Max Verstappen faced a new racing scenario during the Belgian GP Sprint as he battled against rookie driver Oscar Piastri, ultimately securing the victory.
Starting from the lead position, Verstappen opted not to pit at the end of the formation laps to switch from full wet tires to intermediates in the improving conditions. This decision allowed Piastri to jump ahead when he pitted at the end of the first racing lap. However, Verstappen closed the gap and overtook Piastri along the Kemmel Straight after a short Safety Car intervention due to Fernando Alonso’s spin.
For Verstappen, it was a unique experience as it was the first time he was fighting for a race win against a driver younger than himself. He could relate to Piastri’s position, having entered the sport as a young, unproven driver himself, facing off against veteran Lewis Hamilton for race victories.
Regarding the biggest challenge in the Sprint race, Verstappen highlighted the decision of when to pit. Although he knew he could pit immediately, he deemed it risky due to the potential chaos of multiple cars entering the pits at the same time or the possibility of a Safety Car on Lap 1. Instead, he opted for the safer option of doing a single lap on full wets before pitting.
Despite a grid penalty for the Grand Prix on Sunday, Verstappen remains optimistic about his chances. He praised the performance of his car in the Sprint race, both in terms of one-lap pace and tire management during the race. With confidence in his car’s ability to preserve tire life, he looks forward to making progress on Sunday’s race, starting from sixth place on the grid. His primary focus is to have a clean Lap 1 and then work his way forward through the field.
