
Verstappen backed for blast-from-the-back Belgian GP win by F1 rivals
Verstappen backed for blast-from-the-back Belgian GP win by F1 rivals

Max Verstappen has been backed by his F1 rivals to deliver a crushing Belgian Grand Prix victory despite starting from 15th on the grid.
The championship leader qualified fastest on Saturday but will be relegated down the order due to a back-of-the-grid penalty for exceeding the prescribed number of power unit and gearbox components permitted for the season.
Remarkably, Verstappen was six-tenths of a second faster than his closest rival in Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who inherits pole position, the second of his career.
Asked if he anticipated the battle at the front to be purely between himself and Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, Sainz said: "Not entirely, no, especially with the pace Max has.
"As soon as there's either a safety car that can help him close the gap, or with the pace he has, if you translate it into 44 laps, he can come back, and we've seen him do it before."
Pressed directly on whether Verstappen could challenge for the win, Sainz added: "Yeah, I think so, yeah.
"If I would have done his lap that he did today I would also be confident.
"As soon as something happens at the front, or there’s a safety car to close the gap, he can make it."
Mercedes podium chances slim
Mercedes endured a torrid qualifying session with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell deflated by the gap of nearly two seconds to the front. With penalties applied, the pair will start fifth and sixth.
Despite often performing better on race pace than over a single lap, Russell conceded: "Max will probably still win the race.
"I don't know where he's going to be starting but with the pace he's got, he'll probably still win the race and then Charles as well, he'll probably come through.
"So I think it's unlikely we'll be on the podium in all honesty because we've still got Carlos and Checo there and Max is going to slice through the field pretty quickly."
Related news

Alonso offers Hamilton apology over "idiot" rant

Horner thanks Wolff for dominant Verstappen victory

Verstappen nears Schumacher record as Bruce McLaren matched - Belgian GP stats

Red Bull respond to secret lightweight chassis rumour
Most read

Alonso: Only Hamilton has Vettel's phone number

Hamilton fired 'Oscars' warning as Red Bull Ford rumours intensify - GPFans F1 Recap

F1 LIVE - Former Red Bull F1 driver makes WEC switch

Bottas slates 'controlling' FIA over latest crackdown

Hamilton urged to curb ‘Oscar speech’ antics
F1 Standings

Races
-
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2023
-
Grand Prix of China 2023
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
-
Miami Grand Prix 2023
-
Pirelli Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
-
Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
-
Grand Prix of Spain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Canada 2023
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2023
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
-
Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2023
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2023
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2023
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
-
Grand Prix of Brazil 2023
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media

7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860