Max Verstappen must be wondering if he’s in an alternate reality. The reigning world champion hasn’t clinched a victory since Barcelona, and McLaren’s cars now seem faster than the RB20 on various circuits. The upcoming Belgium Grand Prix was supposed to be an opportunity for Red Bull to assess their recent upgrades, but things have taken a surprising turn.
Verstappen heads into the weekend with a significant challenge. He has already used up the season’s allocated four internal combustion engines, turbochargers, MGU-Hs, and MGU-K units—plus two control electronics and energy stores. This places him on the brink of needing extra components, which would incur penalties.
Indeed, Red Bull has decided to install a new internal combustion engine in Verstappen’s car for the Spa weekend, resulting in an immediate ten-place grid drop, regardless of his qualifying position. Spa, with its mountainous terrain in the Ardennes, is a favorite for taking power unit penalties due to its overtaking opportunities. Nevertheless, Verstappen’s 76-point lead over Lando Norris is likely to shrink as teams head into the summer break.
Criticism of Verstappen has been mounting, especially over his pre-race activities. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, whispers about him participating in SIM racing until 3 AM on the race day spread. Dr. Helmut Marko, in his column, noted: ‘Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned this weekend… given that he spends half the night playing sim racing.’ Despite this, Marko plans to curb Verstappen’s late-night SIM racing to improve his performance.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s on-track clash with Lewis Hamilton added fuel to the fire. According to Marko, both Verstappen and his race engineer made inappropriate comments, but he placed the blame for the collision on Hamilton: ‘Max was ahead, but Hamilton turned in, and everyone could see what happened.’
Further tension looms within the Red Bull camp. Dr. Marko hinted that Verstappen might consider switching teams if Red Bull’s car performance doesn’t improve. ‘Now it’s all about improving the car again and giving Max a good feeling… he makes the difference,’ Marko said, stressing the need to keep Verstappen satisfied.
Adding to the drama, Red Bull is considering boycotting Sky F1 again. This follows Ted Kravitz’s comments labeling Verstappen as primarily responsible for the crash with Hamilton. The Red Bull management is displeased, believing Sky is being unfair.
Dr. Marko, known for his unfiltered opinions, remains a controversial figure. Following the death of Red Bull founder Didi Mateschitz, internal power struggles have complicated matters. But for Marko, the focus remains: ‘It’s all about winning the next world title.’
As the Belgium Grand Prix approaches, the tension within Red Bull and the drama surrounding Max Verstappen continue to grow. With penalties, criticisms, and potential team changes on the horizon, the F1 world is bracing for an electrifying weekend.
