Verstappen admits Belgian GP fightback 'will be tough' from P4

Max Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix from fourth, behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc, despite dominating Saturday's Sprint. Verstappen attributed his struggles in qualifying to a setup change aimed at Sunday's anticipated wet conditions, which surprisingly worsened his car's balance and grip. He experienced significant wheelspin and lost crucial tenths in Q3, particularly out of the final corner and Turn 1, hindering his lap time. While acknowledging that without these issues he'd be closer to the McLarens, Verstappen admitted it was "not a very good Qualifying." Looking ahead to the race, he foresees a "tough" fight, especially in the wet where he expects McLaren to be formidable, making a podium finish his realistic target.