2022 Belgian Grand Prix

Formula 1 isn’t easy, and shouldn’t ever be considered it, but every now and then a driver and team combination make it look like a stroll in the park.

That Max Verstappen and Red Bull were able to do that from 14th on the grid in Belgium was quite remarkable given the season that had gone before, even if the defending champion won from 10th in the final race before the summer break.

It was a weekend that had been dominated by driver market developments – with a sprinkle of Audi’s arrival – before track action kicked off and power unit penalties became the focus. In many ways, what went before the race itself was of little value, as long runs took place in grey and cold conditions and the fastest car started on the seventh row.