F1 results

F1 in 2022 was supposed to be more exciting than ever, but the days of single driver dominance are back. Max Verstappen on the podium in Belgium.

“Would you like new mediums to go through the traffic or new hards?” Leclerc was asked during the race when the team’s calculations predicted a fifth place finish. Verstappen heads to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort next Sunday with a 93-point lead over team-mate Perez and 98 ahead of Charles Leclerc. Both Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen expressed surprise at the outcome, neither party anticipating the ease with which the race would be won. - Esteban Ocon – Alpine – +1:15.640 - Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +1:14.936 - Fernando Alonso – Alpine – +1:16.256 - Carlos Sainz – Ferrari – +26.866 Moreover the new regulations have inadvertently stripped the contest of the intensity that we saw last season when between them Verstappen and Hamilton fashioned one of the great finales. Whilst from a technical point of view the return of ground effect aerodynamics has made it easier for the cars to follow each other and thus to overtake, the performance advantage inherent in Verstappen’s Red Bull has rendered the new rules irrelevant. It appears deeply ironic now that the aero changes introduced this term were brought in to improve the racing. Over the remaining eight races it would be extraordinary were Verstappen not to reset the number for most wins in a season, presently held by Schumacher and Vettel on 13. Either side of Formula One’s summer break Verstappen has pummelled the field to transport the sport, not towards the spectacular future for which all hoped when its governing body the FIA ushered in radical regulation changes, but back to the days of single driver dominance.

Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in the Belgian Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez making it a Red Bull 1-2. Check out the complete race results from ...

Leclerc took fifth on the road but dropped to sixth after picking up a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pits in a failed late bid to grab the fastest lap. [Mercedes](/formula-1-teams/mercedes) driver at the finish, as [Lewis Hamilton](/formula-1-drivers/lewis-hamilton) dropped out on the opening lap following a clash with Alpine rival Alonso. Verstappen quickly climbed up the order when the race began and found himself leading after only a quarter of the 44-lap encounter had passed.

Max Verstappen has won the Belgian Grand Prix for Red Bull ahead of Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jnr.

1

'Could never imagine': Insane 60-year feat stuns F1 as champ rocked in first lap disaster.

18th: Nicholas Latifi (Williams) 12th: Lando Norris (McLaren) 10th: Alexander Albon (Williams) 7th: Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 6th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 5th: Fernando Alonso (Alpine) 3rd: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) “It was quite a hectic first lap to stay out of trouble,” said a composed Verstappen. He came out ahead of Perez. Verstappen rose smoothly from 14th on the grid to eighth. “So it’s unfortunate... He was untouchable,” said Perez.