Despite leading the field in the qualifying session for Sunday’s Grand Prix, Max Verstappen will only start in P6 after a five place grid penalty due to a new gearbox.
However, according to Sky F1’s Martin Brundle, Verstappen and those around him firmly believe that winning from any starting position is within his grasp.
Verstappen’s recent success has been nothing short of remarkable, securing seven consecutive victories, including his latest triumph in Hungary.
Additionally, Red Bull’s consecutive win streak has reached 12, surpassing a longstanding record held by McLaren since 1988.
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The Dutch driver’s dominance seems unyielding, as evidenced by his comfortable victory from 14th on the grid at Spa-Francorchamps in the previous year.
Despite the impending grid penalty triggered by the new gearbox, Brundle finds it intriguing that Red Bull has opted to make the change at Spa, given Verstappen’s previous complaints about gear shifting issues throughout the 2023 F1 season.
Nevertheless, Brundle doesn’t believe this penalty will significantly hinder Verstappen’s chances.
“He takes a five-place grid drop here on Sunday for a fresh gearbox,” said Brundle to Sky F1.
“All season long, we’ve heard them talking about shift problems, certainly earlier on in the season as well, so interesting that as we just move into the second half the season, they’re taking another gearbox and taking a gearbox penalty.
“But you sense that Max can and that Max thinks he can win from anywhere on the grid.”
As Verstappen continues his march towards a potential third consecutive World Championship title, it becomes evident that we are witnessing the “Max Verstappen era” in Formula 1.
His remarkable performance echoes the dominance previously displayed by legendary drivers like Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull, and Michael Schumacher with Ferrari.
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According to Brundle, these examples share a common element of “a driver, a car, and a team working absolutely as one in a very happy place.”
Heading into the Belgian GP, Verstappen holds a commanding 110-point lead over his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, in the Drivers’ Standings.
With such a substantial advantage, Verstappen’s chances of clinching the championship seem increasingly likely.