Max not buying ‘P2 better at Spa’ theory this time

Jon Wilde
Max Verstappen's Red Bull on qualifying day for the Belgian GP. Spa-Francorchamps August 2021.

Max Verstappen's Red Bull on a wet Spa circuit on qualifying day for the Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps August 2021.

Max Verstappen insisted pole position was the best place to be when the Belgian Grand Prix is threatened by rain.

Some F1 pundits voice the opinion that P2 on the grid can be more advantageous, by following the pole-sitter up through Eau Rouge and then pouncing from out of the slipstream down the lengthy Kemmel Straight.

But while that may be of benefit in dry conditions, this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps has been distinctly the opposite – and the weather forecast now indicates the likelihood of rain during the race at more than 60%.

Therefore, Verstappen would not want to be following any other car, and is happy to be starting at the front with surprise package George Russell in the Williams next to him.

Lewis Hamilton, who leads the Dutchman by eight points in the Drivers’ World Championship standings, is third on the grid alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

“It would be a bit weird to try and target second or third,” said the Red Bull driver. “If it’s wet, I prefer to start first because at least you have clear vision.

“I just need to have a clean start and from there onwards, there will be so many different things throughout the race. We just have to try and stay on it.”

After two miserable races in Britain and Hungary where he lost his big World Championship lead through no real fault of his own, Verstappen was pleased to have picked up again in top form straight after the summer break – airing his “simply lovely” catchphrase on his ‘in’ lap having secured pole.

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“It was very tricky out there to nail a lap,” Verstappen told Sky F1. “This track in the wet is something else, it’s very difficult, and also getting the tyres up to temperature was very difficult.

“But of course very happy to get pole position. I think so far this weekend has been really good for us in the dry and in the wet, but tomorrow will be very tricky with the weather. It’s going to rain a bit again, then probably dry up, then rain again so it will be really difficult to choose the right tyres.”

He also spared a thought for Lando Norris, who had a big crash at the start of Q3 which red-flagged the session, but after being taken to hospital for an X-ray on his elbow, the McLaren driver was cleared to race.

“The most important thing today is that Lando is feeling okay,” said Verstappen. “I hope he doesn’t have anything serious because it didn’t look like a very nice impact. He’s a friend of mine, so I hope he can race tomorrow.”