F1
Max Verstappen Braces for Belgian GP as ‘Damage Limitation’ Challenge Amid Confidence Dip
Max Verstappen: Belgian GP is about “limiting the damage” | “Less confident” than previous two years
"Honestly, I don't feel as assured as I did in the past two years about making my way back to the front here."
Max Verstappen has described the F1 Belgian Grand Prix as an exercise in "damage limitation," admitting that he doesn't feel as assured about securing a victory as he did in the past two years.
Although Verstappen excelled in a rain-soaked qualifying round at Spa-Francorchamps, he is set to begin Sunday's race from the 11th position on the starting grid.
Verstappen secured victories in the previous two races at Spa despite starting from positions lower than fifth.
In 2022, he started from 14th position but managed to secure an easy win.
A year afterwards, he began the race in sixth place and ended up winning with a lead of more than
This year is anticipated to be unique as the McLarens are likely to present a major challenge when the weather is dry.
During an interview after the qualifying session at Spa, where Crash.net was present in the paddock, Verstappen commented: "The key is to get through the first lap safely and then proceed from that point. Additionally, we have a slightly different tire strategy compared to the other teams, so we'll need to see how that plays out during the race."
"Well, we'll have to see what we can manage. Honestly, I don't feel as sure about our chances of getting back to the lead as I did in the past two years. At this point, I view it more as an effort to minimize the losses."
"That's the situation. However, today's outcome was the best we could achieve for tomorrow's starting position."
Red Bull decided to use a setup with greater downforce during the qualifying session, a strategy that differed from McLaren's approach, and this gave them an advantage in the
Consequently, they may have reduced speed on the straight sections but are expected to manage their tires more effectively.
Verstappen is optimistic that Red Bull's decision about their rear wing is the right one.
He mentioned feeling more assured and at ease with the FP1 wing. He also expressed hope that this would be the same the next day, though he anticipated more sliding due to the warmer weather.
"I really hope things improve for me. Take McLaren, for instance. They use a very thin wing design, which seems effective for them, but it didn't quite pan out for me yesterday. So, we're trying a different approach as well. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. I need to overtake some cars."
"The impact of DRS is significant on this track, but ultimately, being able to manage your tyres well is crucial. Effective tyre management allows you to overtake other drivers."
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