Max Verstappen: “Starting 11th, I knew there would be a lot of limitations”
Max Verstapeen is satisfied with his 5th place at the Belgian Grand Prix, given his 10-place penalty which saw him start from 11th position on Sunday.
Starting 11th on the grid this Sunday despite his pole position, due to an engine penalty, Max Verstappen finished 5th at the Belgian Grand Prix. After the race, the Dutchman admitted that the car’s balance wasn’t too bad, always, but he also highlighted difficulties encountered during his first or last attempt on the track, which probably didn’t help either. Despite his efforts, he conceded to journalists: “We simply weren’t fast enough, the cars around us were faster, and then you find yourself stuck in this slow pace.”
The world champion expressed his satisfaction with his team’s collective performance: « As a team, we maximized performance today. » However, he acknowledged the limitations due to his starting position: « Starting in P11, I knew there would always be a lot of limitations. »
On the championship front, Verstappen considered this day positive: « I have extended my lead , which could also easily have been cut in half, so on that side, of course, it’s positive. »
Stay vigilant every weekend
He also mentioned the challenges ahead, notably the need to work on certain improvements : « We have a bit of work to do, we know that. We had a few things in the last race, which is really good, for the rest of the season. »
Verstappen addressed the issue of engine penalties and their impact on the team’s performances: “I have to take an engine penalty, it’s not under my control. So, I’m just trying to do my best.” He then expressed his hope for a continuous improvement: “Next year, I just hope that we can find it a little easier.”
The Red Bull driver also emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant every weekend, despite not being as dominant as he would like: « There are always things that can go wrong that can happen to you.
Finally, he recognized the benefits of tight rivalries between teams: « I prefer it to be like this rather than one team suddenly dominating everything. »
In conclusion, Verstappen affirmed that his team had done a good job during this Grand Prix, by adopting an aggressive strategy at the start, despite the numerous obstacles: “We certainly did the right thing with the strategy of trying to be a little aggressive at the start, trying to overtake a few, both at the start and during the race.”
