Max 'having a smoke and a pancake' as rivals fight for scraps: 3 things we learnt in Belgium

Another masterful display and triumph from Max Verstappen ensured Red Bull finished the first half of the season, before the European "summer' break", unbeaten after Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The defending double world champion's victory was his eighth consecutive success, his 10th in 12 races this year, and completed not only a hat-trick of Belgian wins, but also meant he has won every race in the last three months since teammate Sergio Perez's victory in Azerbaijan on April 30.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's race.

Not again... ???? pic.twitter.com/qwbjoBkfvZ

Playful Verstappen toying with rivals

The 25-year-old Dutchman is so dominant that he can still win from sixth on the grid after taking a five-place penalty.

He is on a different plane to his rivals to such an extent that seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton resorted to humour to highlight it.

Referring to the 2002 Austin Powers film Goldmember, Hamilton accepted it all seemed too easy for Verstappen when he said that "he is having a smoke and a pancake. You know the film?"

READ | Max Verstappen yet to peak as Red Bull ace signs off on another consecutive win

During the race, Verstappen playfully bickered with his race engineer about tyre degradation and making a pitstop to give the team extra practice.

Hamilton's Mercedes team chief, Toto Wolff, said: "He has all reason to be a bit cheeky ... Just driving around. On merit. Nothing else to say - as much as it's annoying."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said he was in awe of his star.

"What we are witnessing with Max is something you see once in a generation," said Horner.

Red Bull and Verstappen next go to his home Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Another win on August 27 will draw him level