Max Verstappen rules out fighting McLaren for F1 title: 'When I watch their onboards, I know enough'
Verstappen kept himself in the mix at Spa-Francorchamps by splitting the McLarens in sprint qualifying, and used his low-downforce set-up to pass polesitter Oscar Piastri and then remained ahead for the entire 15-lap contest.
He then qualified fourth on Saturday afternoon for the grand prix, citing a sudden loss of grip in a warmer Q3 segment that led to two costly slip-ups, and meant he dropped behind both McLarens as well as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Having already upgraded its floor, front wing and rear corner winglets, Red Bull brought what will be one of its last 2025 upgrade packages featuring a reprofiled front wing and bodywork tweaks, raising the car's overall downforce level.
But Verstappen felt that, while the new parts worked as planned, they had not significantly improved the RB21's balance issues he has been so vocal about.
"I think they work, but it still doesn't give me the balance I want to really attack a corner," he said. "Those problems remain the same in terms of balance."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
In public, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has remained optimistic about Verstappen's seemingly remote chances to fight the McLarens for a fifth consecutive championship.
"There are still 12 races to go, and we will continue to fight for the drivers' championship as long as it's mathematically possible," he said before the weekend, before telling broadcaster ORF after the sprint race: "Our goal remains the same: we want to win the world championship. We've already gained one point."
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Max Verstappen: I'm powerless against McLaren in Belgian GP – even more so in the rain
When those comments were put to him, Verstappen was far less convinced he can bridge Piastri's 68-point lead with the machinery he has at his disposal. "But Helmut isn't in the car!" he said. "I understand that you have to be positive, but I'm always very realistic about how I feel in the car. When I watch certain onboards from other cars, I know enough..."
Assessing his chances in a wet Belgian GP, a downbeat Verstappen said he felt the British GP showed McLaren's tyre advantage only gets bigger in mixed conditions.
Photos from Belgian GP - Race
Jacky Ickx, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Eliska Babickova, girlfriend of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Jenson Button
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams
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View of the fanzone
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ferrari
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ferrari
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ferrari
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ferrari
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal
Red Bull Content Pool
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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