Despite the hurdles at the Belgian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen managed to extend his lead in the World Championship.
Starting from 11th due to an engine change penalty, Verstappen secured fourth place after George Russell’s disqualification. This result, while not a win, gave him vital points in his championship battle with Lando Norris.
Verstappen viewed the race as ‘damage limitation’ and was satisfied to extend his lead by two points, now standing at 78 points with ten races left. He remarked, ‘If you look at the championship, it was a positive day. I extended my lead although we could have easily lost points here.’
The race highlighted Verstappen’s consistency and resilience. Even with an engine penalty, he maneuvered effectively through the field. ‘Today was difficult because we haven’t been the fastest in the last few races. To move up from eleventh is not possible now,’ he admitted.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, noted the challenges of overtaking at Spa and the impact of today’s intricate aerodynamics on performance. He commented that ‘overtaking was just as difficult at Spa as it was in Hungary.’ This made maintaining performance tricky, especially close behind another car.
Verstappen acknowledged these difficulties but didn’t believe his car’s setup was a hindrance. ‘The balance wasn’t too bad in the first few laps. But we just weren’t quicker than the cars around us. A front-row start could have led to a potential victory,’ he stated.
Red Bull’s recent performance raised questions about their development ceiling under current regulations. Team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen both suggested a need to analyze and possibly alter their car’s setup during the break. ‘We’ll analyze all of that over the break,’ Verstappen said, pointing to areas for potential improvement.
Marko emphasized the need to focus on qualifying performance for upcoming races, indicating that grid positions will be crucial in determining race results. Red Bull must remain innovative despite regulatory constraints to stay competitive against teams like McLaren and Mercedes.
Verstappen slammed criticism of Red Bull’s performance at Spa as ‘unfair,’ defending the team’s efforts under challenging conditions. He acknowledged McLaren and Mercedes’ speed but remained optimistic, saying, ‘There are areas for improvement and analysis. We’ll address these during the break.’
Looking ahead, Verstappen and Red Bull are determined to turn challenges into opportunities for improvement. Despite setbacks, Verstappen’s extended lead over Norris validates their efforts. The second half of the season will be crucial in determining Red Bull’s ability to maintain their lead as competition intensifies.
As the competition heats up, Verstappen and Red Bull’s ability to adapt and innovate will be key to maintaining their championship lead. Every detail will matter in the races to come.
