F1 | Belgian GP report cards: Verstappen relentless, Sainz does his best

Max Verstappen 10 cum laude Without the grid penalty he would have signed the hat trick (if not a grand chelem) as proof of an overwhelming superiority, demonstrated by the disarming ease with which he climbed from fourteenth to first place. From another category, exceptional driver with excellent car. The perfection and cleanliness of his driving are impressive, he seems to have no difficulty in dominating like this. An alien.

Sergio Perez 8 Excellent squire, with cars on the tracks, but he can really do nothing against his champion captain. He completes the drink party with his second place.

Carlos Sainz 9 Front row and pole, good at the start and on the restart, he really doesn't do anything wrong. He drives impeccably and yet he can do nothing against Red Bull. Very good at managing the tires and the car to repel Russell's approach. He does his best.

George Russel 8,5 A pincer, a diesel, a driver who always emerges on the pace and in the end you always find him there biting your ankles, in the podium area. Just missed, and it would have been a great result after the enormous difficulties of qualifying. Great driver, with a growing car.

Fernando Alonso 8 Innocent in the contact with Hamilton, poisonous on the radio, consistent on the track. Fifth place is a great result.

Charles Leclerc 7 Unlucky at the start of the race, then the pace is never that of the best days, but he climbs up doing everything he can and in the end he was fifth, before yet another strange choice of the wall, which calls him back on the penultimate lap to try for a useless fast lap. The speed limiter sensor is acting up and the penalty is obvious. He slips sixth and effectively bids farewell to any championship possibility. Not his fault, of course.

Esteban Ocon 9 He starts from the back, goes wild, we see him make two double overtakings, with the one on the Kemmel against Gasly and Vettel which is Hakkinen-like stuff. Very fast, crazy race.

Sebastian Vettel 7,5 Passi who is "zonked" by Ocon, but his is an important race and in the end he gets a well-deserved points placement. Aggressive and motivated, even towards Lance Stroll (5,5). Too bad he's retiring, he still has some.

Pierre Gasly 8,5 Like Ocon, he comes back from applause and two crisis-busting points that serve him more than the team. Less spectacular than the French, but equally effective.

Alex Albon 8,5 Another hero in the Ardennes who clings to the points with a Williams that is certainly not irresistible and takes home a good tenth place. Noble and unexpected. The boy has quality, three points finishes with the Cinderella of the lot are a lot.

lewis hamilton 4 He had a potentially podium-worthy W13 and wasted it all by closing senselessly on the outside on Alonso. It goes terribly for him, he takes off and the landing knocks him out. Bad mistake.

Lando Norris 5 e Daniel Ricciardo 5 They race in total anonymity with an unwatchable McLaren and now twenty lengths away from the Alpine.

Nicholas Latifi 3 He spins alone, ruining the race Valtteri Bottas (SV) and also claims to deserve reappointment. The Canadian from Abu Dhabi 2021 is only noticeable on the off-piste.

Mick Schumacher 6 The overtaking at Eau Rouge on Latifi was great, but little else. Too little. But Haas just doesn't work here.

red bull 10 Surprising evolution, a missile.

Ferrari 4 Embarrassing involution, a disappointment.