5 Grid Penalty Does Not Stop Verstappen To Win Belgian GP

Red Bull racer from the Netherlands, Max Verstappen. (Autosport)

JAKARTA - The five grid penalty given to Red Bull racer Max Verstappen apparently was unable to stop his dominance at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, July 30.

Despite starting the race from the sixth position, Verstappen remains the fastest in the 44 rounds of the race held at the SPA-Francorchamps Circuit.

The second position was won by his teammate Sergio Perez with a difference of 22,305 seconds from the Dutch racer. Meanwhile, the winner of Pole, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) complements the podium with a difference of 32.259 seconds from the race leader.

Verstappen's victory in Belgium became the eighth victory he achieved in a row this season. Although he did not start in the front position, he managed to get rid of his competitors to finish in P1.

The leaders of the standings were also able to maintain his car on the track during the rain in the middle of the race that forced him to change the tire.

Perez, who also made it through Leclerc to end up in the runner-up position, gave the Red Bull their first perfect result since the Miami Grand Prix in May.

Meanwhile, Leclerc survived for the last podium position, thwarting the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, while Fernando Alonso placed his Aston Martin in front of another Mercedes rider, George Russell to occupy fifth.

Only 18 cars completed the race after the clash in the first corner between the Oscar Piastri podium winner and Ferrari racer Carlos Sainz which caused both of them to not be able to finish the race. The car from the two riders was damaged after being involved in contact and stopped on the track.

On the other hand, Verstappen is now only one victory away to match the record of Sebastian Vettel who recorded nine in a row in a row.

In addition, this victory also ensured that Verstappen was still strong in leading the standings of the temporary championship and far away from Perez who was 125 points adrift of him.