Team ratings Belgian GP | Red Bull score maximum, Haas really struggle

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31 July 2023 at 21:31
Last update 2 August 2023 at 09:23
  • Sam Godber

The Belgian Grand Prix is over and so we once again hand out grades to the teams. Which race teams got their act together at Spa-Francorchamps and who fell through the ice?

Red Bull Racing - 10

Twice fastest in qualifying and twice fastest in a race. Red Bull Racing took its 12th win of the season and 13th in a row. With Sergio Perez once again scoring a one-two, and despite the fact that we did hear Verstappen arguing with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase fairly often, you cannot say that Red Bull really missed out strategically (a precious one).

Mercedes - 6.5

Exactly the same result for Lewis Hamilton (P4) and George Russell (in P6) as in Hungary. Toto Wolff himself was not entirely satisfied, as the team boss complained of returned porpoising. The brakes got too hot and that meant there was very little pressure on Charles Leclerc, so there was no real duel for the third and final podium spot.

Aston Martin - 8.0

Fewer points were scored than hoped for in Britain and Hungary, but at Aston Martin they will go into the summer break with a smile. Fernando Alonso finished fifth, Lance Stroll ninth and the team will be hoping to take that form to Zandvoort to perhaps fight for another podium finish.

Ferrari - 8.5

There were only two podium finishes for Ferrari, but the long-awaited number three was finally scored at Spa. Carlos Sainz hopped his own race at the first corner, but Charles Leclerc maximised. The Maranello formation's strategy was good and Leclerc's pit stop was the fastest of the day.

McLaren - 6.0

It was a somewhat unfortunate Sunday for McLaren. Oscar Piastri crashed out after contact with Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris soon found himself in the rear and the team's strategy seemed extraordinary. Norris cleverly lasted half a race (!) on softs, which still earned McLaren a seventh-place finish.

Alpine - 7

A tumultuous weekend for Alpine in Belgium, as it was announced that the team's paths with Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane were parting after the Belgian GP. Still, there were four points for Esteban Ocon, who had started from 14th place. Fine work by the French formation, although the timing of sending off the two aforementioned top men may not deserve the beauty prize either.

Haas F1 - 3.5

It doesn't stop there for Haas F1. If you thought it couldn't get any worse than a P14 and a P17 in the sprint race, it was beyond Sunday. Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg finished 15th and 18th respectively and were unable to progress. Tyres remain a big problem and that is starting to become a bit more than just a worry now.

Alfa Romeo - 5

As meaningless as Haas F1's results have been in recent weeks, the same is actually true of Alfa Romeo. Granted, qualifying in Hungary was excellent, but no points were scored there. Alfa Romeo was also only really field-filling in Belgium on Sunday with a P12 and a P13, which is a shame.

AlphaTauri - 8

The last time AlphaTauri grabbed points was in Azerbaijan, but finally there was a tenth place (again) for Yuki Tsunoda. The AT04 was even briefly in sixth place after the start, although the Japanese driver did fall back slightly. A boost for team boss Franz Tost's formation. In the sprint race, Daniel Ricciardo was not bad either with a P10.

Williams - 4

With the FW45, the upward trend had started pretty well for Williams with points in Canada, Great Britain and two 11th places for Alexander Albon in Austria and Hungary. At Spa-Francorchamps, however, the two Williamses finished 14th and 17th. Remarkable, because it is precisely on the reche sections that Albon and Logan Sargeant 's car is strong in 2023. Something went wrong there.