Verstappen makes light of Spa penalty to secure eighth straight win

SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, AFP: Max Verstappen made light of a five-place grid penalty to reel off an eighth consecutive victory for his invincible Red Bull team at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The defending double world champion and runaway series leader came home 22.305 seconds ahead of team-mate and nearest title rival Sergio Perez.

Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton who clocked the fastest lap.

It was Red Bull’s record-extending 13th win in succession, and their fifth one-two of the season.

Verstappen, who completed a hat-trick of Belgian wins, can now draw level with Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine straight wins set in 2013 at his home Dutch Grand Prix next month.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso finished fifth for Aston Martin ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes, McLaren’s Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin. Yuki Tsunoda was 10th for Alpha Tauri.