Max Verstappen
FIA F3 European Championship, Spa-Francorchamps
Max Verstappen had started his FIA F3 European Championship campaign in impressive fashion, with the car racing rookie taking a podium on his maiden weekend and a first victory on his second. But in two consecutive weekends in June, he found another level, taking six wins from as many races.
The first of those weekends was at Spa-Francorchamps, the iconic circuit in Verstappen?s country of birth of Belgium. Qualifying second to championship leader Esteban Ocon for race one, Verstappen slipstreamed his way into the lead on the Kemmel straight on lap one. He held the advantage until the end thanks to a robust defence on the same part of the track on the final tour, under attack from Lucas Auer.
Verstappen was second on the grid again for race two, this time behind Van Amersfoort Racing team-mate Gustavo Menezes, who surrendered the lead at Les Combes for the first time. Again, Verstappen came under pressure later on, this time from Ocon, but he once more defended well.
For race three, he would have to start back in fifth, but he quickly made up two places by diving down the inside of La Source. He would dispatch of the remaining two cars on the next lap, slipstreaming by John Bryant-Meisner and swooping past Ocon into Les Combes with a staggering move around the outside.
Ocon came back at him one lap later but Verstappen held on after a touch of wheels. They were side-by-side again there on lap four, with Ocon this time moving in front into Les Combes, only for Verstappen to again carry the greater speed around the outside and take the lead back. Having won that battle, Verstappen pulled away, and although he had to deal with a third safety car from as many races, that proved no barrier to completing a hat-trick.
Verstappen would get another three wins a week later at the Norisring, and that performance included a better qualifying showing with two poles, but it was at Spa where his driving really impressed. It was at Spa where he truly arrived.
Peter Allen