Max Verstappen was left feeling positive after the Belgian GP at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Dutchman finished fifth ahead of rival Lando Norris and moved up another place after George Russell's disqualification.
Verstappen looks positive after Belgian Grand Prix
Verstappen could not easily make his way through the entire field towards P1 like in 2022, but according to the Dutchman himself, that was not only because of his RB20. "The balance of the car wasn’t too bad always in the first few laps, but of course, I also ran a lot in traffic which probably also didn't help. But we were just not faster than the cars around us, and then you just get stuck in that DRS train. I think as a team, we maximised the performance today. Naturally, 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 calculating losses, so from that side, of course, it's a positive day," the three-time world champion said.
In doing so, Verstappen does realise that the competition has made huge strides. While McLaren and Ferrari were close to Red Bull at the beginning of the season, Mercedes have come a long way with three wins in the last four races. "I think it shifts a little bit for sure. Constantly, McLaren have been really quick. Mercedes have been quick but not everywhere, and from our side, yeah we have a bit of work to do. We know that we have a few things to analyse as well as what to do with the car for the remainder of the season. But on the other hand, of course, having an engine penalty, I think if all of the cars had that, their race would also look very different. So it's not very fair to fully look at my race coming from P11. Because if you just start with them, the race is very different," Verstappen added.
Verstappen is at the top of the standings during the summer break. The gap between him and Norris currently stands at 78 points.
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If Verstappen would not be afraid of competition, Sainz would not go to Williams.
What nonsense. They had already driven together, and it turned out not to be a good combination, especially their fathers.
I don't think it's about their fathers. Even if Sainz would say, I will drive for free, RedBull would not hire him, cause of Verstappen.
It's not about money. The two were already together in the team, and then there was friction and intolerance, between the drivers and especially between their fathers. So the RB vortex knows very well what it carries. If they don't want to hire him for Max, it's because the two don't get along, and certainly not because of his driving qualities or as competition. If you think that Max is afraid of him as competition, I think that's nonsense.
Ferrari gave up Sainz, and neither RB nor MB wanted him, that says it all. Williams is ideal for him.
I agree that we have moved away from the main topic of the discussion. It all started with your first statement (read it again), and the insinuation that that's why RB didn't hire him. Carlos is a good (mid-range) driver, but he is not and will never be a top driver, and he will never be a champion, because his teammate will always beat him. I think that will happen in WILL too, I believe he will lose to Alex. That's my opinion and that's why your initial statement made no sense to me, and that's why I reacted to it.
All teams want the best drivers, but when they have one, history has shown that it is not the best to have two drivers in the team, who must have huge egos, and both want and fight for the championship. It can become very difficult and complicated for a team, and that's why it's better for them to have one driver fight for the championship, and have the other driver help him in that and collect points for the constructors' championship. The problem arises if that other driver, like Checo, falls into a crisis (or is he not good enough?) and does not collect enough points, which he should because he drives a competitive car, and if the difference in points and times becomes too great. Obviously RB is not happy with Checo, and yet the stories about his replacement are just speculations. They don't need an up-and-coming Carlos, eager to prove himself and to show that he can beat Max, for them Checo is ideal as a second driver, but the best version of himself, when he doesn't make so many mistakes and when the difference with Max is not that big. As was the situation with MB or FER before. Teams usually take two equally good drivers when they are not at the top, but when they start winning, they need the better one of those two drivers. What happens in the end, because one of the two becomes aware that he is worse, and then seeks happiness in another team, where he will not be in the shadows, in a subordinate position.
By taking Sainz to Mercedes and sending Antonelli to Williams, Mercedes would have needed to pay tens of millions of extra. For Sainz contract and the price Williams asks for the seat. For bringing Antonelli straight to Mercedes they save tons of money. So I would say what we see, makes more sense than spending all these millions for a driver, who you know will not be with you in 1-2 years time.
But this has nothing to do with anything. The talking point was RedBull. I now don't understand anymore what you're trying to say. Are you trying to say that RedBull doesn't want good driver, cause Verstappen is enough? Then why the rumours of letting go of Perez, if they actually don't need a good driver.
Any team wants the best drivers possible. Any team. RedBull is no different. When they stop wanting the best drivers possible, then you got to ask the question why. And in RedBull's case, the answer is Verstappen.
If MB wanted Carlos, they would have taken him, but they didn't. It would make more sense for Kimi to come to WILL first. If Max was free right now, they would take him immediately.
I don't think it matters what made Max and Carlos' toxic relationship, and who was more or less to blame, the important thing is that they didn't get along. Both have a similar history, as the sons of racing driver fathers. They both started the same year in F1 and Max beat him, and he is much younger than him. He was already better then, and today the difference would be, I believe, the same as it was against Checo. That's my opinion. When a team has a top driver, who wins championships, they don't need another driver like that. It has already been proven that it can only be counterproductive. All of us fans would like to see only the best drivers in all teams, but the reality is different. The teams know what is best for them, and what their interests are, and they work and choose drivers accordingly. Especially when they're at the top, and when they're winning races and winning championships.
Why you think Mercedes didn't want him? Was it cause they don't want to lose Antonelli to other team? I think this kind of example doesn't count much.
Haven't you thought why Verstappen and Sainz relationship was toxic, when Sainz doesn't have these problems at other teams with other drivers? Only at RedBull with Verstappen.
Could it be that somebody doesn't like competition inside the team?
Problems usually start, when somebody is not happy with equal terms and they want clear number 1 status. Like we've seen numerous times. Most famous being Hamilton and Alonso. WHen Hamilton refused to follow what they had agreed with team and Alonso.
There was also some toxicity between Verstappen and Ricciardo, when they were racing together.
No toxicity between others as the rest of the drivers were clearly slower than Verstappen. Must be coincidence.
Haven't you asked yourself even once, why all top teams have 2 good drivers, but RedBull is not even looking at good 2nd driver, only mediocre names are being mentioned.
If RedBull would not be scared of Verstappen, then they would have hired the best driver available, it's as easy as that. The name Sainz doesn't matter, we can name Hamilton or Leclerc or Norris. RedBull would not hire them, even if they would drive for free, just cause of scared losing Verstappen.
And now you have to ask yourself, why are they scared. Is it cause all top drivers are toxic? Or is it, cause Verstappen becomes toxic, when he has competition inside the team?