Verstappen Eyes Damage Control at Belgian GP: Confidence Wanes Amidst Strategic Uncertainties

Max Verstappen on Belgian GP: Aims to Minimize Losses | Expresses Less Confidence Compared to Previous Years

"To put it simply, my confidence in making a comeback to the lead here isn't as strong as it has been over the past two years."

Max Verstappen has described his approach to the F1 Belgian Grand Prix as focusing on minimizing losses, admitting he does not feel as optimistic about securing a victory as he did in the previous two years.

Despite Verstappen's commanding performance in a rain-soaked qualifying round at Spa-Francorchamps, he will begin Sunday's race from the 11th position on the grid.

Verstappen clinched victories in the previous two events at Spa, starting from beyond the first five positions.

In 2022, he advanced from the 14th position at the start to secure an easy win.

One year after, he began in sixth position and eventually secured victory with a margin of more than 20 seconds

This season is anticipated to change as the McLarens are likely to be a formidable challenge when the weather is clear.

Following the qualifying session at Spa, where Crash.net is present in the paddock, Verstappen commented: "Get through the first lap and take it from there. We're on a slightly different tire strategy compared to the other teams, so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out during the race.

"Indeed, we'll explore our options. Honestly, my confidence isn't as high as it has been in the past two years when it comes to making a comeback. At this point, I view it more as a race where we try to minimize losses."

"That's the situation. However, today we achieved the best possible outcome given our starting point for tomorrow."

Red Bull chose to increase their downforce during the qualifying rounds, a strategy not adopted by McLaren, which improved their handling in rainy conditions.

Consequently, their pace on the straight stretches may decrease, but they are expected to manage their tyre wear more effectively.

Verstappen is optimistic that Red Bull's selection of their rear wing is the right decision.

He expressed an increase in assurance and ease with the FP1 wing, mentioning, "I'm hoping this will continue into tomorrow. With the weather warming up, we might experience some more sliding as well."

"I'm optimistic that things will improve on my end. However, observing McLaren, they've opted for a much slimmer wing design, which appears to be effective for them. Unfortunately, it didn't yield the same results for me in yesterday's session. So, clearly, there's a divergence in strategy at play here. We'll see how this approach pans out in tomorrow's race. After all, my task includes overtaking other cars."

"The impact of DRS is significant in this area, yet ultimately, it seems more crucial to have strong tyre management. This is because being proficient with tyres allows you to overtake others."

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