Verstappen fears penalty in Belgium: “I knew it would happen”

It is an open secret, and although it has not been confirmed, as he said Max Verstappen, “too likely” that he chose to install his fifth engine of the year and that this represented the first penalty of the year for Max for replacing said element.

That means a total penalty of 10 positions lost on the starting grid for Sunday’s race at the Belgian F1 GP after pitting his fourth engine at the final Austrian GP and after breaking down his third engine of the year on its Canadian debut and cannot be recovered.

“I knew it would happen. So it doesn’t surprise me anymore”Max pointed before the 14th race of the season, with 10 rounds still to go, so it was also clear to him that he had to change the engine again and punish it in one of the remaining rounds before the end of the World Championship.

Another element in the battle for the World Cup: Norris can cut back

That can be an important element to consider in combat World Cup against Lando Norris and McLaren. Max has an advantage with 11 races remaining of 76 points over the Briton thanks to how well he took advantage of his car’s superiority in the first tests of the year, and how well he took advantage of Norris’ mistakes in the final tests. However, now Landau has the fastest car on most tracks and on Hungary He has already shaved some good points from a Max that is ‘on’ and unaffected by his car’s problems.

So, on Spathough Verstappen You can try to overcome and minimize your losses, the normal thing is that Lando Norris once again chipped away at the reigning champion to tighten the fight for the crown ahead of the summer break.

Spa, key circuit to change engine

Max and Red Bull had to choose between Monza or Spa to change engines and be punished. And the fact that in Monza the cars have less load, the DRS power is less and it is more difficult to overtake. Spa is an ideal place to test the comeback and Max has chosen to punish on this track in recent years.

He won in 2022 starting from 14th position on the grid and last year he repeated the victory from 6th place after changing the gearbox. But Unlike previous years, this time it doesn’t have the superior and massive cars of previous years.. If he starts at the back, he will struggle to catch McLaren or Mercedes and may lose points compared to a Norris who has a golden chance to win.

“Some circuits are naturally more favorable than others for penalties. On a street circuit, where overtaking is more difficult, you don’t want an engine penalty, so, yes, it is likely that’s here.”argued with Belgium.

“If we look at our last races, where we weren’t very fast, I wouldn’t say that with a ten-place penalty we have a chance to win. But a race can turn around at any time”, argument. And in that sense, in the middle of a comeback on Sunday, any ‘Safety Car’ could regroup the race, which could bring the fight closer for everyone.