Max Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, as he was able to increase his lead in the championship despite facing a penalty. Red Bull made the decision to install a new internal combustion engine (ICE) in Verstappen’s car at Spa-Francorchamps, a track known for its overtaking opportunities. Although he struggled to make significant progress in the race, Verstappen strategically overtook Lando Norris and finished fifth, ultimately being promoted to fourth after George Russell’s disqualification.
Verstappen acknowledged that the balance of his car was decent in the initial laps, but being stuck in traffic hindered his progress. He admitted that the cars around him were faster, resulting in him getting caught in the DRS train. Nevertheless, Verstappen commended his team for maximizing their performance. Despite starting in 11th position, he recognized that it was always going to be a race focused on minimizing damage. From a championship perspective, Verstappen viewed the day as positive since he extended his lead instead of facing potential setbacks.
Although Norris started the race seven places ahead of Verstappen, the Red Bull driver emphasized that his main concern was his closest championship rival. Verstappen closely monitored Norris’ performance, as other drivers who performed well in the race were significantly behind in the championship standings. With a car that is not currently the fastest on the track, Verstappen’s goal is to limit the damage and consistently stay as close as possible to his competitors. He expressed the hope that the team can find additional performance to make their races easier.
Verstappen finished ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, who dropped from second on the grid to seventh place. Verstappen acknowledged that it wouldn’t have been fair to interfere with Perez’s race to aid his own recovery. He believed that they made the right decision in allowing Perez to focus on his own performance, as it wouldn’t have made a significant difference in Verstappen’s race.
