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Can Verstappen win again from outside the top-10 at Spa

Can Verstappen repeat Spa 2022? 'That will be tough this time'

27 July at 13:50
Last update 27 July at 14:00
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  • Jeroen Immink

In 2022, Max Verstappen managed to win the Belgian Grand Prix from P14. Due to new engine parts, the Dutchman is also going to incur a grid penalty this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. But whether Verstappen can pull off the same trick as in 2022, Christian Horner is not yet entirely convinced.

"So, we've introduced the engine here, because we had to introduce another engine over the next three or four races.The overtaking delta here is less than other venues. So, of course, it relies on us needing to qualify as well as we can today. But you can overtake. So we decided let's get the engine in the ball so it gives us a bit more comfort as we go into the season after the summer break," Horner revealed to Sky.

Due to a lot more competition this season, Horner does not expect Verstappen to be able to win again at Spa from the rear. The Englishman is therefore cryptic about his predictions. "I think it will be a bit harder this year. I think that obviously with the conversions we've seen in the pace, you haven't got big deltas between the cars. So, from wherever he qualifies it would be very hard and we're more aiming at a podium than a win," Horner added.

This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.