Yahoo Autos Max Verstappen's F1 Winless Streak Continues in Belgium, But He Extends Points Lead Anyway
Even when Max Verstappen doesn’t win, he doesn’t seem to lose.
The Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday marked the four straight race in which Verstappen departed without a victory—a world away from the dominance of 2023 and early 2024—but he still extended his championship advantage to 78 points.
Verstappen started from 11th place after his engine penalty, having been fastest in wet conditions during qualifying on Saturday, and managed a two-stop strategy to gradually rise to fifth place, which became fourth after George Russell’s disqualification.
“We were just not faster than the cars around us, and then you just get stuck in that DRS train,” Verstappen said. “I think as a team we maximized the performance today. Naturally, you know, if you start P1 with the pace that we had, I think you're fighting for the win, regardless. But starting P11, I knew that it was always going to be a damage limitation race.
"Of course, looking at the championship, it was still a positive day. I extended my lead, where it could have also easily been, you know, calculating losses. So from that side, of course, it's a positive day.”
Nonetheless, Verstappen only recovering to fifth emphasized the nature in which Red Bull’s advantage has been eradicated, given he annihilated the field after similar engine penalties at Spa-Francorchamps in 2022 and 2023. With the current pace of the RB20 Verstappen conceded that his approach has shifted a little bit.
“A lot of the other guys, they've done great races, but they're quite far behind in the championship,” Verstappen said. “And yeah, for me, it's of course with the car that at the moment probably is not the quickest in the race. It's about just limiting the damage and try to be as close as I can be every single time. And that's what we have been doing lately. And of course, naturally, I would just hope that we can find a little bit more performance because it will make our lives a bit easier in the race.”
Red Bull really does have some work to do when Formula 1 returns from its break.
Norris’ Bad Start Proves Costly
Lando Norris had a golden opportunity to cut Max Verstappen’s title lead, starting seven places ahead, but instead he finished one spot behind the World Champion.
Norris started from fourth position but lost out to teammate Piastri off the line and then took the outside approach to the La Source hairpin, misjudging the situation and instead dipping a wheel into the gravel. Norris’ momentum was slowed and he dropped to seventh, and was fortunate not to lose more positions on the run to Eau Rouge.
Norris ran the overcut to try and utilize fresher tires but all drivers were surprised at how difficult it was to overtake at Spa-Francorchamps, and Norris got stuck in the train of cars, finishing sixth, before being elevated to fifth with Russell’s disqualification.
“I just misjudged it, honestly,” Norris said. “I just didn't want to get taken out in Turn 1, so I left the gap and just misjudged the exit a little bit. There were some overtakes, but only when you had a 10-lap tyre advantage. Otherwise, yeah, a bit of a tough race with the overtaking. I felt like we were quick, the car was quick. I just don't feel like we maximised what we could have done.”
Norris trails Verstappen by 78 points heading into the summer recess but there has been frustration at the spate of missed chances.
“I think I just need it to reset,” Norris said. “I've given away a lot of points over the last three or four races, just because of stupid stuff. Mistakes and bad starts. Turn 1 now. I don't know why, it's just silly things, it's not even difficult stuff. It's just Turn 1, trying to stay out of trouble, trying to make sure there's a gap and not get hit. And then I put myself off the track. Just some stupid things.
"The pace was good, the team were doing an amazing job, so I'm happy. I felt like the pace was very strong. The last two or three races, I've just not clicked as much as I needed to. I've given up a lot of points, so hopefully I can come back stronger.”
F1 Drivers' Standings
Max Verstappen, 277
Lando Norris, 199
Charles Leclerc, 177
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 167
Carlos Sainz, 162
Lewis Hamilton, 150
Sergio Perez, 131
George Russell, 116
Fernando Alonso, 49
Lance Stroll, 24
Nico Hulkenberg, 22
Yuki Tsunoda, 22
Daniel Ricciardo, 12
Oliver Bearman, 6
Pierre Gasly, 6
Kevin Magnussen, 5
Esteban Ocon, 5
Alex Albon, 4
Zhou Guanyu, 0
Logan Sargeant, 0
Valtteri Bottas, 0
