Verstappen dissects his ‘unlucky’ drive to P3 in Belgium

Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought third-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, despite Red Bull facing strategic challenges during the race. The Dutchman, running an older specification rear wing, managed to qualify on the front row and lead early on, but a poorly timed Virtual Safety Car hampered his momentum, leaving him unable to challenge for the win. Reflecting on the result, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the podium, noting that the car felt more manageable throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, teammate Isack Hadjar delivered a stellar recovery drive from 21st on the grid to finish sixth, overcoming a frustrating engine penalty that had compromised his qualifying position.