Max Verstappen, despite his stunning performance in qualifying, believes he’ll need some luck to outdo McLaren in the Belgian Grand Prix this year.
For the third consecutive year, Verstappen topped qualifying at Spa. Yet again, he faces a grid penalty due to an engine change. This setback means Charles Leclerc starts from pole on Sunday, with Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton, and the McLaren duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, also ahead.
Reflecting on his situation, Verstappen admitted, “We are not making it easy on ourselves.” He noted that McLaren, which secured a 1-2 finish in Hungary, stands as a significant threat to his race. While he hopes to keep up with Ferraris and Mercedes, Verstappen emphasized needing “a bit of luck” to challenge the McLarens.
Despite topping qualifying in wet conditions, Verstappen is cautious about the dry race day. “We need to be quick in the dry tomorrow. But it’s going to be a tough battle,” he said. Tire degradation will be a key factor, and starting 10 places back adds to the challenge.
Verstappen remains optimistic yet realistic about his chances. He hopes to be “in the mix” and move forward in the race. However, the combination of penalties and the strong competition means the race at Spa is set to be a nail-biter.
Verstappen’s hopes rest on a mix of skill and fortune as he navigates penalties and fierce competition at Spa. With rivals like McLaren on his tail, Sunday’s race promises intense action.
