The action then shifted to Circuit Spa-Francorchamps, and there was another qualifying shock that this time saw both Kiefer and Opmeer eliminated in Q2. Rasmussen though managed a front-row spot alongside his Monza nemesis Tonizza.
With the race starting in the wet it was Rasmussen’s turn for an unorthodox strategy, as the only driver in top ten on intermediate tyres. This brought some early pain, but soon the rest of the front-runners pitted for inters too, promoting Rasmussen into the lead, with team-mate Kiefer behind him and Opmeer in third – all three on their original inters.
The Red Bull man proved untouchable at the front, while Tonizza was the only one of the drivers who stopped that managed to catch up with the front trio, nipping past Kiefer on the last lap at the Bus Stop to take third, after Opmeer had already overtaken the German for second on the final run up the Kemmel Straight.
Opmeer thus remains at the top of the championship table, still 14 points ahead of Lucas Blakeley. Rasmussen and Kiefer jump up into third and fourth respectively, and that also means Red Bull ties Mercedes on points in the teams’ championship on 140 points each - Red Bull has the lead courtesy of three wins to Mercedes’ two.