By Sergio Silva
26 Jul 2024, 14:44 PM EDT
The penalty of 10 places on the starting grid that he has Max Verstappen This weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix did not sit well with the Red Bull driver, who will have a tough task ahead of him this Sunday at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The three-time world champion of the Formula 1 He was punished for having introduced a new power unit in his RB20 after having suffered problems with it since the Canadian Grand Prix. Given this situation, the star driver of the energy drink team will have a tough challenge this weekend.
“If you look at our last few races where we haven’t been particularly the fastest, I wouldn’t say that with a 10-place lead we have a chance of winning. But then again, a race can always turn around at some point.”’MadMax’ commented this Friday.
Under Formula 1 rules, drivers can only fit a certain number of power unit components before being penalised for using a fifth, as is the case for Max Verstappen.
However, this decision by the Austrian team was planned in advance taking into account one factor: the Spa circuit is known for the great possibilities that drivers have to overtake, so a penalty of 10 places is more manageable on this track.
“We have to keep an open mind and try to make the best of it. That is what we will try to do. At the moment, I also don’t know how competitive we will be here.”added the Dutchman who remains the leader of the drivers’ standings this 2024 Formula 1 season.
Domination in the first free practices
Beyond the punishment that Max Verstappen received on the first day of free practice ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix this Sunday, it left good feelings in the Dutch Red Bull driver who managed to be the fastest in this Friday’s session.
The leader of the drivers’ standings this season completed his fastest lap with a 1:43.372 followed by McLaren’s Australian Oscar Piastri, more than half a tenth behind. This performance followed Verstappen’s fifth place in Hungary last weekend.
Meanwhile, Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez achieved the seventh best time in the first free practice held this Friday. The driver of the Austrian team is also trying to get back into the fight for the top positions after a run of bad results in recent races.
Keep reading:
– Good atmosphere within the Red Bull team: Max Verstappen rules out a bad relationship with the Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez
– Helmut Marko, advisor to the Red Bull team, revealed that he will speak with Christian Horner about Sergio “Checo” Pérez after the Belgian Grand Prix
– Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was pleased with Sergio “Checo” Pérez’s seventh place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix