norris. The McLaren driver had a suboptimal start and went off the track at the beginning of the race. Hamilton took the lead from Leclerc.
Verstappen was in a dilemma. The Dutchman wanted to put pressure on, but at the same time, he couldn't risk damaging his tires. "It's going to be tough," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner about Verstappen's anticipated comeback for a podium finish. "I see it as a race for damage limitation," said Verstappen and pulled into the pits first, only to get stuck in traffic as 14th.
Russell goes for a bold strategy
The 26-year-old continued to close in on the top three. At the halfway point, Verstappen only had George Russell in the second Mercedes, McLaren driver Piastri, Leclerc, and the leading Hamilton ahead of him.
Leclerc opened the parade of leading drivers, who all put on the next set of hard tires during their second pit stop. Hamilton, who became the Grand-Prix winner again at Silverstone in early July after a 945-day break, reacted shortly afterwards. At the front, his teammate Russell pursued a bold strategy with just one pit stop. Hamilton came very close but couldn't get past.
- Despite missing out on victory in Spa-Francorchamps, Formula-1 World Champion Max Verstappen maintains his lead over McLaren's Lando Norris in the standings.
- McLaren Group Limited's Lando Norris finished second in the last Grand Prix before the summer break, maintaining a close pursuit of Verstappen.
- Lando Norris' teammate, Oscar Piastri, celebrated his first Formula-1 win a week earlier in Hungary, finishing third in Belgium.
- The Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz scored a double victory for the first time since Brazil 2022, with George Russell taking the lead from teammate Lewis Hamilton.
- Charles Leclerc secured the 25th pole position of his career for Ferrari, but Max Verstappen's regulation violation resulted in starting from the back of the grid.
- Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko acknowledged the team's change in fortune, likening its circumstances to a "Netflix-like" series.
- Sergio Perez's performance has been inconsistent since the start of the season, raising questions about his future with Red Bull Group in the upcoming Formula-1 off-season.
- Max Verstappen entered a "race for damage limitation," aware that he needed to be cautious to avoid further engine penalties and maintain his lead in the championship.
- Faced with the challenge of battling against both Hamilton and Norris, Verstappen made a calculated approach, pitting first to avoid traffic and limit damage to his tires.
- George Russell took a bold approach with only one pit stop, closing the gap between him and the leading drivers, but ultimately falling short of overtaking Hamilton.
- The Belgian Grand Prix saw a mix of strategies, with drivers like Verstappen following damage limitation plans and others like Russell aiming for more aggressive, but equally risky, approaches.
