Max Verstappen brought his best to the racing track on Sunday as he battled from a disadvantaged position to claim victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Dutch driver started the race from P14 but was able to forge his way to the lead position right at lap 18, and he maintained that spot until the end of the race. Verstappen now leads by almost 100 points, and he would likely maintain his position on the leaderboard till the end of the season, meaning he has a good chance to win the World Championship title for the second year.

The Belgian GP was a good one for Red Bull as their other driver, Sergio Perez, finished second. With that win, Perez has now moved up to second place on the leaderboard, putting Red Bull in a very good spot. They also lead the constructor’s leaderboard with over 100 points.

Red Bull has finally managed to displace Ferrari, who started this season on a high note. Carlos Sainz finished third on Sunday, while Charles Leclerc, now third on the leaderboard, finished sixth. He originally came fifth, but a penalty moved him one position behind. Leclerc’s strength continues to dwindle with each race, mostly due to his team’s fault. At Sunday’s race, a late pitstop was one of the reasons he finished fifth in the first place, although he said he later said that his performance on Sunday had nothing to do with the team.

For Mercedes, the Belgian GP did not go as expected. It ended Hamilton’s podium-appearance streak, as he finished the race after crashing out in the first lap. Currently ranked sixth on the leaderboard, Hamilton is still yet to win a race this season, and it is unlikely that he may win any race anytime soon, given how stiff the competition is this season. Despite Ferrari’s dismal performance, they are still a team for Mercedes to beat.

Written by: Leon Osamor