F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Race results as Max Verstappen wins again at Spa-Francorchamps

Formula 1 live updates at Spa-Francorchamps as Max Verstappen cruises to another victory at Spa

Verstappen: "I'm happy" - despite grid penalty

Max Verstappen’s invincible streak continued at the Belgian Grand Prix with another crushing win.

The double world champion started sixth but took the lead at Spa Francorchamps on lap 17 of 44 before taking the chequered flag 22.3 seconds clear of his forlorn Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.

Verstappen’s triumph was his eighth in a row – one shy of Sebastian Vettel’s record – and 10th from the 12 rounds so far. He leads Perez by a mammoth 125 points in the standings – the equivalent of five victories – heading into Formula 1’s summer break.

Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc took the final spot on the podium with Lewis Hamilton, who denied Verstappen a bonus point by setting the fastest lap, fourth.

Follow live reaction from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - UPDATES

• Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix; Perez 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
• Click HERE for the top-10 at Spa-Francorchamps
• Lap 17/44: Max Verstappen overtakes Sergio Perez for the race lead
• Lap 2/44: Oscar Piastri forced to retire after collision with Carlos Sainz at turn 1
• Lap 1/44: Sergio Perez overtakes Charles Leclerc for the lead
• Verstappen won the Saturday sprint race; Piastri 2nd; Gasly 3rd
• ‘We should not be deterred’: Lewis Hamilton unhappy with stewards after penalty
• Carlos Sainz interview: ‘All of us at Ferrari expected more – we haven’t done the best job’

[30 July 2023 14:21 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen storms around the outside of Charles Leclerc (Lap 9/44)

Once again, Max Verstappen gets it done right at the end of the Kemmel Straight!

DRS. Slipstream. Straight-line speed. All in Verstappen’s favour, as he cruises around the outside of Charles Leclerc and he’s up to second!

Next? His team-mate Sergio Perez, three seconds down the road.

[30 July 2023 14:19 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris pits (Lap 8/44)

It’s simply been a horror start for McLaren!

Oscar Piastri is out and Lando Norris has pitted early, off his mediums and onto hards - but now down to P17!

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is just getting in the decisive DRS range of Charles Leclerc!

Top-10: Perez, Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso, Tsunoda, Stroll, Russell, Sargeant, Gasly

[30 July 2023 14:15 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen overtakes Lewis Hamilton (Lap 6/44)

It was inevitable! Max Verstappen leaves it late down the Kemmel Straight but simply has too much speed for the sitting duck of Lewis Hamilton!

Hamilton: “Ferrari has been off at turn 9 every lap” Lewis already eyeing track limit penalties!

But he’s down to P4!

[30 July 2023 14:12 · Kieran Jackson]

Carlos Sainz dropping down the order (Lap 3/44)

Carlos Sainz has 5% aero balance damage - and he loses fifth place to Fernando Alonso down the Kemmel Straight!

Interestingly, Max Verstappen yet to overtake Lewis Hamilton though he is right on his gearbox!

Dream start for Sergio Perez though - he’s storming out in front and his lead is already 2.2 secs to Charles Leclerc!

[30 July 2023 14:09 · Kieran Jackson]

Oscar Piastri is out! (Lap 2/44)

It’s all over for the man who finished second place in the sprint race - Oscar Piastri has stopped out on track in sector two!

Piastri sustained his damage at turn 1 after being squeezed against the wall by Carlos Sainz (who also has damage!)

A nightmare for the rookie Australian in the McLaren!

Top-10: Perez, Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Sainz, Alonso, Tsunoda, Norris, Albon, Stroll

George Russell has dropped three places to P11!

(Getty Images)

[30 July 2023 14:06 · Kieran Jackson]

Sergio Perez takes the lead down the Kemmel Straight (Lap 1/44)

It’s lights out and Charles Leclerc keeps the lead around turn 1 - but then Sergio Perez has too much pace and is through down the Kemmel Straight!

Lewis Hamilton is up to third and Max Verstappen is already up to fourth - with Oscar Piastri dropping right down the order after sustaining damage at turn 1!

Perez grabs the initiative straight away!

[30 July 2023 14:02 · Kieran Jackson]

Formation lap!

So Charles Leclerc leads the pack around for what is a lengthy formation lap at Spa-Francorchamps!

The top-four are all on softs, as is Max Verstappen. The rest of the top-11 are on medium tyres.

Nobody on hards to begin with.

[30 July 2023 13:59 · Kieran Jackson]

A reminder of the starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix

1) Charles Leclerc

2) Sergio Perez

3) Lewis Hamilton

4) Carlos Sainz

5) Oscar Piastri

6) Max Verstappen*

7) Lando Norris

8) George Russell

9) Fernando Alonso

10) Lance Stroll

11) Yuki Tsunoda

12) Pierre Gasly

13) Valtteri Bottas

14) Esteban Ocon

15) Alex Albon

16) Kevin Magnussen*

17) Zhou Guanyu

18) Logan Sargeant

19) Daniel Ricciardo

20) Nico Hulkenberg (pit lane start)

*Max Verstappen receives a five-place grid drop for exceeding his gearbox allocation; Kevin Magnussen receives a three-place grid drop for impeding Charles Leclerc in qualifying

[30 July 2023 13:58 · Kieran Jackson]

Belgian Grand Prix LIVE

We’re just moments away from the start of the Belgian Grand Prix!

At the moment, it’s dry at Spa-Francorchamps for the first time all weekend! However, there is a 40% chance of rain throughout the race.

Charles Leclerc starts on pole alongside Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Lewis Hamilton is third, Max Verstappen is down in sixth after his gearbox penalty.

Who will have the lead after turn 1?!

(Getty Images)

[30 July 2023 13:53 · Kieran Jackson]

Max has a chat with his dad pre-race

(Getty Images)