Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium: After Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen once again put on a magnificent performance and victory to ensure Red Bull concluded the first half of the season, before the European “summer” break, unblemished.
In addition to completing a hat-trick of Belgian victories, the defending double world champion’s victory marked his eighth straight triumph and his 10th in 12 races this year, making it the longest winning streak of his career since teammate Sergio Perez’s victory in Azerbaijan on April 30.
AFP Sport examines three lessons from the race on Sunday:
Verstappen playing with his competition
The 25-year-old Dutch driver is so strong that even after receiving a five-place penalty, he can still claim the victory from sixth on the grid.
Seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton used to humor to emphasize how much more superior he is to his competitors.
Hamilton said that Verstappen’s claim that “he is having a smoke and a pancake” appeared too simple in reference to the Austin Powers movie Goldmember from 2002. Do you recall the movie?
Verstappen and his race engineer engaged in friendly banter throughout the race on tire wear and making a pit stop to give the team extra practice.
Toto Wolff, the head of Hamilton’s Mercedes team, said: “He has every right to be a little cheeky. simply cruising about. by merit.
Christian Horner, the manager of the Red Bull team, expressed his awe for his hero.
“What we are witnessing with Max is something you only see once in a generation,” stated Horner.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is the next stop for Red Bull and Verstappen.
If he wins on August 27, he will tie Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, for the most consecutive victories for Red Bull in 2013. He will also extend the team’s record to 14 victories overall and 13 consecutive season-opening victories.
competing teams compete for scraps In the first 12 races, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, and McLaren have all attempted to briefly challenge Red Bull, but none have been successful. On Sunday, it was McLaren’s turn to have growing hopes dashed after finishing second to Red Bull.
Oscar Piastri, a rookie from Australia, was eliminated on the first lap after colliding with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Piastri had been leading Saturday’s sprint race in the rain before Verstappen passed him.
Lando Norris, who had been impressive in placing second in both Britain and Hungary, was forced to lament their diminished speed as he struggled to come in eighth.
“We got it wrong,” Norris admitted.
We had entirely too much down-force, and it did us no good at all. We were moving so slowly down the straights that I was barely getting seventh gear.
“I was unable to protect myself or launch an attack. Overtaking was impossible.
Despite Renault management upheaval, Alpine maintains focus
24 hours after Pierre, Esteban Ocon finished eighth, keeping the Alpine garage team together.
Otmar Szafnauer, the team manager, and Alan Permane, the sporting director, both announced their exits on Sunday evening after 34 years together.
Because of the numerous hours he put in, Permane earned the moniker “bat.” He shared championship-winning seasons with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso and was well-liked throughout the entire paddock.
There was a general air of skepticism as he left.
Christian Horner, the manager of the Red Bull team, stated that Permane would be returning.
He continued, “It won’t be the last you’ll see of him in the pit lane,” which strengthened the notion that Renault induced the situation on their own.
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