Five Formula 1 Winners & Losers: Belgian Grand Prix

Photo from Formula 1

Spa is one of my favorite tracks of the year thanks to the scenery and the speed.

The scenery was there.

The speed…

Yeah. This era of Formula 1 isn’t the greatest.

But here are the winners & losers from the weekend in Belgium.

Losers

5. Liam Lawson

This is harsh for Liam, who has been on a tear as of late, but he did finish outside of the points for the first time since Miami in May.

Hopefully it’s just a blip on the radar.

4. Williams

Williams this year just can not find any pace, despite having two talented drivers.

Really difficult to see.

3. Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac, expectedly, is having a very rough first year in F1.

But Bottas was lapped at Spa, which is by far the longest track on the calendar.

How could anything be worse than being lapped on the longest track on the calendar?

2. Fernando Alonso

How about getting lapped TWICE???

Aston Martin, what on Earth is this car?

1. George Russell

Russell says it’s something wrong with his car.

Toto Wolff said there was an issue partly with the car, but partly with the driver.

I don’t know what the issue is.

What I do know is that George Russell, once again, was comprehensively beaten by his teammate and is falling even farther behind in this championship.

This was supposed to be his year.

So far, he’s not even going to be close.

Winners

5. Franco Colapinto

One point for Franco, which came on an outstanding move past Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson.

Last year, I thought he didn’t belong in the sport.

This year, he has impressed me more than almost any other driver.

Awesome season.

4. Arvid Lindblad

Liam Lawson may have lost his points streak, but his teammate Arvid Lindblad kept his going with a 9th place finish.

One of the better rookie seasons in recent memory.

3. Lando Norris

Lando Norris is the defending champion, but I thought Max Verstappen was the better driver this year.

But this season, Lando is having a better pure driving season than he did last year. He just doesn’t have the car to compete.

But a 6th place finish after starting 13th with some solid overtakes is a great race.

He may be justifying his title in a completely different season.

Weird sport!

2. Isack Hadjar

Started 21st.

Finished 5th.

The best second driver at Red Bull since Daniel Ricciardo.

Good for Isack. The curse is over.

1. Kimi Antonelli

Another weekend, another dominating performance by the 19 year old championship leader.

He has been absolutely phenomenal this year, and deserves his championship lead.

There’s still a long way to go, but we are getting closer and closer to the youngest ever World Champion in Formula 1.

And maybe, the defining driver of this era.