Sergio Perez (SP DNF lap 9, P2, 18 pts): 8/10
After his recent struggles to perform in qualifying, Sergio Perez was pleased to pick up third place on Friday at Spa: although it was a painful nine tenths behind his Red Bull team mate, he knew he would pick up a front row spot when Max Verstappen's gearbox grid penalty kicked in. Less satisfying was sinking to eighth place in the Showdown on Saturday morning, but he had the opportunity to set that to rights by pitting as soon as possible in the Sprint race to drop him into a battle with Pierre Gasly for third place. However Lewis Hamilton was also keen to get involved, and the pair made contact which left the Red Bull with a big hole its sidepod that forced Perez to retire shortly after. When it came to the Grand Prix it was a far better time for the Mexican who flew past polesitter Charles Leclerc in the first run through Les Combes. He soon pulled out a big gap, but it wasn't the Ferrari that was ever the threat - it was Verstappen. And sure enough, by lap 12 he was looming large in Perez' rear view mirror. The deed was finally concluded by lap 17 and Verstappen disappeared into the distance as if competing in an altogether different category. Second would have been bitter sweet for Perez in the circumstances knowing how outclassed he was. But at least he's not alone - 18 other drivers were also watching on, similarly agape.
Max Verstappen (Sprint Pole, SP1, Pole, P1, 33 pts): 9.5/10
Max Verstappen's performance this weekend was extraordinary on many levels. He's performing as if he's on a different planet at the moment. Not even Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel or Michael Schumacher had this sort of total domination over the rest of the field in their respective golden eras, including over their own team mates in the same hardware. Verstappen was eight tenths quicker than anyone else in qualifying, and although he didn't start on pole due to a penalty for an extra gearbox, no one doubted that it would not be very long before he was in the lead on Sunday. In fact many thought it would be much sooner than lap 12. A final winning margin of 22s over his Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez is simply extraordinary in the circumstances, but it was fun to see him denied the bonus point for fastest lap that he had been agitating for over much of the race, to the audible annoyance of his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over the team radio after the pair had also exchanged sharp words in qualifying on Friday. In the meantime Verstappen had taken pole and victory in Saturday's sprint side hustle but he will have been surprised to have been pushed as hard as he was by a rookie in a McLaren. Maybe the future of F1 is coming into focus rather quicker than the reigning world champion would like?
