July 27, (THEWILL) – Max Verstappen will start from 11th position in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after receiving a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding engine allowances.
Despite this setback, the Red Bull driver dominated a wet-dry qualifying session, outpacing Charles Leclerc by six-tenths of a second.
Leclerc will lead the grid, followed by Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen, aiming to end a three-race winless streak, faces a challenging task to secure victory from his midfield starting position.
The reigning world champion acknowledged the difficulty of the race ahead, noting the different weather conditions expected and the potential risks at the first corner. He expressed gratitude to his mechanics for their late-night work on his car.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had previously suggested a podium finish as a realistic target for Verstappen. The Dutch driver has won from sixth and 14th positions in the past two years at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Belgian Grand Prix promises an exciting battle, with Verstappen attempting to navigate through the field on a newly resurfaced circuit. The race will test both driver skill and tyre management in what is expected to be warmer and drier conditions than qualifying.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
