Max Verstappen comes from starting 14th to win Belgian Grand Prix

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1520 GMT (2320 HKT) August 28, 2022

Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Belgian Grand Prix.

(CNN)Max Verstappen came from 14th position on the starting grid to win the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Despite being fastest in qualifying, the Red Bull driver started towards the back because of a grid penalty for using too many engine parts. However, Verstappen produced some excellent, attacking driving to weave his way through the pack, showing the speed and quality driving to win the race for the second year in a row. The Dutch driver finished 17.8 seconds ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, with the Mexican driver comfortably finishing second ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz in third. The win is Verstappen's ninth grand prix victory of the season, meaning the reigning champion stretches his lead atop the Formula One driver's championship to 92 points. Perez moved to second in the table, surpassing Charles Leclerc, who could only finish fifth. Read MoreAfter the race, Verstappen praised the work of the whole Red Bull team, as well as looking ahead to his home race, the Dutch Grand Prix, which takes place next week. «It was a really hectic first lap, to stay out of trouble, but after the safety car, the car was on rails,» Verstappen explained. «After that, once we were in the lead, it was just about just managing everything. The whole weekend was incredible. It's been a weekend I couldn't imagine — I'm going to enjoy today and then next week, let's see what we can do.»Verstappen celebrates with his Red Bull team after winning the Belgian GP. No loss of confidenceStarting 14th was no problem for Verstappen. Even before the race, despite so