GP of Belgium – Combination tierce in order

Another victory for Lewis Hamilton, another double for the Mercedes and of course podium for Max Verstappen: the battle of the Bulge did not take place. The three strong men of the championship (photo above) completing the 44 laps of the race in their starting positions.

44 laps in the lead for the Mercedes # 44: you have the boss’s greetings! Hamilton didn’t shake at the start. He turned in front at La Source and stayed in command up the Kemmel until the braking at Les Combes. The mass was said, and the tierce did not move until the finish.

So, a Grand Prix for nothing? Not really: 89th victory for Lewis (Schumi’s record is only a matter of two or three weeks. And another defeat for Valtteri, decidedly powerless against his leader. As for Verstappen, he has nothing to blame himself for: by finishing 27″ in front of his teammate, he made the most of his mount.

It’s not clear who can question this hierarchy at Monza next Sunday. Notwithstanding the disappearance of the “qualifier mode” on the engines. Renault, very fast in a straight line, should find a favourable ground there. Also perhaps to mix with Red Bull as in Spa where the two yellow cars finished between Verstappen and Albon. After a beautiful attack of Ricciardo at the beginning and a substantial rise of Ocon on end.

The French team had its best weekend in a long time by collecting big points. Regularly to come back to 2 points behind Ferrari in the manufacturers’ standings, an order that could reverse next weekend. The SF1000 was adrift in Spa, with Vettel and Leclerc finishing out of the points and even preceded by Kimi Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo. No doubt, Maranello is in crisis.

The man of the day is indeed Pierre Gasly, author of a superb attack race despite a daring strategy not favoured by the safety car. The Frenchman came back like a bullet in the points after some nice overtaking and crossed the line in the eighth position. Behind the only McLaren of Lando Norris but ahead of the two Racing Points. Cock-a-doodle-doo!