2023-07-29 18:28:21
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Max Verstappen won the sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship to 118 points ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
It was a ninth consecutive victory for Verstappen, including two sprint races. This earned him eight points.
“It wasn’t bad,” Verstappen said, reserved and relaxed.
The Dutchman will look to extend his lead even further in the main race on Sunday. Verstappen is chasing a third consecutive world title.
He finished 6.7 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and 10.7 seconds ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
“I’m more and more comfortable with the car, which is much better than at the start of the year,” said Piastri, a 22-year-old rookie. It’s fantastic. »
Third place is welcome for Gasly following a collision ruled him out of the Hungarian GP last weekend.
Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line fourth but slipped to seventh following a five-second penalty for causing a collision.
The Mercedes driver wanted to pass Perez who scored no points following having to retire towards the end of the event.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was able to secure fourth place, ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was sixth and George Russell eighth, behind team-mate Hamilton.
The sprint was delayed by over an hour due to heavy rain, kicking off with a moving start.
This followed several laps behind the safety car to squeeze out more water in preparation for the sprint, which lasted 11 laps.
“It was the right thing to do,” Verstappen said. I still think we might have started a little earlier, maybe two laps earlier. »
Canadian Lance Stroll finished 11th with Aston Martin, who started 14th.
“It was very difficult,” said Stroll. The weather made visibility very poor and the car didn’t have the necessary pace. The weather should be a little more stable on Sunday. Then we’ll see what we can accomplish. »
Verstappen edged Piastri by a hundredth of a second to take pole.
It was the third of six sprint-type races in 2023. Perez won in Azerbaijan and Verstappen did the same in Austria.
In this type of race, points are awarded to the top-8.
The seven kilometer circuit in Spa is in the forests surrounding the Ardennes, and the weather is often temperamental.
Leclerc will take the lead position on Sunday, following a five-row penalty imposed on Verstappen (related to his gearbox).
Verstappen won the race last year, despite starting 14th.
Stroll will start 10th, one place behind teammate Fernando Alonso.
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