Max Verstappen applauded Simon Rennie, who stepped in as his race engineer during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, following his commanding sprint race win at Spa-Francorchamps. With Verstappen’s usual race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, absent for personal reasons, Rennie took over, playing a crucial role in securing the victory for the Red Bull Racing driver.
Simon Rennie steps up as Verstappen’s race engineer in Lambiase’s absence
Gianpiero Lambiase, typically the voice heard guiding Verstappen during races, was unable to attend the Belgian GP weekend due to personal matters. Simon Rennie, an experienced engineer with a strong background in Formula 1, resumed the role for Verstappen, much like he did earlier this season at the Austrian Grand Prix. Rennie’s return to the race engineer position had an immediate positive impact on Verstappen’s performance throughout the weekend.
Reflecting on Rennie’s presence, Verstappen praised the Briton’s capabilities and long-term involvement with the team.
With Simon, I mean, he has a lot of racing experience already and, of course, he’s been part of the team already for a very long time,
Verstappen remarked to the media.
Of course, the last few years [he’s] not anymore in a race engineer role, but he steps in and he’s immediately on it. So also again, very enjoyable to work with Simon.
Rennie’s history includes engineering roles for notable drivers such as Daniel Ricciardo, Mark Webber, and Kimi Raikkonen, bringing a wealth of knowledge to his stand-in duties. This extensive experience has allowed him to integrate seamlessly with Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing team during the crucial Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Dominant sprint race performance at Spa-Francorchamps
During the sprint race at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Verstappen managed to keep the lead from start to finish, even as tough competition from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri pushed hard to close the gap. The Dutch driver’s low drag car setup was a key advantage in maintaining his position, especially on the fast straights.
Verstappen described the sprint’s opening phase and the strategic decisions that helped him hold on to his lead.
Yeah, I’m just happy that I was able to hang on to it. I knew, of course, in the start there were possibilities up to Turn 5. We took it. And then, from there onwards, I knew also they had new mediums.
He also acknowledged the challenge posed by McLaren during the middle sector of the track, where his car’s performance was slightly weaker.
I knew that it was going to be even more difficult. Just trying to hang in there with the top speed that we had. I knew the middle sector was going to be the weaker area for us and just trying not to make any mistakes there, basically. And it worked very well.
Verstappen admitted he faced a brief difficulty with his braking into the last chicane, attributing it to pushing beyond his usual tyre management limits to maintain the gap.
The only thing that I had was one time, the braking into the last chicane. But it’s also, you know, you’re driving a bit over your own kind of management, so it’s easy to just overheat the tyres a bit too much. But we hung in there and kept the two McLarens behind.
Verstappen’s connection with Spa and outlook for the main race
Winning at Spa-Francorchamps holds special significance for Verstappen, who recognizes the support of the passionate “home crowd” and the deep connection he feels with the Belgian track.
Of course, very pleased to win here. I mean, it’s my favourite track, home crowd, home feeling. So, yeah, just very nice always to be here.
Looking ahead to the main Grand Prix, Verstappen remains cautious about the challenges that lie ahead. The changing weather and tyre strategy will play critical roles, and he understands that maintaining the momentum from his sprint race will require consistent focus and adaptability.
The combination of tyre tactics and potential rain conditions makes the upcoming race potentially demanding, but Verstappen’s confidence in his team’s ability, supported by Rennie’s engineering, leaves him optimistic about his chances to continue performing strongly.
Simon Rennie’s continued role for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend
Simon Rennie will remain Verstappen’s race engineer throughout the entirety of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, guiding strategy and communication as the team aims to convert the sprint victory into a strong result in the main event. The partnership between Verstappen and Rennie, despite being temporary, showcases the importance of experienced engineering support in achieving top Formula 1 results.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Max Verstappen a billionaire?
A. The Briton’s net worth is around $285 million, while Max Verstappen’s is about $210 million.
Q. Did Max Verstappen apologize?
A. Christian Horner shared that Max Verstappen said sorry to the Red Bull team after he crashed into George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. This crash caused Verstappen to fall from fifth to tenth place because he got a 10-second penalty.
Q. Who did Max Verstappen lose respect for?
A. Max Verstappen expressed that he has “lost all respect” for George Russell after a stewards’ meeting in Qatar concerning a qualifying situation in Formula 1.
Q. Who crashed Max Verstappen?
A. On the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli crashed into Max Verstappen. This incident capped off a disappointing weekend for Verstappen.
