The Belgian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn, shaking up the 2024 F1 World Championship standings. Mercedes’ 1-2 finish at Spa-Francorchamps has brought new excitement to the midsummer break.
Mercedes made a significant impact by securing the top two spots at the Belgian GP, a result that narrowed the gap in the constructors’ championship. Now, Mercedes trails the leading teams, still holding onto fourth place.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull extended his lead in the drivers’ championship over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite a 10-place grid penalty, Verstappen managed to finish fifth, while Norris’s early mistake cost him valuable points, losing ground to his title rival.
Red Bull’s consistency has been waning, with their points lead over McLaren shrinking to just 43. To put that in context, their lead was a comfortable 93 points just after the Spanish GP last month.
In the drivers’ standings, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari retains third, with Oscar Piastri of McLaren hot on his heels after scoring an impressive 77 points in the last four events. Piastri’s exceptional form now places him fourth, surpassing Carlos Sainz.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez’s disappointing performance saw him drop from the front row to eighth place, losing seventh position in the standings to Mercedes’ George Russell. Perez now lags 146 points behind teammate Verstappen.
For the constructors, McLaren is closing in on Red Bull, as Mercedes also made significant gains, scoring 43 points against McLaren’s 23, Ferrari’s 18, and Red Bull’s mere 15 at Spa. Ferrari remains a solid third but is now 56 points ahead of Mercedes.
Aston Martin is holding the fifth spot, but they are miles behind, trailing over 200 points behind Mercedes. This consistent gap highlights the dominance of the top teams in the competition.
As the F1 crews catch their breath during the summer break, the Belgian GP has undoubtedly set the stage for an electrifying second half of the season. With Red Bull’s lead under threat and rising stars like Piastri making their mark, fans can expect high-octane action in the races to come.
