Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing were lucky that many drivers took a grid penalty this weekend, meaning the reigning world champion did not have to start from last position in the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen, however, was so dominant that it would not have made much difference, according to the Austrian team.
"I think Max would have won from the twentieth spot as well," Marko is quoted by De Telegraaf. Initially, the goal was a podium finish and at least to finish ahead of title rival Charles Leclerc, but it all turned out a lot better. Verstappen scored the maximum 26 points, while Leclerc had to settle for eight points after a time penalty and a very early pit stop due to a piece of tear-off on his brakes.
Marko:"We knew for a while that we would change Max' engine here and incur a penalty. So at first we thought: we are going for the points. After qualifying you could see that the podium would be possible. Jos (Verstappen, ed.) already said to me that Max would win. I was not so optimistic, I must admit. But Jos was right.
Red Bull good at all tracks?
In a fortnight time they will race at Monza, another circuit with many straights. The RB18 should do well there again, but first there is the Dutch Grand Prix next week. In terms of characteristics the track is more reminiscent of the Hungaroring, where the Formula 1 circus passed just before the summer break. Verstappen was able to drive from P10 to victory.
Ferrari again see Red Bull as having a very good chance at Zandvoort, because in the twistier second sector (where more downforce is needed) Ferrari were completely out of the game in the Ardennes this weekend. Ferrari drove with bigger wings than Red Bull, but Verstappen was faster every time. Marko is pleased with that and is confident of a good result. Especially qualifying will be important according to the Austrian, because overtaking is relatively difficult.
Most drivers on the grid can win with that fast car. So happy for Max he benefits from a great team not even Checo has that set-up and car updates.
Perhaps, but nobody else can throw a visor tear-off with such precision.
That was random chance. And it's not the first time a tear-off has got into another cars sidepod. Let's see him get one into the Mercedes.
It's called a joke. It's what people make after they have watched a race that didn't make them feel sad inside.
Okay then. Of course I seriously believed Max did that fully on purpose. That's two bubbles in a row you've burst now. Who's the mean one here? :'(
People who watch races that they're happy about don't all make jokes. If you met someone who felt sad inside would it make you feel good? It seems you get off on the plights of others. As for me, I'm not so emotionally sensitive so I'm sorry if I've burst that bubble.
First lap incident most likely. They are often discarded as racing incidents.
"This win completes a perfect weekend for us. The car was unreal today, it felt like a rocketship" - Max Verstappen (via his official Twitter account). So there you have it. Max admitting that it was the car that was unreal and that it is indeed a rocketship. So therefore, his win was a paper victory because he had a rocketship. Right RB fans? That's the logic you've been using against Lewis so now I'm using it. Max actually used the word rocketship (even though he's never been in one). Just like you say for Lewis, he only won because of the car. You can't disagree because it's the logic you've been using for a long time now. Wins are easy from way back when you have a rocketship eh? Ask Lewis, he's won from way back too. :)
It was the car sure, but that doesn't explain him going as much as a second a round faster than Perez does it? Please remind me when Lewis did that to a teammate...
There is no doubt Max has a rocketship now, but credit must go to Adriaan Newey and his team of engineers, who developed this Rocket ship on an equal playing field to all other teams with the same budget cap! Lewis's rocketship was developed with prior knowledge and many years of development before any other team had any chance to actually catch up. That together with an unlimited Mercedes budget gave them an unfair advantage which only changed with the new rules this year! You cannot possibly compare the two scenarios!
Those facts are easily dismissed and forgotten by the Lewis/MB fans. The engine token system which caused other engine manufactures never to be able to catch up to Mercedes for many years. After that the arrogance of MB not to supply to RB because MB always say they want competition, but in reality they don't. Arrogance of Renault not to see their engine was crap and they should do better causing RB to be stuck with inferior engine on almost every track. And the budget as well yes, although Ferrari and RB were having still high budget, it indeed is not as comparable as 44x7Legend claims. And maybe Max just made a joke out of all the rocketship comments on social media, he must surely have read it all those years and now.
44-7xlegend ‘Right RB fans’ No…. why? Lewis is not great driver - mediocre, makes to many mistakes. Facts: 1. Baku 2021 - pressed wrong button 2. Imola 2021 - crashed in barriers 3. Austria 2022 - quali - crashed again 4. SPA 2022 - crashed to Alonso and almost ruined his race. Etc … So such a bad driver with rocket car could win at the end and having always simpathies from stewards because he is briton helps him as well.
You're a sad joke. Just another Hamilton hater in the crowd. Name 1 driver who hasn't crashed in his career. Max?? Haha, Max has had more incidents in his 7 years than Lewis has had in 14yrs. How about sympathies from the FIA race director when Max illegitimately stole a world title because his own team cuddled up to Masi and orchestrated it by breaking the rules. Now Max has the rocket car and he also has his like made easy by Ferrari and Mercedes but for different reasons. You've got nothing here. Just another sick bag full of hate and vitriol. I don't even take you seriously because you sound like a cartoon.
Can’t argue with that at all - also another almost Ferrarah calamity at the end - to NOT get fastest lap - I mean RBR have this thing properly sewn up for years……….
Max drove a faultless race and he's still on the up improving. We won't see the very best of him for another 2-3 years. Scary.
It was the car. "This win completes a perfect weekend for us. The car was unreal today, it felt like a rocketship" - Max Verstappen (via his official Twitter account).
Pérez should of won that race in the Rocket-ship but Max the DRIVER won it...........
Exactly 'who was driving the car'. That has been my response every time someone accuses Lewis of just winning because of a rocketship car. Well right back at ya hater.
I hope so, but i can't say it with certainty, but Red Bull does have the luxury of being able to work ahead to 2023, so this reign could be extended for another year or two, which i guess does fall into your margin. I think i'm just a bit worried for the changes in 2026, they always say "never change a winning team", even though the rumored collab between Red Bull and Porsche sounds great, they'll have to prove that in 2026, and it might affect Max' potential in a negative way. Long way of saying, Max was in rare form this weekend, i'm not sure if we will see many more displays of dominance like this again from him, as everything just seemed to go perfectly.
After quali, i knew Max could have very dominant race, i was only cautious and worried about start of the race where Max was in the middle of the field with possible danger of collision with crazy usual middlefielders
Yeah same, with Latifi up ahead, anything was possible, and he showed that he's still capable of crashing other drivers out, poor Bottas, Bottas was already on the grass trying to dodge him, but yeah. Leclerc catching either Stroll or Max' tear off was again just a very unlucky thing, as it caused the time penalty as well. But i had no idea that Max was going to be this dominant, so, the race that i thought would be super exciting, actually turned out to be pretty boring in terms of racing, but still a very impressive result.
To be honest, he probably still would have won if he had started 40th today.
In that rocketship, yes. But there is no 40th in F1 so that doesn't make much sense.
When LH drove in his rocketship towards his champioships you didn’t mind, did you ?
It's called a joke. It's what people make after they have watched a race that didn't make them feel sad inside.
I wanted to comment that yesterday how Max is winning this despite starting place but I didn’t want to jinx him
Even the betting companies put him as favourite to win from P14. It's crazy!
Same has been done for Lewis. Given the Ferrari screw ups, it's a safe bet when you're in a rocketship.
Jinx the jinx then, that's what I always do. Let's see, something like, ehm, say guys, wouldn't it be weird if Max would win the race after I put a jinx about it?
Superstition isn't real so you wouldn't have. When Max wins, I compare the reaction of his fans to all the girls screaming and wetting themselves while watching Elvis or The Beatles. It's girlie fawning at it's best :)
Wow.. pretty sad reaction really.. Like I said, be better! Reported anyway.
Lewis knows how to drive and start in first ....Cry me a river!!!
Kzik my mate, Google between Lewis and Alonso which driver has won more races starting on the grid other than pole.
Sure you was mate. I told you nicely, don’t take rumours for facts and you still did. But I understand why. You probably thought if George said it that it’s probably true as he has inside info for sure. He was wrong mate
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