World champion Max Verstappen blew away his rivals with a command performance at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead in this year’s drivers’ title with Sergio Perez finishing second for a Red Bull 1-2.
The 24-year-old Dutchman, who started from 14th on the grid, scorched through the field with devastating pace and elan to deliver crushing proof of his and Red Bull’s superiority.
In front of a packed crowd at the spectacular Spa-Francorchamps circuit, including many fans from the nearby Netherlands, Verstappen came home 17,841 seconds clear of Perez with race pole-sitter Carlos Sainz finishing third for Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc, Verstappen’s nearest challenger going into the race, but now overtaken by Perez in the drivers standings, struggled in the other Ferrari after starting 15th.
He was handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane and had to battle past Alpine’s Fernando Alonso on the last lap to snatch fifth, behind the Mercedes of George Russell.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton retired on the opening lap after his Mercedes collided with Alonso’s car. — Supersport
