Formula 1: Verstappen wins Belgian Grand Prix in wet conditions, Piastri a close second

In what has become a familiar trend this season, Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix sprint race. It was a victory eclipsed by another outstanding performance by Oscar Piastri, who made his mark in Formula One at his 12th meeting, leading the race for a few moments before being passed by Verstappen, who ultimately took back the lead until the finish line.

In a rolling start on a drying track, Verstappen took pole position with intermediate tires. Almost half the grid, including Piastri, pitted immediately, while the world champion managed to stayed out. After Verstappen stopped a lap later, Piastri was able to take advantage of the better rubber, and took the lead before the Dutch racer returned to the track.

The young Australian demonstrated some flashes of audacity and good racing, skills which became more and more evident throughout his races this year, but his performance during the 11-lap race at Spa-Francorchamps proved his potential, compelling McLaren to select him as a second driver for their acclaimed F1 team.

As a result of Piastri's outstanding performance throughout the day, he was able to push Verstappen to his limits in qualifying, finishing one hundredth of a second behind him. Critics have framed his performance as outstanding during his first Formula One season, especially since McLaren delivered the upgrades that have catapulted their car to the top of the standings, now believed to be the second fastest in the field.

There was a lot of chaos behind the pair leading the race that involved, among other things, Lewis Hamilton receiving a five second penalty for his move on Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, causing damage to the Mexican and forcing him to drop out of the race, resulting in Hamilton falling from fourth to seventh.

Verstappen, now leading by 118 points is now viewed as the lead contender to take the trophy at Sunday’s main event.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly finished third, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished fourth and fifth respectively. Lando Norrisfinished sixth and Mercedes’s George Russell, eighth.

Saturday’s race follows another Verstappen victory from last week when the Formula One defending champion won the Hungarian Grand Prix, his seventh straight win of a dominant campaign.

In that race, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton started from pole position ahead of the Dutch racer, who pushed him out at the first corner and never looked back.

This was 12th consecutive victory for Red Bull Racing, breaking McLaren's record for consecutive team victories set in 1988. During the current streak, Red Bull hasn't lost a race since 2022 when they won the last race.

“People forget how hard it is to win 12 in a row, even when you have the fastest car,” Verstappen said recently. “Hopefully we can keep this momentum going for a long time.”

That victory placed Verstappen 110 points ahead of Perez, after winning nine races overall including a bonus point for the fastest lap.

For the second consecutive race, Norris finished second, while Perez came in third for a much-needed podium finish for the Mexican after a recent period of poor performances.

“If Max retires then maybe (we can win),” Norris joked with reporters last weekend. "We're happy with the progress and to be where we are today, fighting for podiums. Our time will come later in the year.”

It is impossible to say how many victories Verstappen will have if and when he reaches that point.

At that stage, Lewis Hamilton had won four races at Spa-Francorchamps, making him the most successful driver on the current grid.

But Max Verstappen won the last two races in Belgium and then emerged victorious again on Saturday.

In the same race last year, Verstappen fought back to win from 14th place, while his teammate Sergio Michel ‘Checo’ Perez finished in second place.

Spa-Francorchamps, which opened in 1921, has been in Formula One intermittently from 1925-1970 and 1983-present is a beautiful track that sits in the middle of the Belgian forest with movie-like scenery.

This is the last GP before the summer break, with the main race scheduled for this Sunday July 30th at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (15:00 a.m. local time) where Verstappen is once again the favorite to win the major trophy.