Belgian GP F1 Results: Max Verstappen clinches victory starting from the sixth spot

Despite commencing from the sixth position due to a penalty imposed for a new gearbox, Verstappen skillfully navigated his way to the leading spot by the 16th lap. He took over from his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, who had held the lead since he surpassed Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) who began on the pole position during the first lap.

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Belgian GP 2023 F1 outcomes
PositionDriverCar EngineGap
1 Max VerstappenRed BullRed Bull 
2 Sergio PerezRed BullRed Bull22.305
3 Charles LeclercFerrariFerrari32.259
4 Lewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes49.671
5 Fernando AlonsoAston MartinMercedes56.184
6 George RussellMercedesMercedes1’03.101
7 Lando NorrisMcLarenMercedes1’13.719
8 Esteban OconAlpineRenault1’14.719
9 Lance StrollAston MartinMercedes1’19.340
10 Yuki TsunodaAlphaTauriRed Bull1’20.221
11 Pierre GaslyAlpineRenault1’23.084
12 Valtteri BottasAlfa RomeoFerrari1’25.191
13 Zhou GuanyuAlfa RomeoFerrari1’35.441
14 Alexander AlbonWilliamsMercedes1’36.184
15 Kevin MagnussenHaasFerrari1’41.754
16 Daniel RicciardoAlphaTauriRed Bull1’43.071
17 Logan SargeantWilliamsMercedes1’44.476
18 Nicolas HulkenbergHaasFerrari1’50.450
  Carlos SainzFerrariFerrari 
  Oscar PiastriMcLarenMercedes 
The 2023 Belgian GP F1 narrative

Leclerc maintained his pole advantage leading Perez and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) at the start. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren suffered damage when it collided with Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and the wall on the inside of the La Source hairpin, forcing him to withdraw during the first lap.

Perez swiftly surpassed Leclerc for the lead on the Kemmel Straight. Verstappen, starting from the sixth spot, quickly rose to the fourth position following the Sainz/Piastri incident.

Despite an initial setback due to a DRS train following Leclerc and Hamilton, Verstappen managed to overtake Hamilton at Les Combes on the sixth lap and Leclerc three laps later, thereby moving up to the second spot during the initial quarter of the race.

Hamilton was the first leader to pit-stop on lap 14, followed by Perez and Leclerc, and finally Verstappen. Verstappen steadily reduced Perez’s lead and managed to overtake him by the 16th lap, seizing the leading position well before the race’s midpoint.

In the meanwhile, George Russell (Mercedes) advanced past Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) for the sixth position on lap 17. Stroll lost more spots to Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) before opting for a pit stop for fresh soft tyres.

With just 16 laps remaining, Hamilton decided to pit for soft tyres, causing Leclerc to follow suit on the next lap. Despite an attempt to undercut, Hamilton’s progress was hindered by Alonso.

Both Red Bulls completed their final pit stops without any issues. Verstappen rejoined with a 9s lead and extended it to a 22s lead at the finish line. Leclerc managed to fend off Hamilton’s challenge, with Alonso, Russell, and Norris following.

Near the end of the race, Hamilton made another pit stop for new medium tyres and managed to snatch the fastest lap from Verstappen on the final lap.

Also Read:
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Norris ‘unsure’ how he finished seventh in the Belgian GP F1
2023 F1 Belgian GP fastest laps
RankNumberDriver Car / Engine  Time  Delay  Speed 
1 44Lewis HamiltonMercedes1’47.305 234.978
2 1Max VerstappenRed Bull/Honda RBPT1’48.9221.617231.490
3 23Alexander AlbonWilliams/Mercedes1’49.8412.536229.553
4 27Nico HülkenbergHaas/Ferrari1’49.9072.602229.415
5 24Zhou GuanyuAlfa Romeo/Ferrari1’50.1882.883228.830
6 11Sergio PérezRed Bull/Honda RBPT1’50.3083.003228.581
7 16Charles LeclercFerrari1’50.4363.131228.316
8 31Esteban OconAlpine/Renault1’50.4393.134228.310
9 2Logan SargeantWilliams/Mercedes1’50.4863.181228.213
10 77Valtteri BottasAlfa Romeo/Ferrari1’50.5153.210228.153
11 63George RussellMercedes1’50.6033.298227.972
12 10Pierre GaslyAlpine/Renault1’50.9113.606227.339
13 14Fernando AlonsoAston Martin/Mercedes1’50.9383.633227.283
14 20Kevin MagnussenHaas/Ferrari1’50.9933.688227.171
15 3Daniel RicciardoAlphaTauri/Honda RBPT1’50.9943.689227.169
16 18Lance StrollAston Martin/Mercedes1’51.2973.992226.550
17 22Yuki TsunodaAlphaTauri/Honda RBPT1’51.3944.089226.353
18 4Lando NorrisMcLaren/Mercedes1’51.6824.377225.769
19 55Carlos Sainz Jr.Ferrari1’53.1385.833222.864

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