P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is convinced that Red Bull retained the pace to win Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix without the grid drop which stopped him starting on pole position. Verstappen dominated in the wet as he posted a six-tenth advantage over the rest, but exceeding his allocation on power unit parts dropped him 10 spots on […]
Verstappen dominated in the wet, but exceeded his power unit parts allocation, resulting in a 10-spot grid penalty. Despite being considered a favorite from 11th place, he couldn’t replicate his past comeback performances at Spa-Francorchamps. He made some early overtakes but struggled to pass later on, finishing fifth behind Leclerc. Verstappen believed he could have fought for the win from a higher starting position. Red Bull’s strategy was deemed good, but Verstappen admitted they lacked the ideal tire sets for a one-stop race. Despite the challenges, he extended his championship lead over Norris, emphasizing the need for Red Bull to unlock more pace and limit any potential damage in future races.
