Max Verstappen wins eighth Belgian Grand Prix, starting sixth due to penalty

Posted : 30 July 2023

Max Verstappen demonstrated his sheer dominance yet again as he secured his eighth consecutive victory in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Despite starting from sixth place due to a grid penalty, the unstoppable Dutchman masterfully sliced through the frontrunners and secured another commanding win.

His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, claimed the second spot on the podium, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc taking the third position.

Verstappen's performance was nothing short of sublime, as he swiftly overtook Charles Leclerc, who started from pole position, and then proceeded to catch up to Sergio Perez on lap 17. He ultimately triumphed with a staggering lead of over 22 seconds, marking his third consecutive victory at Spa.

The Dutch world champion expressed his satisfaction with the race, especially considering his starting position. He navigated Turn One skillfully, avoiding any potential incidents, and capitalized on the car's capabilities to make strategic overtakes throughout the race.

Red Bull's success continued to reach unprecedented heights, as this victory marked their 12th consecutive win of the season, surpassing McLaren's 1988 record. Moreover, when including Verstappen's triumph at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the previous season, it became a remarkable 13 successive F1 victories.

While Sebastian Vettel still holds the overall drivers' record for winning nine consecutive races with Red Bull in 2013, Verstappen now occupies the second spot on his own with his latest sensational win. He has the opportunity to equal Vettel's landmark achievement at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, scheduled for August 27 after a four-week summer break.

Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, finished in fourth place, but his late surge allowed him to secure the fastest lap of the race and earn an additional point. The anticipated rain during the race did not materialize significantly, giving Verstappen a clear and smooth path to victory once he surpassed Perez before the halfway point.

With this latest triumph, Verstappen has extended his lead at the top of the World Championship standings, amassing an impressive 314 points and maintaining a substantial 125-point gap ahead of his teammate Perez, after 13 rounds of the 23-race season.

Max Verstappen wins eighth Belgian Grand Prix, starting sixth due to penalty

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