SPORT

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix. The reigning world champion needed just 12 of the 44 laps to take the lead.

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

He ended up winning by 18 seconds and increasing his lead in the championship by 93 points.

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton crashed out on the first lap when he tangled with Alpine's Fernando Alonso, who called his former McLaren team-mate an 'idiot'.

Verstappen quickly moved up from 14th to eighth on the first lap, before a safety car came out following a collision between Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas and Williams' Nicholas Latifi.

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

He was sixth on lap six, fourth on lap seven. He then passed George Russell's Mercedes. He was second after Sainz pulled into the draw and then Sergio Perez made way for his faster teammate for the lead on lap 12.

George Russell was fourth.

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc finished fifth but dropped to sixth.

Verstappen needs a lead of 138 points by the end of the race in Singapore on October 2, with five rounds remaining.

Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix