Spa-Francorchamps (SID) – MAX VERSTAPPEN: Many had believed him capable of winning, even from far behind. But the fact that Max Verstappen triumphed in Spa with ease caused enthusiasm at Red Bull, astonishment among the fans and perplexity among the competition. Since Sunday at the latest, there can no longer be any doubt regarding the Dutchman’s second world title. Verstappen drives with the currently best car in the field in a league of its own, even on its own planet – even his rivals conceded that. From now on, Verstappen is chasing records: most wins in a season, most wins in a row, most points in a season, largest lead over the World Cup runners-up. Everything seems possible.
FERRARI: The fact that Ferrari no longer challenges the Dutchman as much as at the beginning of the season also contributes to Verstappen’s superiority. While the development curve at Red Bull is constantly pointing upwards with the new generation of racing cars, the Scuderia has to contend with more and more adversity. The F1-75 is no longer an opponent for Red Bull on high-speed circuits. Under the growing pressure, the strategists repeatedly make risky or incomprehensible decisions. And the drivers goof too. Like Leclerc, who received a five-second penalty at the end of a used day because he was one km/h too fast in the pit lane when chasing the fastest race lap. Not much was missing at this point to perfection – but just enough. As in (too) many areas.
MERCEDES: The constructors’ world champion of the past eight years has arrived in yo-yo mode. In Budapest, Mercedes was justifiably aiming for its first win of the year. In Spa, the Silver Arrows already knew in training that the top would be far away. Above all, something is missing that characterized the team in its most dominant times: consistency at a high level. Team boss Toto Wolff spoke of a bad weekend in Belgium. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton can hardly wait for a new season to start – with a hopefully more powerful car. After his departure, Hamilton resembled an astronaut in a lunar landscape as he defiantly trudged down a dry dirt track towards the paddock. He later received a warning for not attending the medical examination. It can only get better.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL: Even four weeks following his resignation, Sebastian Vettel is a very popular man. It’s only marginally regarding sports, more regarding social issues, his plans as a Formula 1 pensioner or the prospects of his friend Mick Schumacher on a cockpit. But it would hardly be worth talking regarding sports either. Aston Martin has largely stopped developing the racing car, and the focus is on the coming season. Vettel takes it easy. He was on a Formula 1 podium 122 times, and there will not be another visit in his last eight races. Small successes like eighth place in Spa remain.
MICK SCHUMACHER: The 23-year-old is one of the main characters of this year’s Silly Season. Everyone asks him how things are going with a cockpit in the coming season. Every team boss with a free seat is asked how things are going with driver Mick Schumacher. The Haas pilot knows he has to commend himself. Spa, his father’s “living room,” wasn’t the ideal place for an application. His team decided to change the engine and transmission, Schumacher had to start from the very back – and at first glance might not gain much with this starting position. On closer inspection, however, Belgium was perhaps worth a trip: At the finish, only three seconds separated him from his teammate Kevin Magnussen, who had started well ahead of him. And your team-mate is always the first benchmark.
FUTURE: On the first race weekend following the summer break, Formula 1 set the course for the future. Audi’s entry into the 2026 season dominated the headlines. It is a sign of the attractiveness of the racing series. The Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps also has a future – at least in 2023, Formula 1 will be back on the race track, which is extremely popular with drivers and fans (360,000 spectators throughout the weekend). However, the extension of the contract by just one year is a further indication of the medium and long-term orientation, Formula 1 is moving further into new markets. The money from Belgium will soon no longer be enough for a permanent place in the calendar. A rotation of traditional routes will come. This is economically understandable, but above all a pity.
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: “We brought in our strategy department because it got so complicated.” (Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko when asked if he understands how the grid is made up following the demotions)
