Drama and controversy filled the Belgian Grand Prix before Formula One’s summer break. George Russell was given the green light after he astonishingly overcame all odds to make a one-stop plan work.
But Mercedes’ happiness was fleeting. Russell lost the race to Lewis Hamilton when it was discovered shortly after the podium ceremony that his car was underweight. Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished second and third, respectively.
Despite knowing he would be given a 10-place grid penalty for posting the fastest time in qualifying, championship leader Max Verstappen had a challenging day. He managed to finish in fifth place on the road, but Russell’s DQ moved him up a spot. With a costly error at the beginning of the race, his closest competitor, Lando Norris, couldn’t finish much better and had to settle for fifth. This weekend’s events have affected Express Sport’s power rankings for the season thus far. F1 is now scheduled for its mid-season break. Each driver’s performance is evaluated in relation to the car that they have available to them, as it always is.
- Lewis Hamilton (=)
Hamilton was a worthy winner at Spa, even though he didn’t win on the road. After a clean qualifying run in challenging conditions, Verstappen put on an impeccable race performance that might have been too strong even if he hadn’t received a grid penalty. Before his eagerly awaited collaboration with Leclerc at Ferrari, Hamilton is demonstrating that the elderly dog still has some life left in him. - Max Verstappen (+2)
In wet conditions, the world champion outperformed the field by over half a second during qualifying. It was anticipated that he would surge through the field even though he started down in 11th place because of an engine penalty. That never happened on a day when passing was surprisingly challenging. He will, nevertheless, be content with fourth place and finishing ahead of Norris.
3 Oscar Piastri (=)
At Spa, the winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix was once again on point, finishing ahead of his McLaren teammate. But he made a critical error at his second stop, overshooting his mark, costing him valuable seconds that he could have used to pursue the Mercedes in the closing miles.
- George Russell (+4)
The fact that he was disqualified doesn’t take away from the fantastic drive. The one-stopper, who he begged the team to put on, was worth a punt despite starting sixth and seemed to make it work. This motivation demonstrates Russell’s ability to take the team’s reins after Hamilton leaves. - Charles Leclerc (+2)
Due to Verstappen’s engine penalty, Leclerc unexpectedly claimed pole in a wet qualifying session following a respectable performance in Hungary. Even though the Mercedes was moving more quickly than he was, he did a good job of holding Verstappen and Norris at bay. There are indications that he and Ferrari are regaining their momentum.
6. Lando Norris (-4)
It was a difficult weekend for the McLaren driver, whose chances of winning were virtually gone after he went wide on the first lap out of La Source, dropping him a few positions. Despite having a good pace, he was unable to utilize it. After qualifying, Norris had already acknowledged that he “had not been driving particularly well.” The British player has had an excellent season overall, but he is more in need of the vacation than most.
7. Carlos Sainz (-2)
Teammate Leclerc outperformed the Spaniard for the first time in a long time. After a chaotic qualifying session, the race proved to be challenging, and Russell finished sixth on the road in a low-key seventh place.
- Fernando Alonso (+7)
Alonso and Aston Martin seem to be coming together after a disastrous few races. Among the few who tried a one-stopper was the legendary Spanish player. He maintained his eighth-place finish, ahead of the group trailing the “big four” teams, in contrast to Russell. It was all that he could have done. - Daniel Ricciardo (+3)
The Australian’s form is at least improving, even though he still isn’t performing well enough to be promoted to the Red Bull first team. Following Russell’s disqualification, he was moved up into the points. - Hulkenberg, Nico (-4)
For the German, who has dominated his Haas for the majority of the season, it was an uncommon race to forget. That was not the case at Spa, where he finished a miserable eighteenth, even behind Logan Sargeant’s Williams. However, the veteran still has a lot of bank credit. - Alex Albon (-2)
The Williams team captain would have been hoping for points after starting in 10th, but he had to settle for 12th. In Q3, just barely missed out. - Ocon Esteban (+2)
The Haas-bound Frenchman finished in ninth place, which is well deserved considering that he was only defeated by Alonso in the “best of the rest” race.
13.Pierre Gasly (-2)
As he dropped out of the running for points, Alpine teammate Ocon outperformed him. For Gasly, classified as 13th, it was a weekend to forget.
14.Valtteri Bottas (+2)
flirted with a points finish, but had to make do with a pitiful fifteenth. In what seems to be the slowest car on the grid, not much more could have been done.
- Kevin Magnussen (+2)
went for a one-stop tactic and defeated his teammate, but he was never really looking to score points. Overall, though, a respectable job. - Tsunoda Yuki (-6)
The Japanese driver was given a 60-place grid penalty, so he started at the back, but he would have preferred to start higher than 16th. - Lance Stroll (-4)
The Canadian finished just outside the points, not taking advantage of Aston’s advancements like Alonso did. was at his loudest when he complained about “too much drag” on the radio. - Sergio Perez (=)
After intense negotiations between team managers, the under pressure Mexican driver will remain a Red Bull driver after the summer. Despite starting from the front row at Spa, he had to reverse his way through the field and finish behind the lead group, so he can consider himself fortunate.
19. Logan Sargeant (=)
The fact that Sainz will take over for the unimpressive American at Williams starting in the following year confirms the inevitable. Even though he finished ahead of Hulkenberg at Spa, his performance was exactly the same as usual.
- Zhou Guanyu (=)
The Chinese driver had yet another difficult weekend, though not all of it was his fault. was penalized for blocking Verstappen in the qualifying process, and the team was also at fault for failing to alert him when the Red Bull driver was completing a fast lap.
As a result of losing power during the race and retiring due to an unrelated problem, he was the only driver on the starting grid to DNF. This may be Zhou’s last Formula One campaign, just like Sargeant’s.
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