Max Verstappen secured fourth place on the starting grid after a mistake during his final flying lap in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, held this weekend. Despite this setback, Verstappen remains optimistic about reaching the podium in tomorrow’s race, focusing on his chances amid a challenging qualifying session.
Strategic Set-Up Changes Affecting Performance Ahead of the Race
Verstappen, coming off a strong Sprint race victory, qualified fourth, a result shaped partly by significant setup adjustments by Red Bull Racing. For Friday’s Sprint qualifying and the Saturday Sprint race, the team chose a low-downforce configuration to maximize the RB21’s speed on straight sections of the circuit. This strategy paid off as Verstappen started on the front row alongside polesitter Oscar Piastri and overtook him on the opening lap.
However, for the main Grand Prix qualifying, Red Bull shifted to a higher downforce setup. Their goal was to prepare for rain conditions forecasted on race day and to avoid issues like those at the British Grand Prix, where Verstappen spun out during a damp restart. This alteration, while precautionary, impacted Verstappen’s qualifying pace.
Verstappen Reflects on Mistakes and Car Handling in Qualifying
Although confident in his car’s potential to qualify within the top three, Verstappen acknowledged errors during his final flying lap hurt his result. Discussing the difficulties, he explained the grip levels on his first tyre set did not improve as expected, and the second set caused severe wheelspin from the start of the lap. This issue led to a loss of roughly two-tenths of a second just after Turn 1.
“My Q3 wasn’t very good for whatever reason,”
Verstappen told media, including PlanetF1.com.
“The first set [of tyres] just didn’t have the same grip when normally you make nice progression. I couldn’t at all.”
“And on the second set, we tried something, and that basically backfired, unfortunately, because already starting the lap, I had so much wheel spin that I couldn’t put the power down, and then the same out of Turn 1 — just wheel spin up until fourth gear or something — which lost me like two-tenths already.”
“Now, even with, let’s say, not being entirely happy with the balance, and losing two-tenths in Turn 1, then it actually looks quite okay, but, yeah, it was just not what I hoped for. The balance is not where I wanted to be to really attack around here.”
Despite the challenges, Verstappen agreed that the additional downforce was necessary for tomorrow’s expected conditions and joked that the car’s feel could hardly worsen compared to Silverstone.
Podium Remains the Primary Aim Amid Uncertain Race Conditions
Verstappen is cautious about claiming a potential race win but remains determined to finish on the podium. He anticipates his main competition to be Charles Leclerc, regardless of whether the race is wet or dry.
“For me, the goal is at least P3,”
Verstappen said.
“I think my battle, if it’s wet or dry, will be with Charles [Leclerc].”
“You just need to target a podium. I think that’s realistic.”
Red Bull’s special advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, expressed a more optimistic view, especially if rain arrives during the race. Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, he said Verstappen could still aim for the win if the weather forecast proves accurate.
“If the weather forecast is right and it rains, I think we can challenge for the win tomorrow,”
Marko stated.
Marko also noted Verstappen’s mistakes in qualifying:
“Max made two mistakes, a serious one in Turn 1, and a small wobble in Turn 5.”
“A third place would have been possible.”
Race Weather and Strategy Set to Play Crucial Roles at Spa
The Belgian Grand Prix remains unpredictable due to possible rain, which could alter race strategies and driver performances. Red Bull’s choice to increase downforce reflects their intention to adapt to changing conditions, prioritizing control over outright speed. Verstappen’s resilience after qualifying and his team’s approach set the stage for a tense and tactical race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
As the reigning world champion falls short of pole position, his ability to capitalize on weather changes and maintain composure during the race will likely determine his success. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see if Verstappen can overcome his qualifying errors and secure a podium finish at this challenging venue.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Max Verstappen a billionaire?
A. The Briton’s estimated net worth is $285 million, while Max Verstappen has an estimated net worth of $210 million.
Q. What is Max Verstappen’s baby gender?
A. On May 2, Verstappen, who is 27 years old, shared two pictures of his newborn daughter on Instagram. In the caption, he revealed her name as Lily, and wrote, “Welcome to the world, sweet Lily.”
Q. What gender is Max Verstappen’s baby?
A. Verstappen and Piquet have shared the news of their baby girl, Lily. They revealed they were expecting before the end of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi. Lily is now a little sister to Piquet’s older daughter, Penelope.
Q. Is Penelope not Max Verstappen’s daughter?
A. Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen’s partner, is the daughter of former world champion Nelson Piquet. She has a daughter named Penelope from a past relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. Verstappen has developed a strong bond with Penelope. Recently, he mentioned this bond when asked if being a dad could affect his racing performance.
