Belgium GP: 10 points to note
Lewis lead the Belgium GP right from the start and never looked back. Valtteri didn’t really had a chance after turn of the first lap. Max surprisingly kept up with the Mercedes cars but didn’t have the power to push through at any point.
10 points about the Belgium Race
1. Dominant Mercedes. Unstoppable Lewis. Yet another Belgium GP win.
We all will soon be tired of saying that. Mercedes was absolutely dominant at this Belgium GP. Lewis didn’t sweat at all. He got a decent start and was ahead at turn 1. After that there was no looking back for the 6 time world champion. Valtteri tried to race but apparently his race engineer was like they are not allowed to do so. The overall gap between the two drivers is now increasing with Max being in the second position currently. Mercedes however are just way ahead of the rest in Constructors title.
HAMILTON: “It wasn’t the easiest of races. The tyre temperatures were slowly dropping. It was a bit of a struggle. “No matter how much success we have we keep our heads down. It’s an incredible mentality to work around”
2. Max punched above his weight. Red Bull good but not good enough to beat Mercedes
Max did all he could but was not able to catch up with the Mercedes boys. He seems content being on the podium but must be frustrated inside.
Albon seemed to struggle once again. He was fighting in the mid-field while Max was there with the Mercs, in the same car. He finished a respectable 6th, behind the Renaults.
3. Big crash between Russell and Antonio
Antonio Giovinazzi had a spectacular spin as he went off the track. This sent his tyre, along with the suspension flying and George was the casualty, both the cars severely damaged. Thankfully both the drivers walked off the crash without any injury. This also brought in the only Safety car of the Belgium Race, when everyone except Perez and Gasly pitted.
4. Perfect day for Renault
No screw ups this time for Renault. They looked good in the practice sessions, came P4 and P6 in the quali and finished the race as P4 and P5. Good points haul for the French team. Ricciardo looked in the super form that we expect him to be, ending the race with the fastest lap. He never looked in trouble and in fact even had an outside chance to beat Max, if only there were a few more laps left. Ocon did a good job in the mid-field, overtaking Albon to finish P5. Renault must be one happy team today.
5. McLaren: Bad Luck for Carlos. Lando P7
Bad luck for Carlos continues. He had an engine issue before the race started and couldn’t even make it to the grid. Lando fought from P10 ( P9), put in as much as they could and finished P7.
6. Alpha Tauri had the pace and Gasly made the most of it.
Pierre Gasly seems to be enjoying this 2020 season without the burden of being Max’s team mate and the high expectation that comes with being a Red Bull driver. He was voted driver of the day and completely deserved it. Gasly had a great race with so many overtakes. He was P4 at one point and P5 was certainly on the cards. But a strategy error of not pitting him during Safety car cost him dearly. He went right behind everyone and had to make his way back. He still did an impressive job, coming in at P8.
Kvyat finished where he started, at P11.
7. Racing Point a bit out of touch
Expectations were high from Racing Point but they couldn’t do much here at the Belgium GP. Just like Gasly, Perez was kept out during the Safety Car period. He paid for it, finding himself last after a normal pitstop and had to weave through the traffic, finishing in at P9. Lance did a decent job but couldn’t keep up with McLaren and then Renaults, finishing in at P10.
8. Kimi ahead of the Ferraris
Never thought this would happen but it did in 2020. Ferrari powered Alpha Romeo was ahead of the two Ferraris. Kimi doing an impressive job of overtaking Vettel and maintaining his position.
9. Horror for Ferrari continues.
This literally deserves a post on it own. There was no pace in the Ferraris. It was embarassing to seem them struggle against Williams and HAAS. Charles had a great start, jumping 5 places after first lap. He however was being easily passed by others at the straights. Multiple pit stops and strategy change couldn’t change his fortune. Seb, as usual, looked forlorn and out of touch. Next race is in Italy and it will be mighty disappointing for the Tifosi if Ferrari put up the same show again.
10. Wakanda forever
Just like yesterday, Lewis dedicated this race win to Chadwick Boseman, who passed away yesterday at the age of 43. That’s win no. 4 for Lewis at the Belgium Spa circuit and 89th win of his F1 career. This is also 50th 1-2 finish for the Mercedes team since their comeback as constructors in 2010. They have been truly dominant in the hybrid era.
Final Belgium Race Classification
Stay tuned as we head to Monza next week.