P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The usual Spa downforce dilemma is particularly acute this year as it plays out between the very closely matched Red Bull and McLaren cars. Mark Hughes explains how that’s shaping up after Friday at the Belgian GP…
The Spa downforce dilemma this year is particularly acute between the closely matched Red Bull and McLaren cars, with Max Verstappen facing a 10-place grid penalty. Despite Verstappen’s previous successes starting from penalized positions, both Red Bull and McLaren are opting for higher downforce setups given the wet forecast for Saturday and unexpectedly high tire degradation on the resurfaced track. This strategic move towards more wing seems to be paying off, as shown by McLaren’s strong performance in the practice sessions, with Oscar Piastri consistently outpacing Verstappen on similar tire compounds despite the loss of straight-line speed. The convergence to higher downforce choices by both teams may indicate a shift in priorities towards maximizing performance in wet conditions and optimizing tire management, in line with the intense battle between Red Bull and McLaren this season. Additionally, Lando Norris hinted at the importance of higher downforce even in dry conditions, suggesting a strategic shift towards a more aggressive setup that could potentially yield better results on race day.
