This year’s Belgian Grand Prix showcased another dominant performance from Max Verstappen, who extended his championship lead over Sergio Perez. Despite a relatively uneventful race at the front, there were several noteworthy aspects to discuss. Here are the key takeaways from the Spa weekend:
- Verstappen’s dominance reaches new heights.
Max Verstappen continued to impress, overtaking Sergio Perez to claim victory despite starting from the back of the grid. His mastery of the race showed he could have won even if he had started from the pitlane.
- Verstappen and his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase’s dynamic.
Verstappen’s radio exchanges with his race engineer were a highlight of the weekend. The two occasionally disagreed, but their mutual respect and trust remained intact.
- Ferrari’s progress with tire management.
Ferrari has struggled with tire degradation in the past, but recent improvements, evident in Charles Leclerc’s podium finish, suggest they are getting better at preserving tires.
- Mercedes’ resilience despite technical challenges.
Mercedes faced challenges with excess drag and bouncing issues, yet Lewis Hamilton managed to secure valuable points by cleverly strategizing and executing a one-stop plan.
- McLaren’s wet set-up preference hindered its performance.
McLaren’s wet set-up that worked well in the sprint race proved to be a disadvantage during the dry grand prix. Lando Norris struggled with straight-line speed and dropped positions.
- Piastri shows promise despite a first-corner clash.
Oscar Piastri demonstrated great potential during the weekend, outqualifying his teammate Norris and achieving an impressive result in the sprint race before a first-corner collision.
- Alpine faces management changes.
Alpine has seen frequent changes in team principal and management roles, indicating instability in leadership over the years.
- Aston Martin rebounds after technical adjustments.
Fernando Alonso’s fifth-place finish at Spa marked an improvement for Aston Martin after they addressed recent technical challenges.
- Drivers find wet visibility worsens with new car designs.
The new generation of cars seems to produce even worse visibility in wet conditions, with drivers struggling to see through the thick spray.
- Pirelli’s “extreme wet” tire comes under criticism.
Drivers and Pirelli agree that the extreme wet tire is largely unnecessary and needs improvement, with the possibility of merging it with the intermediate tire being discussed.
As Formula 1 heads into its summer break, fans await the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August for the championship battle to resume.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2023
Q: What were the key takeaways from the 2023 F1 Belgian Grand Prix?
A: The key takeaways from the 2023 F1 Belgian Grand Prix included Max Verstappen’s dominant performance, Ferrari’s improvements in tire management, McLaren’s struggles with wet setup, and the management changes at Alpine. Additionally, drivers expressed concerns about visibility in wet conditions, and Pirelli’s extreme wet tire faced criticism.
5 comments
wow, max verstappen total dominat in 2023 belgian gp. ferrari getting bettr with tyre managmnt, but what bout mclaren? struggles with wet setup, not good. gooo aston martin! gr8 result. #F1 #BelgianGP
luvd d battles between verstappen & perez. red bull duos got it! #F1 #Verstappen #Perez
cant see a thing in the rain, visibility bad. #Pirelli fix ur extreme wet tyres plz! #wetweatherwoes #F1
mclaren needs a bettr setup in the rain. norris struggleddddd. #McLaren #BelgianGP #wetweatherproblems
Alpine changin management again?! not good sign for the team. veri unstable. hope 4 better! #F1 #Alpine