Formula 1
MAX IS UNSTOPPABLE, FERRARI PUZZLED, FERNANDO FLASHES HIS MACHISMO CARD, AND BOTTAS STUNG BY “PASTOR” LATIFI!!
FIA Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen secured his ninth win of the season, with team-mate Sergio Pérez powering to second as Oracle Red Bull Racing produced a dominant performance at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen had started the race from 14th on the grid after receiving a penalty for using too many engine parts, but was simply unstoppable as he carved his way through the field and took the lead after just 12 laps.
The Dutch driver never looked in trouble as he secured another win to extend his title advantage to 93 points, while Pérez produced an equally assured drive to ensure a fourth 1-2 of the season and move into second place in the drivers’ standings.
SPA, BELGIUM – AUGUST 28: Second placed Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing passes his team celebrating on the pitwall during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 28, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
Verstappen: “Once we were in the lead, it was all about managing everything but this whole weekend has been incredible. It’s been a weekend I couldn’t have imagined before but I think we want more of them and we’ll keep working hard.”
“This whole weekend has been incredible. It’s never easy though, it was quite a hectic first lap staying out of trouble, so many things were happening in front of me and everyone was trying to maintain their spot. After the safety car and when it had all calmed down, we made our way forward by picking the right places to overtake and we could look after our tyres. Now we need to keep on working hard and focus on each race ahead of us. We know that we have to finish every race, we don’t need to win every race but we want to as a Team. Let’s see what we can do in Zandvoort.”
SPA, BELGIUM – AUGUST 28: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 leads George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 28, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
SERGIO PÉREZ – 2nd
“It is a great weekend for the Team and I am very pleased with that because we have been working so hard. Max was on another planet today and so quick, I want to understand my race pace and where I lost out to him, I am aware of the gap and I want to come back stronger. I had a really bad start but luckily I was able to rectify it.
I went into a lot of wheel spin as soon as I released the clutch and couldn’t get any traction, especially when I went into second gear, it meant I lost a lot of positions. I think my first stint wasn’t very strong and that really made a difference and determined a lot of my race. I need to be at a better level for Zandvoort and Monza.
There is plenty to look at and hopefully I go into next weekend even stronger, I think things will be a lot closer there so I am looking forward to it massively. We are going to push really hard.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER – Team Principal and CEO
“This was our biggest ever achievement to date. We have never won a race from as far back as P14 and to take a 1 – 2 with Checo, along with fastest lap, is an outstanding achievement. It’s a fantastic win for Max and he has been in a class of his own on the track this weekend but it really is a team victory; for everyone here and all the team back in Milton Keynes. There is a lot of hard work that goes in behind the scenes that contributes to a performance like today and would also like to thank HRC for their contribution to this victory.”