July 26th 2024.
Max Verstappen, the three-time Formula 1 champion, has had a great track record at the Belgian Grand Prix, winning the last three races. However, it has been confirmed that he will have to take a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend's race. This news has dampened his chances of extending his lead in the standings, as the final race before the summer break will now be a challenge for him.
The reason behind this penalty is that Red Bull has exceeded the engine allowance on Verstappen's car. As a result, the team has decided to introduce a new power unit for this race and take the penalty. This means that Verstappen will start from at best 11th on the grid, making it the third year in a row that he has taken a grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix. In the past, he has still managed to secure a win, starting from 14th in 2022 and from sixth in 2023. However, this year, his task will be much harder as McLaren seems to have the edge on pace, with Mercedes and Ferrari not far behind.
Verstappen himself has acknowledged that it will be difficult for him to claim another victory at one of his favorite tracks. He stated, "I knew of course that it is coming, so that's not a surprise to me. Some tracks are naturally better for overtaking than others. Of course, on a street circuit, you wouldn't want to have an engine penalty." It is clear that Verstappen is not confident of winning at Spa, especially with the 10-place penalty.
He further added, "If you look at our last few races where we haven't been particularly the fastest, I wouldn't say that with 10 places extra, we have a chance of winning." Despite this, he remains open-minded and will try to make the best of the situation. He knows that anything can happen in a race, and he will be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come his way.
In addition to Verstappen, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda will also start from the back of the grid after receiving a new engine for the race. Verstappen currently leads the championship by 76 points after 13 races, with Lando Norris in second place. This means that no matter what happens in the next two races in Belgium and the Netherlands, Verstappen will still be on top.
However, it has not been a great week for the 26-year-old. He finished fifth in the previous race and faced heavy criticism for his behavior both on and off the track. While he did not apologize for his conduct, Sir Lewis Hamilton, his rival, has advised him to start "acting like a world champion." Verstappen will have to prove himself not just on the track, but also in his actions and behavior as a champion.
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