Sunday Debrief: Red Bull head into the summer break with a fifth 1-2 finish

Verstappen continues his three-month winning streak as F1 goes into the summer break. Verstappen takes his 8thconsecutive race win at his home race, his teammate Sergio Perez finishes in P2, Red Bulls first 1-2 finish since Miami at the start of May.

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Sprint race

The championship leader, Max Verstappen started the session on pole, behind him the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, Piastri being outqualified by Verstappen by 0.011s. on the second row in P3, Carlos Sainz sat beside the Ferrari his teammate Charles Leclerc lined up in P4.

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All drivers started the race on a set of wet tyres behind the safety car for a few laps before a rolling start. George Russel was the first driver to decide over the team radio that the track was ready for intermediates. As the safety car came in half the grid came in for a set of inters, Verstappen staying in with fear of losing position. Verstappen coming into the pits at the end of lap 1 for a set of inters, coming out behind the McLaren rookie, Piastri leading his first lap in F1.

The safety car was deployed on lap 3, after Fernando Alonso went into the barriers at turn 11. The safety car returned to the pits at the end of lap 5, with Piastri leading Verstappen. Verstappen quick to act on Piastri, regaining the lead after a few corners.

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Sargeant was the first of two drivers to receive a 5-second time penalty, the Williams driver receiving the penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Lewis Hamilton was the other driver to receive a penalty for causing a collision with Sergio Perez at turn 15 in the battle for P4 at the restart.

On Lap 7, Perez went wide into the gravel, Perez losing position and dropping down into P16, before coming into the pits on lap 8 to retire for the race.

As they crossed line, Verstappen’s winning streak continued, Piastri held onto P2 with Gasly trailing behind the Australian driver after excellently holding off Lewis Hamilton.

Race day

Leclerc started the race on pole after inheriting the position from Verstappen, Verstappen dropping down to P6 for the race start with a 5-place grid penalty for a new gearbox. Behind Leclerc, Perez started on the front row in P4, followed by Lewis Hamilton in P3. Hulkenberg starts another race from the back of the grid, as the Haas driver starts the race from the pitlane.

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Leclerc held on to the lead going into turn 1, but the Ferrari driver was quickly passed by Perez going up Eau Rouge and Raidillon. Going into turn 1, Sainz and Piastri made contact, the Ferrari not leaving enough space for the McLaren as he goes into the wall. Both drivers facing damage, Piastri stopping on the side of the track on lap 2 becoming the first retirement of the race. Sainz continuing in the race, Sainz lacking pace as he begins to fall down the order before returning to the pits on lap 8 to retire from the race.

Verstappen making up 2 places on the first lap, moving up into P4. The Red Bull holding on to the back of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton before striking on lap 6 for the final podium position, before hunting down the Ferrari. On Lap 9 Verstappen made his way past Leclerc, his sight now set on his teammate for the lead of the race. Verstappen eventually taking the lead of the race on Lap 17 from his teammate. The order of the top 3 remaining the same as they took the chequered flag.

As the crossed the finish line, Verstappen took his 8th consecutive race win in front of his home crowd, Perez with his best finish since Miami in P2. Leclerc completed the podium, the pressure from Hamilton being taken of the Monegasque driver as Hamilton comes in to the pits on lap 42 for a set of medium tyres in favour of an extra point for the fastest lap.