The Dutch driver didn’t have it as easy this time. A mix up of pit stops gave rookie Piastri the lead for a couple laps. Pierre Gasly completes the podium with a great drive for the Alpine Team.
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As rain began to fall, the start of the sprint race was delayed by 7 minutes. As the rain got heavier, this original delay was scrapped and replaced by an indefinite delay warning. The grandstands looked like an ocean of umbrellas, and the grid was a sea of tents. However, no rainstorm could break the spirits of the crowd. Their eagerness for the sprint race was clear.
The formation lap begun under the safety car with all drivers on the blue striped extreme wet tyre. The spray being kicked up by the drivers resembled a fog, hiding the cars within. Because the track is so big, different areas were experiencing varying weather. This would make it difficult for the drivers the entire lap.
Russell becomes the first driver to radio the call for intermediates. GP, Verstappens Race Engineer, explains that there will be 4 laps under the safety car with a rolling start. This was not only favoured by Verstappen at the front, but by all drivers regarding safety. Pit crews were getting ready early for the drivers to stream in for intermediate tyres.
Safety car comes in and Max Verstappen leads the rolling start. Piastri, Hamilton, and many other drivers dove into the pits to swap for those green striped inters. Verstappen couldn’t risk it due to being blocked in his pit box. Towards the end of lap 1, the other 10 drivers who hand’t swapped their tires all sunk into the pits.
Due to Verstappen not being able to pit at the start, Piastri took the lead on lap 2 due to superb work (and some luck) from the McLaren pit crew. This posed up a Piastri vs Verstappen battle. Pierre Gasly on lap 2 found himself in P3, followed by Perez and Hamilton. The papaya McLaren was setup for the wet weather this weekend, but the Red Bull has the top speed advantage.
A safety car is brought out in lap 3 due to Alonso finding himself in the gravel on the exit of turn 10. An unusual error from the experienced Spaniard. Too much throttle on the wet, red and yellow curbs spun the Aston Martin round.
The safety car ended on lap 5 and the young Australian rookie led the pack over the line. Verstappen took the lead on the restart down the Kemmel straight due to the super straight line speed from that Red Bull. Over the course of around 6 corners, Perez lost positions to Hamilton, Sainz and Leclerc. The Mercedes and Red Bull even touched on the exit of turn 15.
As Norris closed in on Perez down Stavelot, Sergio lost control of his car in the gravel. The Mexican fell down to P16. Lap 8, Hamilton now begins chasing down the Alpine of Gasly for the last podium position. Checo is called into the pits to retire the car, a definite disappointing end to his sprint race.
Lap 9, Hamilton is slapped with a harsh 5-second penalty. This makes his charge for Gasly worthless; he would now find himself P7 behind Norris. Russel has the final points position covered, Ricciardo just missing out in P9.
Verstappen, following his overtake for the lead, has eased his way forward to victory. Oscar Piastri grabs a fantastic P2 followed by Gasly taking home a podium for a broken Alpine team. Another sprint race proven to be an effective event. Packed with overtakes, battles and some scary moments.
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