The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Spa

SEBASTIAN VETTEL: He delivered, after a qualifying session that was anything but smooth for Ferrari. The pictures of Vettel lying half under his car to check whether everything remained intact after his mechanics' somewhat unfortunate action when changing the tires were remarkable. During the race, the four-time world champion ignored everything that had not worked in the days and weeks before. He duped pole sitter Lewis Hamilton at the very first opportunity and confidently drove home his 52nd career victory. It's all set for the big Ferrari party next Sunday at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

LEWIS HAMILTON: Wow, the always eloquent world champion was really in a bad mood. While Hamilton had taken advantage of the opportunity - i.e. the rain - in qualifying, he had practically no chance in the race. Apart from a few sector best times, Hamilton and Mercedes had little or nothing to counter the primal power of the Ferrari engine. The fact that he then spoke of “a few tricks” in the Ferrari left a bad aftertaste, even if Hamilton tried to soften his statement. Losing isn't for everyone.

NICO HÜLKENBERG: Oh dear, Hulk. Almost unbraked, Hülkenberg's Renault thundered into the rear of Fernando Alonso's McLaren, which took off and, after a short low flight over Charles Leclerc's Sauber, crashed on the hard shoulder. Hülkenberg, who was therefore moved back ten places on the starting grid at Monza as a penalty, didn't know what had happened to him. “When I hit the brakes, everything locked up,” he tried to explain the incredible thing. Who hasn't experienced this themselves?

RACING POINT (FORCE INDIA): The cars look the same as always, but everything is different. The quick action by the FIA, which quickly turned Force India into Racing Point with the consent of all the teams, has changed absolutely nothing in the performance of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. The two took fifth and sixth place and thus collected the first points for the “new” team. It is more than questionable whether Ocon will be in the pink car for much longer. It is said that the unloved Lance Stroll could follow his billionaire father from Williams to Racing Point in Monza.

THE HALO: If there was any need for proof of the need for a protective bar over the cockpit, then the spectacular starting accident involving Nico Hülkenberg and Fernando Alonso provided it. While flying low, Alonso's McLaren shot over Charles Leclerc's Sauber, visible traces on the halo subsequently testified to the explosiveness of the situation, which fortunately had no consequences for the young Monegasque.

SAYINGS OF THE WEEKEND: “I don’t care at all and I’m sure my father does too. He probably doesn’t even know anymore.” (Red Bull driver Max Verstappen when asked what it means to him that he also came third 24 years after his father Jos' third place in Spa.) - "Not when driving a car, but when watching birds." (Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen when asked whether the halo over the cockpit obscures the driver's view in the uphill section of the Eau Rouge.)

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The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Spa

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel celebrated his 52nd victory in the premier class in Spa on Sunday, overtaking Formula 1 legend Alain Prost.

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