Fun race. Plenty of passing and I show why Spa should never leave the calendar and some great drives.
Verstappen: Absolutely peerless and unstoppable at the moment. This guy is in another league and everything he does goes right. He even rolled a Natural 20 on ripping his Tearoff, as it completely ruined the race for his title rival! Getting Hamilton in Brazil 2021 vibes from that race as the new engine was only a small part of his incredible pace difference and ease at which he appeared at the front.
Perez: Didn't really feature but stayed out of Max's way and followed him home ahead of everyone else.
Sainz: Wasn't able to do anything with the inherited pole as Ferrari chose an "SMH" strategy, which sums them up really.
Russell: Merc were third fastest so beating a Ferrari was the best he could hope for.
Alonso: Innocent on lap 1, comical on the radio and flawless after that for another strong result, with another strong front-of-midfield drive.
Leclerc: Mugged by Max on lap 1, it was obvious what was going to happen after that. Ferrari don't even have the confidence to ruin their own race anymore, and the strategy discussions on the radio were so embarrassingly obvious it just hurt them in the long run. Melted wheelspeed sensor causing the pit speed violation is a very valid excuse, but nonetheless embarrassing as that late pitstop was a total flop.
Ocon: What a pass on Vettel and Gasly! And another amazing recovery drive from the back.
Vettel: Definitely ruined Stroll's chance of scoring a point on the first lap, but once again showed that Aston are much faster in the races than in quali.
Gasly: Totally anonymous, but pitlane to points is always impressive.
Albon: Great drive to keep the back-of-the-grid car in the points and hold everyone off behind. DRS may have been powerful, but not everyone can get past.
Stroll: Should have been left space on the opening lap, and recovery to 11th was OK, but being the first car with DRS in a DRS train means you're the one ruining everyone elses race by not being able to overtake.
Norris: Starting at the back didn't help, but McLaren's pace didn't really look anywhere this weekend, so couldn't do anything much.
Tsunoda: I didn't see him at anytime in the broadcast TBH so no idea.
Zhou: Another driver stuck in the DRS train that got nowhere really.
Ricciardo: Was running as high as 5th at the start of the race, but to fall back so far was pretty damning and further cemented McLaren's decision to part ways as a good idea.
Magnussen: Wait, Haas were at Spa?
Schumacher: a nice pass through Eau Rouge, but for last place.
Latifi: Bottled it on Lap 2 and his race was done at that point.
Bottas: Innocent victim and unlucky with gravel.
Hamilton: Why he turned in that sharply I don't know, but a first Lap 1 DNF since Barcelona 2016 for him and one he can't apportion blame to the other car for.
