Max Verstappen took his ninth win of the season in a dominant display at the Belgian Grand Prix, which is ominous for the rest of the season. Verstappen came back from 14th on the grid after a number of drivers suffered power unit penalties from changing components heading into the weekend. Ferrari suffered yet another disappointing result despite Carlos Sainz starting from pole, while Charles Leclerc picked up a late penalty from a late pit stop after the team attempted to get the points for fastest lap. With much to discuss amid the fallout from the Belgian Grand Prix, these talking points drew plenty of reaction from international media outlets.
Verstappen echoed Schumacher’s Spa win from 1995
Verstappen’s pace in the race was subject to a lot of talk among the world’s press, as he extends his championship lead to nearly 100 points. Germany’s Bild wrote about how Verstappen’s victory echoed that of Michael Schumacher in 1995, when he won from 16th on the grid. "Verstappen needed very little time for his mad pursuit à la Michael Schumacher at Spa in 1995. "At the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman had to start from 14th on the grid and drove easily to victory. "Schumacher had once won here in the rain from sixteenth on the grid and crowned himself 'rain god'. Verstappen is now (almost) managing to do the same."
Records could be broken by Verstappen before season end
In the UK, the BBC believe that Verstappen could break a couple of records if his form continues. "It was Verstappen's ninth win in 14 races, and right now it is difficult to see how anyone else will win another race this season. "They probably will, of course. Red Bull surely can't be as dominant as this at all the remaining eight races. Or perhaps they can. "Certainly, the single-season record of 13 wins, held jointly by Michael Schumacher with Ferrari in 2004 and Verstappen's predecessor at Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel, in 2013, is looking vulnerable."
“They are right, Verstappen is from another planet”
Italy’s La Gazetta Dello Sport echoed the thoughts of Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez after the race, who said that he was on "another planet" in terms of pace. "They are right that he is a driver from another planet. Given his pace, he would even have won from the last starting position. Verstappen managed to finish over 26 seconds ahead of Sainz," wrote Gazzetta dello Sport . "With this amazing overtaking race Verstappen already put his signature under the second world title. And who knows what else is in store for him in the future?" "The RB18 has been like a UFO for a few races now and is threatening to dominate even at Monza, where Max has never won. It would be the latest slap in the face to Ferrari, while 2022 started so well for them." While French newspaper L’Equipe are usually critical of Verstappen’s performances, they noted how he repeated a similar feat in Spa as the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. "The reigning world champion showed once again that he is not afraid of a reversed grid. At the end of July Verstappen won in Hungary from tenth on the grid and a month later he repeated this trick."
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