F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Race results as Max Verstappen wins again at Spa-Francorchamps
Formula 1 live updates at Spa-Francorchamps as Max Verstappen cruises to another victory at Spa
Max Verstappen’s invincible streak continued at the Belgian Grand Prix with another crushing win.
The double world champion started sixth but took the lead at Spa Francorchamps on lap 17 of 44 before taking the chequered flag 22.3 seconds clear of his forlorn Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen’s triumph was his eighth in a row – one shy of Sebastian Vettel’s record – and 10th from the 12 rounds so far. He leads Perez by a mammoth 125 points in the standings – the equivalent of five victories – heading into Formula 1’s summer break.
Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc took the final spot on the podium with Lewis Hamilton, who denied Verstappen a bonus point by setting the fastest lap, fourth.
Follow live reaction from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent
George Russell pits (Lap 23/44)
George Russell dives into the pits for his first stop - and it’s a set of soft tyres for the Mercedes!
He’s now all the way down in P16.
Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Tsunoda, Gasly, Albon, Ocon, Magnussen
Max Verstappen saying rain is heavy now (Lap 22/44)
Max Verstappen is 4.1 seconds clear of Sergio Perez but he’s not his usual comfortable self!
“Rain is getting heavy now,” he says.
However, no one has dived into the pit lane yet - and it’s not actually that heavy so far!
Rain is on the horizon (Lap 18/44)
It’s started!
The rain is slowly but surely falling at Spa! This will liven the race up! Slow intensity though...
However, Sergio Perez is already 2.3 seconds behind Max Verstappen...
Max Verstappen takes the lead (Lap 17/44)
Mr inevitable does it again! Max Verstappen so much cleaner heading up Eau Rouge, and he effortlessly glides by Sergio Perez down the Kemmel Straight!
Verstappen takes the lead of the race!
3-10: Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Russell, Stroll, Gasly, Tsunoda, Ocon
Carlos Sainz is dead last in P19. But the rain is coming in five minutes!
Fernando Alonso overtakes George Russell (Lap 16/44)
Fernando Alonso takes sixth spot from George Russell at the bus stop chicane!
And Max Verstappen is now within DRS range of Sergio Perez in front...
Max Verstappen pits (Lap 15/44)
Max Verstappen does dive into the pit lane - a 2.5 second stop - and he’s back out behind Sergio Perez by 2.2 secs.
Rain is expected in 10 minutes... which could make it exciting!
Sergio Perez pits (Lap 14/44)
Sergio Perez comes in and it’s a slow-ish stop, 3.2 seconds!
Max Verstappen takes the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix! And he’s 16 seconds ahead of his Red Bull team-mate who is second.
Verstappen having his usual jousting with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over team radio!
Will Verstappen come in straight away now?
Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 13/44)
The Mercedes pits and comes back out still in fourth place - a quick 2.7sec stop, and onto the medium tyres.
Max Verstappen has closed the gap to Sergio Perez to 2.4 secs...
Fernando Alonso overtakes Nico Hulkenberg (Lap 12/44)
Credit to Nico Hulkenberg - he’s got himself up to P9 after starting in the pit lane, but he’s just lost a position to Fernando Alonso.
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