W2W Analysis of the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix – By Joe Murphy
One of the most shaken up grids in recent memory produced a by-the-numbers result as Max Verstappen yet again demonstrated that he has one hand on the championship with a sensational drive and dominant display at Spa. A year on from taking a tainted victory at the same track, there was nothing controversial about his efforts here. There was more to cast an eye on beyond the Dutchman’s brilliance, however. So let’s take a dive…
Could this set the trend for the remainder of the season?
Max Verstappen had it easy. Let’s be honest. He drove from fourteenth and still won by the best part of twenty seconds. It looks as if he could have started from the pit lane and still taken the 25 points for victory. It’s not only a damning indication of where the Dutchman is in terms of pace relative to the rest of the grid (his teammate included) but it could also be an indication as to how the remainder of the season could go. If he keeps this kind of form up, there’s no way that the current 93 point gap gets closed right the way down. In fact, it looks as if it will only get bigger as we head to his home race and beyond. The first man since Kimi Raikkonen in 2004/05 to win back to back in Spa, another milestone for the Champion Elect.
Ferrari faults rear their ugly head again…
Whilst, on pace at least, they stood little chance against either Red Bull car, Ferrari should have at least been third and fourth. However, to be only narrowly holding off George Russell’s Mercedes and Fernando Alonso’s Alpine for third and fifth, Sainz and Leclerc respectively will be disappointed with how Sunday went down. Charles especially with mistaken tyres in qualifying and then a botched fastest lap attempt, will be ruing some of the team strategy on hand this past weekend. It’s starting to look like Ferrari’s main focus should be on Mercedes in their rear view mirror, rather than the runaway leaders out front.
McLaren’s nightmare weekend as Danny looks a shadow of his shoey alter ego…
It was a poor weekend for both McLaren drivers. Lando Norris got stuck in a DRS train in his foiled attempt for tenth, whereas Daniel Ricciardo only went backwards from his seventh place starting position. Christian Horner had it nailed when he said that the Australian looks shot to pieces following the premature termination of his contract. A fresh start may be what both parties needed, but it could be an ugly few months in the drivers career. For Lando, he just highlights the fall in prigress the constructor has made in the last year or so.
Williams showing signs of promise as Albon claims a point…
The fastest car in sector one wasn’t a Red Bull, or a Mercedes. It wasn’t even a Ferrari. Alex Albon went purple in the Williams, a car that has been the slowest on the grid for the best part of half a decade. Whilst Latifi couldn’t replicate his teammates pace, Alex managed to hold fof challenges from Stroll and Norris to claim another point to add to his limited tally for this current campaign. If this car can just find some time in the corners, then perhaps they could be a team to watch out for in the coming season. Whether someone like Ricciardo ends up there, or not.
Ageing pair show no signs of slowing up…
Arguably the two stand out performers this weekend were Fernando Alonso and, the man he will be taking the place of in 2023, the departing Sebastian Vettel. Alonso pipped Leclerc for 5th thanks to a late speeding penalty despite coming to physical blows with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap. On the other hand, Vettel put on a truly magnificent display to claim some precious points for Aston Martin. Whether these are his last ever points in Formula 1, you’d have to hope not. However, it was a truly excellent display from this pair and just an indication that the Spaniard has plenty to bring to his new employers in the coming years.
W2W DRIVER OF THE WEEKEND – Whilst both the aforementioned Vettel and Alonso put in strong arguments to win this maiden award, it can only go to one man. George Russell may have put that Mercedes in a position it has no right to be in, but Max Verstappen’s drive from 14th to 1st more than warrants his spot here. Driver of the Day in the eyes of F1 fans and Wheel2Wheel Reports.
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