Max Verstappen has recorded his eighth successive win in Formula 1 with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Despite qualifying fastest, a five-place grid penalty for the Dutchman gave hope to the rest of the field to end his streak of dominance.
However, the Red Bull driver was at the front by lap 17 and never looked like giving up his advantage aside from a brief wobble when a small period of rain arrived midway through the race.
Verstappen's task was made easier by a collision between Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr at the opening corner, the former having to retire shortly afterwards and the latter's face being heavily compromised by a hole in the side of his car.
Instead, Verstappen found himself in fourth behind Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton before picking them off one by one.
The incoming rain, which lasted for around 15 minutes, created a spell of indecision with it not heavy enough to warrant the full wets, and it ultimately had little impact on the race.
🏁 LAP 44/44 🏁
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2023
Hamilton just misses the podium but takes the fastest lap 👏#BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8c4ZBvJA4I
By the chequered flag, Verstappen was able to get over the line more than 22 seconds ahead of teammate Perez, who finished comfortably in second in front of Leclerc.
Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and George Russell were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris who failed to build on his recent runner-up placings.
Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10 in a race where the only retirements were that of the aforementioned Piastri and Sainz Jr.
Verstappen now leads the Championship standings by a mammoth 125 points from Perez, while Alonso's advantage over Hamilton in third has been reduced to just one point.
Leclerc and Russell are now level on points in joint-fifth, albeit 49 points adrift of the top four.
Darren Plant
