In a daring move, McLaren decided to stick with a lower-downforce setup during a wet qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, hoping it will pay off in a drier race.
Fresh off a big 1-2 finish in Hungary, McLaren looked strong in Friday’s dry practice. However, things got tricky when rain hit during qualifying. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri found themselves slipping to fifth and sixth place in Q3 due to their car setups, which were better suited for dry conditions.
Team boss Andrea Stella explained that McLaren didn’t want to tweak the setup for wet weather because they were aiming for top speed in the race. ‘We knew we might pay a bit in qualifying, but we want the car to be in top shape for a dry race tomorrow,’ Stella mentioned to Sky Sports F1. With weather forecasts predicting dry conditions, McLaren decided to take the hit in qualifying.
Interestingly, even Saturday’s fastest driver, Max Verstappen, won’t be starting at the front due to an engine penalty, moving Norris and Piastri up one position. This could give McLaren an edge. ‘It’s one of the easiest circuits for overtaking, and tire behavior will dominate the race,’ Stella added. ‘Starting position isn’t the key factor here.’
Lando Norris acknowledged Red Bull’s pace, pointing out that overtaking Sergio Perez, who starts second, won’t be a cakewalk. ‘We’ve been a step behind them all weekend,’ Norris said. ‘Even though we were quick on Friday, Red Bull was holding back. I was surprised to get P5 and am happy with it. We have to overtake some fast cars tomorrow, but our lower downforce will hopefully benefit us,’ Norris shared.
Whether this gamble will pay off remains to be seen. With Max Verstappen looming in the background, it’s going to be a thrilling race day. Stay tuned to see if McLaren’s risky but strategic decision will lead to victory.
McLaren’s choice to focus on a dry race setup adds an intriguing layer to the Belgian GP. The team’s strategy might just be what they need to secure another win. Only time will tell how this gamble unfolds on race day.
