Max sees opportunities during Belgian race: 'We are close to Mercedes'

Published on 01 September 2019 by Mike Motilall

After qualifying, Max Verstappen spoke with Verstappen.nl. The Dutch Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-driver has been facing the same thing the entire weekend, he explains: “Somehow we are not able to solve the problem that we are facing here. On this circuit, it’s full throttle quite a lot, so that is pretty tough for the engine. Unfortunately, we were not able to use full power.”

“But in the end I am positively surprised how well we have done compared to Mercedes. Given all the issues we have had this weekend, we are still close. Ferrari is clearly on a different level this weekend. Starting fifth is of course not ideal, but Spa is not a circuit that suits us well.”

Max continues: “This was the first time since a few Grands Prix that I have had something like ‘that was not a fun qualifying’, but I already expected it not to be as well as how it went in Hungary.” Did you have any clue beforehand it might be a fruitless qualifying? “I still had some hope that we would be able to run on full power during qualifying, but unfortunately I noticed in Q1 immediately that that was not the case. Then you know it will be difficult, because you are lacking too much. That’s the way it is.”

Nevertheless, Max is looking ahead quite positively to the race on Sunday. The youngster explains: “I think that we are close to Mercedes tomorrow during the race. Yesterday it was all rather bunched up. During the race you are only able to run full power a couple of times, so I think that tomorrow things won’t be that bad.”

Next week the Italian Grand Prix is on the agenda. Will you be getting a new engine in Monza? “That has not been confirmed yet”, as Max informs us. “We need to wait and see how tomorrow goes and then we’ll see. Even if I would be starting from the back on Monza because of a grid penalty, that wouldn’t be a disaster to me. In such a case, I wouldn’t be able to make it to the top 4, but I think I would be able to slot in behind of them.”  

Belgian GP contest: Win a signed orange Max Verstappen driver cap and lanyard!