World champion Max Verstappen has won the first Formula 1 race after the summer break.

The Dutch Red Bull driver stormed up from 14th on the grid to first place at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.

To the delight of tens of thousands of Oranje fans, Verstappen also continued to extend his World Cup lead.

The Dutchman celebrated his ninth win of the season ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.

Third in Belgium was Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.

The international press writes about this:

Great Britain:

"Daily Mirror":

"It was a nightmare afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, who started fourth (...).

That put him one place behind his old rival Fernando Alonso.

The Briton was left behind when the two experienced drivers collided on the first lap.”

The Sun:

Let's present the trophy now.

There's no point in dragging things out and waiting for the end of the season.

Max Verstappen has (the World Championship) in the bag – and we still have eight races ahead of us.”

"Daily Mail":

"Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix from 14th place on the grid - not just his ninth win of the season, but a one-sided destruction"

The Guardian:

"Formula 1 has delivered some great races this season, but this one at Spa-Francorchamps was an afternoon that only Verstappen will savor.

Yet it was not without significance on two levels.

Verstappen, who is on the front lines of the title fight, has driven his rivals to despair with his pace and control.

For Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, however, who are struggling to get back to a competitive pace, the weekend could not end soon enough.”

France:

“Le Monde”:

“His Red Bull gives him wings.

After showing excellent pace all weekend and setting the fastest time in qualifying, Max Verstappen once again gave the impression at Spa that it was easy for him.”

"L'Équipe":

"Red Bull's perfect race, Hamilton's failure"

Italy:

"La Gazzetta dello Sport":

"Verstappen destroys everyone: ninth win ahead of Perez and Sainz, Leclerc sixth"

Spain:

"Marca":

"Verstappen's strong comeback, with Sainz on the podium and Alonso in fifth"

“As”:

“It was the almost perfect starting grid, Carlos Sainz first and Fernando Alonso third, the dream of every Spanish Formula 1 fan.

But one of them clashed with reality, Red Bull's vast superiority and Ferrari's lousy racing pace;

and the other crashed into... Hamilton."

Austria:

"Kurier":

"Triumph in Belgium: World champion Verstappen races towards the title"

Switzerland:

"Blick":

"Hamilton flies from Spa – and apologizes"