When there's nothing else to say - My favourites of the weekend in Spa Francorchamps
- Alice Cecchi
- Aug 29, 2022
- 3 min read
The university of motorsport through the drivers that impressed me the most during the races.
Spa Francorchamps for sure is one of the most awaited weekends of the whole Formula 1 championship: maybe for Eau Rouge's charm, maybe for its freshness, as it's the first race after the summer break, or maybe it's because of how full of action the races are.
As if it was a physical law, something iconic always happens at Spa. It's the track that saw Michael Schumacher's first triumph. It's the track that saw the shortest race in the history of Formula 1. It's the track where every turn has to be done with the adrenaline pumping.
I always try to put myself in the drivers' shoes: I wonder what it's like to face the Kemmel straight after the speed reached in Eau Rouge, arriving at Les Combes with the heart beating at its maximum speed. Going through Pouhon flat out and feeling the whole body heavy when braking to keep the right line at the Chicane.
I wonder what it is like to race on a track that has a piece of history written on every inch of its asphalt. To race on a track that gives that much responsibility. To race on Anthoine's track.
Spa's weekend is special for every single person who knows even just a bit of history of the sport. And it takes the biggest amount of courage to race there. These are my favourites of the weekend, those drivers who left me speechless with their exploits - or who simply made me have as much fun as if I were in the single-seater.
Max Verstappen
This weekend was the unneeded confirmation we were looking for from Max Verstappen, after his much disputed title last year: an ace performance that silenced any rumours that disproved it.
Nothing can be said to him: he was flawless. To make the fastest comeback in the history of Formula 1 in its highest era of competitiveness is not for everyone, especially at Spa. I read an article by Giulia Toninelli that explains it perfectly: Max Verstappen is all the things we don't say about him.
Because when there's nothing left to say, nothing left to complain about, it means that you are simply perfect. And Verstappen seems to have perfection to spare lately.
Felipe Drugovich
Felipe Drugovich, leading the Formula 2 championship, also seems to be made of the same stuff as the Dutchman mentioned above. After an incredible start to the season, the Brazilian seemed to have put aside his great exploits on the track to be an accountant and manage his lead calmly.
A dangerous decision, because anything can happen in Formula 2, but o menino do Brasil returned from his summer holidays more motivated than before, achieving a pole position, a fourth place - after a spectacular comeback with a borderline strategy - in the Sprint and a second place in the Feature.
An almost perfect weekend, once again demonstrating his qualities about which little can be said.
Juan Manuel Correa
There is really nothing to say about him. Every race that goes by, every kilometre I see him do in the single-seater, I get chills.
This weekend, JM not only raced at the circuit where he was involved in the 2019 crash - where he fractured both legs and suffered a severe respiratory failure by crashing into Anthoine Hubert's car - but also did it competitively, earning a front row in qualifying for the Sprint Race.
Unfortunately he had to retire after a contact, but he showed his competitiveness all weekend, for example, defending Leclerc's attacks in the Feature Race flawlessly, on actually the most mentally demanding weekend for him.
Spa gives so much and Spa takes so much away: it is the university of motorsport for a reason and there is nothing else to say.
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