Max Verstappen experienced a notable setback in his F1 performance after finishing fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix’s main race, despite winning the Sprint event earlier that weekend. Starting from fourth on the grid, Verstappen pushed hard in the closing laps to catch Charles Leclerc but ultimately fell short, marking his third consecutive Grand Prix without reaching the podium. This marks a rare period of challenge for Verstappen, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining consistent top finishes in Formula 1.
This string of races without a podium has not occurred in Verstappen’s career since before he became a World Drivers’ Champion, underscoring a departure from his usual high standards.
Reviewing the Three Races Without a Podium in 2023
Following a second-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, Verstappen has struggled to secure top-three results in the last three events. His difficulties began at the Austrian Grand Prix where a collision with rookie Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap forced him out of the race early. The next race, the British Grand Prix, saw Verstappen finishing fifth, failing to make the podium once again. The recent fourth place at Spa further extends this streak, with three consecutive finishes outside the top three.
Parallels to Verstappen’s 2019 Season Challenges
The last time Verstappen encountered this level of difficulty was in 2019, starting at the Russian Grand Prix, an event no longer on the current Formula 1 calendar. At that race, Verstappen placed fourth behind Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. His struggles continued at the Japanese Grand Prix where an early collision with Leclerc caused damage, leading to his retirement after just 14 laps.
The following Mexican Grand Prix further demonstrated his challenges. Despite earning pole position, contact with Hamilton on the first lap dropped both drivers deep into the pack. Verstappen then collided with Bottas while attempting an overtake, which resulted in a punctured rear tire on his RB15 car. Remarkably, Verstappen managed to drive almost the entire lap with a deflating tire before pitting, rejoining the race in 20th position, 30 seconds behind Romain Grosjean.
Through an effective one-stop pit strategy and skillful driving, Verstappen recovered to finish sixth, outperforming those who required multiple stops, including his teammate Alexander Albon. This performance, although not podium-worthy, showed his ability to mitigate difficult situations on track.
Evaluating Verstappen’s Consistency Amid Tough Stretches
While some may view this as a downturn, it is important to recognize that even Verstappen’s “down” periods consist of competitive results compared to most other drivers. His recent top-five and top-six finishes illustrate a standard that many on the grid aspire to achieve, underscoring his consistent excellence over the past six seasons.
Looking Ahead: Can Verstappen Return to the Podium Soon?
After his difficult three-race streak, Verstappen managed to rebound by finishing on the podium in the subsequent 2019 United States Grand Prix, where he secured third place. He then closed that season strongly with a victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix and a second-place finish in Abu Dhabi.
As for the current season, Verstappen will begin his attempt to regain consecutive podium finishes at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. This race will provide an early indication of whether he can overcome his recent challenges and reestablish his usual dominance within the Formula 1 field.
