2023 Belgian Grand Prix: F1 Driver Ratings & In-Depth Performance Analysis at Spa-Francorchamps

The 2023 Formula 1 season delivered yet another thrilling chapter at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, marking the final Grand Prix weekend before the much-anticipated summer break. This legendary Belgian track, renowned for its challenging corners and unpredictable Ardennes weather, lived up to its reputation, serving up a potent cocktail of mixed conditions that tested the mettle of all 20 drivers. Over three days, the fluctuating grip levels and intermittent rain transformed the strategic landscape, leading to a mosaic of performances across the grid.

While many drivers experienced a rollercoaster of stronger and weaker moments, one individual consistently operated on a different plane, delivering a masterclass in adaptability and raw speed. This comprehensive breakdown provides an in-depth look at each driver’s performance, offering our ratings and a detailed analysis of their triumphs, struggles, and defining moments at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. From dominant displays to spirited recoveries and unfortunate incidents, discover how every competitor fared in one of the season’s most demanding races, navigating the high-speed challenges of Spa to leave their mark before the mid-season pause.

F1 Driver Performances Under the Spa Rain and Shine: A Weekend Review

Max Verstappen – 9/10

Sprint qualified: Pole (+7 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: Winner
Qualified: 1st (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.877s)
Grid: 6th (-4 places behind team mate)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-S)
Finished: Winner (+1 place ahead of team mate)

Throughout his remarkably dominant 2023 campaign, Max Verstappen’s victories have often felt almost effortless, sometimes masking the true extent of his talent due to Red Bull’s clear car advantage or the infrequent challenge from his teammate. However, the Belgian Grand Prix was a stark exception, presenting a true test that Verstappen not only met but spectacularly surpassed. Despite sitting out free practice, Verstappen barely scraped into Q2 during Friday’s qualifying before unleashing an astonishing lap that put him eight tenths clear of the field, securing pole by a significant margin. This raw speed in tricky conditions was a clear indicator of his superior control.

His performance in the Sprint Shootout was equally impressive, snatching pole by a mere 0.011 seconds. In the Sprint Race, a bold strategic call saw him pit from wets for intermediates on the first lap, then methodically chase down and pass Oscar Piastri after a Safety Car restart to claim a commanding victory. Come Sunday’s Grand Prix, a five-place gearbox penalty relegated him to sixth on the grid, but this only served to highlight his exceptional skill and the depth of his performance. He surged to fourth on the opening lap, expertly navigating the chaos of Turn 1 and the Kemmel Straight. In the first stint, he dispatched both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with ease, before taking the lead from his teammate Sergio Perez after his first pit stop. From that moment, Verstappen simply extended his advantage with relentless pace, ultimately crossing the finish line a commanding 22 seconds ahead of the competition. This was arguably his most impressive performance of the season, showcasing his ability to deliver under pressure, regardless of starting position or challenging conditions, making his teammate appear to be competing in an entirely different category of motorsport.

Sergio Perez – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 8th (-7 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: Retired (Crash damage – L9)
Qualified: 3rd (-2 places behind team mate, +0.877s)
Grid: 2nd (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-S)
Finished: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate)

Sergio Perez’s weekend at Spa was neither his best nor his worst of the season, settling somewhere in the middle. His Friday qualifying, securing third position, was an improvement over some recent performances, yet being eight tenths behind his teammate and trailing a Ferrari still highlights a persistent gap in outright pace. This deficit contributed to a starting position of eighth in the Sprint Shootout, which potentially put him in a more vulnerable position early in the Sprint Race. While the contact with Lewis Hamilton that forced his retirement from the Sprint Race was not entirely his fault, qualifying further up the grid might have helped him avoid that mid-pack skirmish altogether, especially given the unpredictable conditions.

In the main Grand Prix, Perez capitalized on a clean start, swiftly overtaking Charles Leclerc for the lead on the Kemmel Straight, a crucial move that gave him early control of the race. However, the narrative shifted dramatically after his first pit stop on Lap 17 when Max Verstappen, starting four places behind him, effortlessly took the lead. From that point, Perez steadily fell behind, unable to match his teammate’s blistering pace and ultimately finishing a distant 22 seconds adrift of the winner. While a second-place finish in a Red Bull car is a strong result on paper and valuable for the Constructors’ Championship, the significant gap to Verstappen, especially considering his teammate’s grid penalty, prevents a higher rating. This performance underscored the ongoing challenge for Perez to consistently match Verstappen’s peak performance, even when given an initial advantage.

Charles Leclerc – 7/10

Sprint qualified: 4th (-1 place behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 5th (-1 place behind team mate)
Qualified: 2nd (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.164s)
Grid: Pole (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-S)
Finished: 3rd

Charles Leclerc delivered a commendable weekend at Spa, consistently extracting significant performance from his Ferrari, even if he wasn’t always the quickest among the two Scuderia drivers across all three days. His highlight was undoubtedly securing pole position for the Grand Prix on Friday, benefiting from Max Verstappen’s grid penalty and putting in a strong qualifying effort that momentarily split the dominant Red Bulls. While his Sprint Race performance saw him finish behind teammate Carlos Sainz after an early pit stop for intermediates, he remained closely matched throughout the Saturday sessions, demonstrating solid adaptability to the mixed conditions.

In the Grand Prix, Leclerc held the lead briefly off the line, showcasing Ferrari’s straight-line speed at the start, but was quickly passed by Sergio Perez on the Kemmel Straight. He then lost second place to the inevitable charge of Max Verstappen on Lap 9, confirming the superior pace of the Red Bull. Committing to a two-stop strategy, Leclerc’s race then became one of disciplined management and consistent pace. He successfully maintained a comfortable gap to Lewis Hamilton behind him, even while engaging in crucial fuel-saving measures in the latter stages of the race, crossing the line in a strong third place, just ten seconds behind Perez. This podium finish was realistically the best result Ferrari could have hoped for at Spa, demonstrating Leclerc’s ability to maximize the car’s potential and execute a composed race strategy under pressure, bringing home valuable points for the team.

Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 3rd (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 4th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 5th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.164s)
Grid: 4th (-3 places behind team mate)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (S-M)
Finished: Retired (Crash damage – L24)

Carlos Sainz’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend was a mixed bag, starting with a somewhat underwhelming Friday, progressing to a decent Saturday, and tragically ending just moments into Sunday’s main event. His Friday qualifying saw him just 0.16 seconds off his teammate Charles Leclerc, but crucial mistakes at Bruxelles and Speaker’s Corner meant he started three places lower on the Grand Prix grid. However, he showed strong form in the Sprint Shootout, out-qualifying Leclerc and then finishing ahead of him in the Sprint Race, taking fourth place after a penalty for Lewis Hamilton. These Saturday efforts showcased his growing confidence in the Ferrari.

The Grand Prix itself was a cruel blow for Sainz. His race effectively ended just 300 meters after the start when he was involved in a collision with Oscar Piastri at La Source. The contact inflicted severe side damage to his Ferrari, making it increasingly difficult to drive. Despite the damage, Sainz bravely tried to continue, hoping for a red flag that might allow for repairs or a safety car period. He gradually dropped through the field, his wounded car losing pace and stability, before eventually being called into the pits to retire just past the halfway mark on Lap 24. While the incident at Turn 1 was a racing mishap, Sainz felt Piastri was primarily at fault for the contact. It’s frustrating to see a weekend with flashes of strong performance, particularly on Saturday, undone so early in the main event by an unavoidable collision, robbing him of a potential points finish.

George Russell – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 10th (-3 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 8th (-1 place behind team mate)
Qualified: 8th (-4 places behind team mate, +0.718s)
Grid: 8th (-5 places behind team mate)
Start: -3 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-S)
Finished: 6th (-2 places behind team mate)

By his own admission, George Russell experienced a far from flawless weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. His Friday qualifying for the Grand Prix was somewhat underwhelming, securing eighth place behind both McLarens, and his error on his final SQ3 lap in the Sprint Shootout compromised not only his own but also his teammate Lewis Hamilton’s starting position for the Sprint Race. These moments hinted at an inconsistent performance in the qualifying sessions, particularly struggling to extract ultimate pace from the Mercedes in varied conditions.

However, Russell demonstrated commendable recovery on race day. In the Sprint Race, he salvaged the final point by climbing from 12th to eighth after an early pit for intermediates and benefiting from a Safety Car period. The Grand Prix start was challenging, as he lost three places getting caught up behind the damaged Oscar Piastri at La Source. Despite this early setback, Russell managed to recover effectively, eventually catching and passing Lance Stroll before his pit stop. Opting for a single-stop strategy, he later overtook Lando Norris to secure sixth place, just six seconds behind Fernando Alonso. While the weekend wasn’t pristine and his qualifying pace was a concern, his solid recovery to a top-six finish after initial difficulties prevents a harsher rating, showcasing his ability to maximize opportunities when the race unfolded, even if the one-lap pace wasn’t always there.

Lewis Hamilton – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 7th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 7th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 4th (+4 places ahead of team mate, -0.718s)
Grid: 3rd (+5 places ahead of team mate)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Three-stop (S-M-S-M)
Finished: 4th (+2 places ahead of team mate)

Lewis Hamilton delivered a generally strong and consistent performance at Spa, comfortably outpacing his teammate George Russell across all three days and securing a solid fourth-place finish in the Grand Prix. His Friday qualifying saw him snatch fourth on the grid, which became third after Max Verstappen’s penalty, a promising start for the main event. However, his Sprint Shootout was marred by frustration; he qualified only seventh after being inadvertently compromised by Russell on his final flying lap, which undoubtedly cost him a higher starting position and highlighted some intra-team communication issues.

In the Sprint Race, Hamilton’s early pit for intermediates was followed by an incident with Sergio Perez, for which he received a five-second penalty, demoting him from fourth to seventh. While he deemed the penalty harsh, it was arguably a fair call given the contact. The Grand Prix saw Hamilton start on soft tires and hold third place effectively until the inevitable pass by Max Verstappen. For the majority of the race, he maintained a gap of a few seconds to Charles Leclerc ahead, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to mount a serious challenge for the podium. Towards the end, with two laps remaining, he pitted for fresh softs, successfully snatching the fastest lap on the very last tour, a small but significant consolation point. Hamilton’s weekend was characterized by strong individual pace and efficient race management, even if the W14 couldn’t quite match the Red Bulls or Ferrari’s race pace in Belgium.

Esteban Ocon – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 9th (-3 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 9th (-6 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 15th (-3 places behind team mate, +2.701s)
Grid: 14th (-2 places behind team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-S)
Finished: 8th (+3 places ahead of team mate)

Esteban Ocon’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend began on a challenging note when he made contact with the barriers during Friday’s qualifying session, resulting in his elimination in Q2 and a grid slot of 14th for Sunday. His Saturday performances were reasonable, but he consistently found himself behind his teammate Pierre Gasly in both the Sprint Shootout and Sprint Race. Qualifying ninth for the Sprint Race, he utilized an early pit stop for intermediates and managed to secure ninth, passing Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap, which showed some adaptability.

However, Ocon truly redeemed his weekend on Sunday with a remarkable drive in the Grand Prix. Starting from 14th, he executed a strategic two-stop race, making an early switch to mediums and battling fiercely with rivals like Alex Albon in the middle stint. The highlight of his race came in the final stint on soft tires, where he showcased exceptional racecraft by passing four cars, including a particularly impressive and decisive move on Yuki Tsunoda at Les Combes. This charge saw him climb to a hard-earned eighth position, securing four crucial points for Alpine. His ability to recover from a difficult start and demonstrate such strong overtaking prowess certainly warrants credit for his determined Sunday drive, proving his resilience and fighting spirit.

Pierre Gasly – 7/10

Sprint qualified: 6th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 3rd (+6 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 12th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -2.701s)
Grid: 12th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Start: -4 places
Strategy: One-stop (S-M)
Finished: 11th (-3 places behind team mate)

Pierre Gasly’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend was undeniably one of his strongest performances since joining Alpine, despite ending Sunday without points. He consistently demonstrated superior pace to his teammate Esteban Ocon, out-qualifying him on both Friday for the Grand Prix (starting 12th after a tricky final push lap in unpredictable conditions) and Saturday for the Sprint Race, where he secured an impressive sixth on the grid. His true highlight came in the Sprint Race, where an astute early pit stop for intermediates propelled him to third position, a place he skillfully defended after a Safety Car restart to claim a well-deserved podium – a fantastic result for Alpine.

Sunday’s Grand Prix, however, brought a dose of bad luck. After gaining two positions at the start, Gasly was unfortunately caught behind the damaged Oscar Piastri at Turn 1, costing him crucial early momentum and dropping him six places. This incident severely hampered his race. Alpine then gambled on further rain, trying to extend his first stint on softs to convert to a one-stop strategy. When the expected rain didn’t materialize, he pitted for mediums, falling to 17th. Despite the strategic challenge, he put in a valiant effort to battle back through the field, finishing just outside the points in 11th. While the final result didn’t reflect his effort, Gasly’s pace, strategic awareness in the Sprint, and tenacious recovery in the Grand Prix could not be faulted, showcasing a strong individual display of talent and resilience.

Lando Norris – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 5th (-3 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 6th (-4 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 7th (-1 place behind team mate, +0.304s)
Grid: 7th (-2 places behind team mate)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-S)
Finished: 7th

Lando Norris experienced a somewhat perplexing weekend at Spa, where he never seemed to be fully firing on all cylinders, yet still managed to extract a respectable points finish on Sunday. His Grand Prix qualifying performance saw him secure seventh despite suffering “significant” floor damage during an off-track excursion in Q1, a stroke of luck that didn’t cost him more dearly and allowed him to progress. He was, however, the slower of the two McLaren drivers throughout the weekend, often trailing rookie Oscar Piastri in raw pace during qualifying sessions.

In the Sprint Shootout, he qualified fifth, then finished seventh in the Sprint Race (promoted to sixth after a penalty for Hamilton) after an early pit stop for intermediates. The main Grand Prix started dismally for Norris; beginning on mediums, he quickly dropped down the order, struggling with painfully low top speed, especially on the straights. It was only after an early stop for hard tires that his race began to turn around. Despite continuing to lose positions initially, he managed to string together arguably the most impressive stint of anyone not named Verstappen, running a marathon 27 laps on the hard compound. This incredible tire management allowed him to climb back through the field, eventually making a second stop for softs and finishing a hard-fought seventh. While the overall pace wasn’t stellar, his remarkable recovery drive on Sunday partially redeemed what had been a challenging weekend for McLaren.

Oscar Piastri – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 2nd (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 2nd (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 6th (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.304s)
Grid: 5th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Finished: Retired (Damage – L1)

Oscar Piastri was on course for what could have been his highest driver rating of the season, showcasing exceptional form throughout the initial two days of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. He consistently out-performed his more experienced teammate Lando Norris in both the Grand Prix qualifying, where he secured a strong sixth (starting fifth on the grid after penalties), and the Sprint Shootout, where he narrowly missed pole by just 0.011 seconds. His performance in the Sprint Race was a particular highlight: after an immediate pit for intermediates, he emerged to take the lead, looking incredibly composed for a rookie, even if he ultimately succumbed to the relentless pace of Max Verstappen after the Safety Car restart to finish a brilliant second.

However, Piastri’s Sunday was heartbreakingly short-lived. His Grand Prix came to an abrupt end on the very first lap following a collision with Carlos Sainz at Turn 1, La Source, which resulted in race-ending damage. While he aimed for the inside line, a move that ultimately didn’t pay off, it’s difficult to fault a driver for attempting to gain positions at the start, especially given his strong starting position. Nevertheless, the fact that his Grand Prix lasted just one lap significantly limits his overall score for the weekend, despite the immense promise shown in the preceding sessions. It was a cruel reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1, preventing a truly stellar result from what was otherwise a phenomenal debut at Spa.

Valtteri Bottas – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 17th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 13th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 14th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -1.348s)
Grid: 13th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-M)
Finished: 12th (+1 place ahead of team mate)

Valtteri Bottas had a discreet yet highly effective weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, delivering a performance that was consistently ahead of his teammate Zhou Guanyu across all sessions. While not yielding any headline-grabbing results, Bottas executed his weekend cleanly, avoiding errors and maximizing the potential of his Alfa Romeo. In Friday’s qualifying, he managed to reach Q2, ultimately being knocked out in 14th after being the first driver to cross the line on slicks as conditions rapidly changed, a testament to his timing and courage.

His Sprint Shootout saw him eliminated in 17th, but a smart early pit stop for intermediates in the Sprint Race allowed him to climb to 13th. For the Grand Prix, starting 13th on the grid, he made a gain of one position on the opening lap before making his first stop on Lap 7. He consistently maintained solid race pace on his two-stop strategy, eventually finishing 12th, ahead of his teammate. While he gained two places from his grid slot, it’s worth noting that these gains were partly due to faster cars retiring ahead. Nevertheless, Bottas’s steady, error-free drive and clear advantage over Zhou throughout the weekend consolidate a solid and reliable performance, underlining his veteran experience in challenging and unpredictable conditions at Spa.

Zhou Guanyu – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 19th (-2 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 15th (-2 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 17th (-3 places behind team mate, +1.348s)
Grid: 17th (-4 places behind team mate)
Start: +3 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-S)
Finished: 13th (-1 place behind team mate)

Much like several other drivers on the grid, Zhou Guanyu’s Spa weekend was a tale of two halves, with a rather unconvincing start giving way to a more spirited performance in the Grand Prix. On Friday, he was understandably frustrated to be knocked out of Q1 after a brake bias change impacted his final lap, providing a reasonable excuse for his early exit. However, his elimination in SQ1 on Saturday, where he was the slowest driver to set a time in wet-dry conditions, offered less justification and highlighted a need for more consistent wet-weather pace.

In the Sprint Race, an early pit for intermediates saw him drop to last before being promoted to 15th after Logan Sargeant’s penalty. For the main Grand Prix, starting 17th, he made a commendable three-place gain on the opening lap but then lost ground to Sargeant and Gasly, indicating some initial struggles. His race seemed to be an average affair until the final stint. After a second stop for softs, he found himself at the back once more but then launched a determined charge, expertly passing Sargeant, Alex Albon, and Kevin Magnussen to finish 13th, right behind his teammate Valtteri Bottas. This late-race surge, demonstrating strong overtaking ability and improved pace, significantly boosted his rating, proving his ability to find pace when it mattered most, despite earlier struggles throughout the weekend.

Lance Stroll – 4/10

Sprint qualified: 14th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 11th
Qualified: 10th (-1 place behind team mate, +0.998s)
Grid: 10th (-1 place behind team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-S)
Finished: 9th (-4 places behind team mate)

Lance Stroll’s Belgian Grand Prix was another weekend where he struggled to fully capitalize on the potential of his Aston Martin, even as the team’s car pace has somewhat declined from the early season highs. His Friday qualifying saw him comfortably reach Q3, but he was nearly a full second slower than his teammate Fernando Alonso, securing tenth place. In the Sprint Shootout, a controversial gamble on slicks in SQ2 led to a crash at Speaker’s Corner, which clearly indicated the track was not yet ready for dry tires and resulted in a 14th-place start for the Sprint Race, a costly misjudgment.

In the Sprint Race, an early pit for intermediates saw him finish 11th. For the Grand Prix, Stroll ran a long opening stint on mediums, climbing as high as fifth. His strategy appeared to be a gamble on heavier rain that never materialized, which eventually forced him to pit for softs when light rain did begin, dropping him to 18th. Despite this setback, he staged a strong recovery in his long second stint, climbing back up to eighth. However, he lost a place to Esteban Ocon in the closing stages, finishing ninth. While some strategic elements were dictated by the weather gamble, the consistent performance deficit to Alonso, particularly in qualifying, and the costly Sprint Shootout error, mean this was a challenging weekend where he largely underdelivered on the Aston Martin’s capabilities.

Fernando Alonso – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 15th (-1 place behind team mate)
Sprint finished: Retired (Spun out – L3)
Qualified: 9th (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.998s)
Grid: 9th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Start: +3 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-S)
Finished: 5th (+4 places ahead of team mate)

As Aston Martin continues to experience a dip in the dominant pace they exhibited earlier in the season, Fernando Alonso faced a challenging, yet ultimately satisfactory, weekend at Spa. His Friday qualifying was strong, securing ninth on the grid as the faster Aston Martin driver by a significant margin over his teammate. However, his Saturday was less fortunate. He reached SQ2 but was then caught out by Lance Stroll’s crash, which prevented him from setting a representative time, leaving him 15th for the Sprint Race.

The Sprint Race itself saw a rare error from the seasoned Spaniard. After pitting for intermediates on the second lap, he spun out at Pouhon, forcing his retirement – a clear fault of his own, which was uncharacteristic. Despite this setback, Alonso redeemed himself with a classic Grand Prix performance. Starting ninth, he skillfully navigated the opening laps, gaining three places, including passing the damaged Carlos Sainz. He then settled into fifth position for the majority of the race, maintaining a consistent gap to Lewis Hamilton ahead and finishing there. While two of his gained positions were due to the Piastri-Sainz clash, his ability to capitalize on opportunities, manage his race effectively, and bring home ten valuable points from a chaotic weekend demonstrates his enduring class and ability to recover from setbacks, even if his Saturday mistake was uncharacteristic.

Kevin Magnussen – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 18th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 14th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 13th (+7 places ahead of team mate, -3.146s)
Grid: 16th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-M)
Finished: 15th (+3 places ahead of team mate)

The Belgian Grand Prix marked one of the rarer occasions in 2023 where Kevin Magnussen emerged as the highest-placed Haas driver across all sessions, though this was partly aided by his teammate Nico Hulkenberg’s misfortunes. Magnussen himself was a victim of the tricky, damp conditions at Speaker’s Corner during Friday’s qualifying, hitting the wall but still managing to reach Q2 and qualify 13th. He later received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Charles Leclerc, dropping him to 16th for the Grand Prix, adding to his challenges.

In the Sprint Shootout, he was eliminated in SQ1 (18th), then finished 14th in the Sprint Race (promoted after Sargeant’s penalty) after an early pit for intermediates. Despite dropping to 18th after the Grand Prix start, even on softs, Magnussen demonstrated decent race pace, battling within the thick of the midfield and climbing to just outside the top ten at one stage. Although he eventually dropped to 15th in the final stint, being passed by Zhou and Albon, his overall performance, especially his strong recovery from his Friday mishap and outperforming his teammate, earns him a respectable rating. He extracted a solid result from a car that often struggles for consistent race pace, showcasing grit and determination in demanding conditions.

Nico Hulkenberg – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 20th (-2 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 17th (-3 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 20th (-7 places behind team mate, +3.146s)
Grid: 20th (-4 places behind team mate)
Start: +3 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-S-S)
Finished: 18th (-3 places behind team mate)

It’s genuinely difficult not to feel a degree of sympathy for Nico Hulkenberg after what was an incredibly frustrating and luckless weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, where almost nothing seemed to go his way. His misfortunes began early in Friday’s Q1, where a hydraulic problem severely hampered his session, leaving him slowest on the grid for the Grand Prix. The bad luck continued into Saturday’s Sprint Shootout, where a team error meant he failed to cross the line in time to set a lap, relegating him to last once more and severely compromising his Saturday.

In the Sprint Race, an immediate pit stop for intermediates saw him finish 17th. Sunday brought further challenges as he was forced to start the Grand Prix from the pitlane due to multiple power unit component changes. For much of the race, he found himself in the tail-end of the pack, often running behind his teammate Kevin Magnussen in the middle phases. In the closing laps, his soft tires degraded significantly, causing him to lose three positions and finish 18th, effectively last on track. While the Haas car itself struggles with race pace, much of Hulkenberg’s downfall this weekend was due to external factors and technical issues rather than individual performance, making it a weekend he’ll undoubtedly want to forget, despite his consistent effort and perseverance in difficult circumstances.

Yuki Tsunoda – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 16th (-5 places behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 18th (-8 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 11th (+8 places ahead of team mate, -3.115s)
Grid: 11th (+8 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +3 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-M-S)
Finished: 10th (+6 places ahead of team mate)

Yuki Tsunoda arrived at Spa-Francorchamps needing a strong weekend to boost his stock heading into the summer break, and he certainly delivered, securing AlphaTauri’s first point in three months. While his Sprint Saturday was subpar, marred by an error at the restart and a noticeable lack of pace compared to his teammate Daniel Ricciardo (being eliminated in 16th for Sprint Shootout and finishing 18th in the Sprint Race), Sunday saw a complete reversal of fortunes. Tsunoda performed exceptionally well when it counted most, demonstrating impressive racecraft and strategic understanding.

Starting 11th for the Grand Prix, he made a superb start, rocketing up to sixth in the opening laps, including a notable pass on Lando Norris. For much of the race, he held a commendable ninth position. Although he was eventually passed by Esteban Ocon in the closing stages, he skillfully managed his two-stop strategy to cross the finish line in tenth place, claiming a valuable point. While he benefited from the retirements of two likely points-scorers, there was absolutely nothing lucky about his impressive performance on Sunday, especially his commanding 20-second advantage over his teammate at the flag. This was a crucial and well-executed Grand Prix drive, solidifying his position and showcasing his potential to deliver under pressure for AlphaTauri.

Daniel Ricciardo – 5/10

Sprint qualified: 11th (+5 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 10th (+8 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 19th (-8 places behind team mate, +3.115s)
Grid: 19th (8 places behind team mate)
Start: Held position
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-M)
Finished: 16th (-6 places behind team mate)

Following an impressive comeback in Hungary just a week prior, the Belgian Grand Prix proved to be a “return to Earth” weekend for Daniel Ricciardo. While his performance was by no means poor, he candidly admitted that he didn’t extract the full potential from his AlphaTauri car. His Friday qualifying saw him eliminated in Q1, placing 19th, after a lap that would have been good enough for Q2 was deleted due to track limits, a consequence of risking Eau Rouge flat-out in damp conditions – a high-risk, high-reward move that didn’t pay off.

Saturday, however, was genuinely impressive. He reached SQ2 and started 11th for the Sprint Race (benefiting from Stroll’s penalty). After pitting early for intermediates, he navigated the conditions well to finish tenth, a strong result for the team and a positive sign of his adaptability. Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t carry over to Sunday. Starting the Grand Prix on softs, he struggled to make progress in the early laps. For most of the race, he found himself battling behind the Haas cars and was even overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg after his final pit stop. Although he managed to reclaim a position from Hulkenberg with three laps remaining, he ultimately finished 16th, a significant six places and over 20 seconds behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. This weekend highlighted that while the flashes of pace are still there, consistency across all sessions remains a challenge for the returning veteran, especially in race trim.

Alexander Albon – 6/10

Sprint qualified: 12th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Sprint finished: 12th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Qualified: 16th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -1.221s)
Grid: 15th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +5 places
Strategy: Three-stop (S-M-M-S)
Finished: 14th (+3 places ahead of team mate)

Assessing Alex Albon’s performance at Spa solely on his results would be misleading, as the Williams team made a clear strategic choice to run a low-downforce setup, playing to their car’s strengths on the long straights of Spa-Francorchamps. This setup, however, likely compounded the challenges posed by the wet conditions on Friday and Saturday, where he just missed out on Q2 for the Grand Prix (16th) and started 12th for the Sprint after reaching SQ2 in damp conditions.

In the Sprint Race, he finished where he started in 12th after an early pit for intermediates. Sunday’s Grand Prix saw Albon make an excellent start on softs, picking up five places in the opening laps to run as high as seventh. However, the low-downforce setup, combined with his aggressive driving to hold off rivals in the middle sector, resulted in severe tire degradation, forcing him onto a suboptimal three-stop strategy. This dropped him to 17th after his final stop for softs, but he then mounted an impressive recovery drive, passing Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen to finish 14th. Crucially, Albon made no major mistakes all weekend, consistently outperformed his teammate Logan Sargeant across all three days, and demonstrated strong attacking prowess when conditions allowed. While points weren’t achieved, his drive showcased resilience and skill, maximizing a challenging package in difficult circumstances.

Logan Sargeant – 4/10

Sprint qualified: 13th (-1 place behind team mate)
Sprint finished: 16th (-4 places behind team mate)
Qualified: 18th (-2 places behind team mate, +1.221s)
Grid: 18th (-3 places behind team mate)
Start: +3 places
Strategy: Three-stop (S-M-M-S)
Finished: 17th (-3 places behind team mate)

Logan Sargeant’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend was another promising affair that ultimately left him contemplating what might have been, marked by a combination of challenging conditions and small errors. His weekend started with a practice crash at Les Combes, a textbook example of aquaplaning where he had no realistic chance of saving the car in treacherous conditions. This was followed by delays in Q1 due to a gearbox change, leading to his elimination in 18th, a significant 1.2 seconds slower than his teammate, highlighting the impact of lost track time. In the Sprint Shootout, he reached SQ2 but a spin and subsequent compromise from Lance Stroll’s crash meant he lined up 13th for the Sprint Race.

In the Sprint Race, after pitting early for intermediates, he received a pit lane speeding penalty, dropping him from 14th to 16th – a frustrating error, especially after backing up his teammate. The Grand Prix saw Sargeant make a good start on softs, gaining five positions in the first four laps, but he then struggled significantly with tire wear on the medium compound, a common theme for Williams at Spa given their low-downforce setup. He ultimately fell to the rear of the field after making three pit stops, though he did manage to pass Nico Hulkenberg on the penultimate lap to finish 17th. While he was slower than Alex Albon, the gap wasn’t excessively large, but repeated small errors and the car’s tire degradation issues prevented him from converting promising moments into tangible results.

Your Verdict: Vote for the Driver of the Weekend

We invite you, our dedicated Formula 1 enthusiasts, to cast your vote for the driver who impressed you most last weekend at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Share your insights and see how your opinion aligns with fellow fans:

• Vote for your 2023 Belgian Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend

More from the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix

• Haas drivers fear losing battle for seventh after “grim weekend” in Spa
• Mercedes optimistic they’re “in the right place for winter” with development plan
• Ferrari not convinced by call to equalise engines: ‘Renault is not so far away’
• Ferrari staying “calm” amid swings in performance from race to race
• Pirelli proposes new “super-intermediate” to address wet weather tyre problems

Browse all 2023 Belgian Grand Prix articles