Max Verstappen believes third place was a strong result for Red Bull at the Belgian Grand Prix after giving everything he had during a race complicated by balance problems in the second stint. The Dutch driver briefly took the lead immediately after the start at Spa-Francorchamps, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli reclaimed first place at Les Combes before the end of the opening lap.
From that moment onwards, Max Verstappen did not return to the top of the order. Nevertheless, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion secured his third podium of what has so far been a difficult season for Red Bull, providing a welcome positive result only two weeks after his Silverstone accident generated fresh speculation about his future.
Max Verstappen returns to the podium after Silverstone setback
Max Verstappen made an excellent start to the Belgian Grand Prix and moved into the lead during the opening phase of the race. However, Andrea Kimi Antonelli quickly responded and passed the Red Bull driver at Les Combes during the first lap.
Once Andrea Kimi Antonelli had moved back ahead, Max Verstappen was unable to regain the lead. The Red Bull driver nevertheless remained in contention for a podium place and eventually brought the car home in third position.
The result represented Max Verstappen’s third podium finish of the season, an important achievement during a campaign in which Red Bull have repeatedly encountered performance and balance difficulties. It also provided a more encouraging outcome following the accident at Silverstone two weeks earlier, an incident that intensified speculation surrounding the Dutch driver’s future.
Virtual Safety Car changes the Belgian GP battle
Max Verstappen divided his assessment of the race between the first and second stints, while also pointing to the influence of the Virtual Safety Car. Its timing worked in favour of Charles Leclerc, who moved into the lead before later being overtaken by eventual race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s victory was the sixth Grand Prix success of his Formula 1 career. Max Verstappen felt that both he and the Mercedes driver were slightly unfortunate with the timing of the Virtual Safety Car, although he remained satisfied to secure a podium for Red Bull.
“I tried everything possible during the race,” Max Verstappen said immediately after the Belgian Grand Prix. “The first stint was not bad. The second stint was probably more difficult.”
“At the same time, I think Kimi and I were a little unlucky with the Virtual Safety Car. I believe that being on the podium is an excellent result for us. I gave everything I had, and I think third place is a good result.”
Although the neutralisation period altered the strategic picture, Max Verstappen’s comments suggested that Red Bull’s main limitation was the changing behaviour of the car during the second part of the race. He had felt more comfortable and competitive during the opening stint, but the balance became increasingly difficult after the tyre change.
Max Verstappen struggled with Red Bull balance in second stint
Speaking later to Sky Sports F1, Max Verstappen provided more detail about the problems that prevented him from applying pressure during the early laps of the second stint. The Red Bull driver revealed that he was unable to push immediately because the car’s balance was not consistent enough.
“I had some balance problems in the second stint, so I couldn’t really push at the beginning,” Max Verstappen explained. “I tried to find a little more pace towards the end, but there was a fairly rapid change from the front to the rear.”
That movement in the balance meant that the car’s behaviour shifted quickly between front-end and rear-end limitations. Such a change can make it difficult for a driver to build confidence, particularly at Spa-Francorchamps, where commitment through fast corners is essential for maintaining lap time.
Max Verstappen was eventually able to recover some pace as the stint progressed, but by then he did not have enough performance to challenge Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc ahead. The Dutchman felt that Red Bull had made progress overall, yet he stressed that the team still had too many unresolved weaknesses.
“I felt more competitive in the first stint,” Max Verstappen continued. “We made a good step forward, but we still have too many problems.”
Belgian GP podium does not hide Red Bull’s remaining problems
Despite his concerns, Max Verstappen recognised the value of finishing on the podium after another demanding weekend. Third place gave Red Bull a significant result at a circuit where the car’s limitations became particularly noticeable during the second stint.
“It is certainly positive for us to be on the podium in any case, and I’ll take it,” he concluded.
The Belgian Grand Prix therefore delivered a mixed picture for Red Bull. Max Verstappen showed enough performance to take the lead at the start and remain among the leading contenders, but the team could not maintain the same competitive balance throughout the race.
The first stint demonstrated that the car could operate effectively under the right conditions. However, the rapid shift between front and rear balance during the second stint prevented Max Verstappen from extracting the same level of performance and restricted his ability to attack.
Third place was therefore a valuable result rather than evidence that Red Bull’s problems had been resolved. Max Verstappen left Spa satisfied that he had maximised the available package, but his comments made clear that further work will be required if the team is to challenge consistently for victories during the remaining races.
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