F1: Despite a 5-place grid penalty, Verstappen not ruling out win

(GMM) Despite a 5-place grid penalty for a new gearbox, Red Bull and Max Verstappen are not ruling out victory this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

At the tight, twisty Hungaroring a week ago – theoretically not the best circuit for the dominant 2023 car – the Dutchman won by a whopping 33 seconds.

And Red Bull top official Dr Helmut Marko said this week that the two-time world champion, who is cruising to his third consecutive title, could have gone even faster.

So as the Belgian GP weekend kicked off at the fabled, high-speed Spa circuit, where Red Bull’s DRS advantage is expected to be massive, Marko said: “In theory, this should be our easiest win of the season.

“The track plays into our hands and Max is becoming more and more confident,” the 80-year-old told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

“But on a sprint weekend it always depends on the setup. Often the theoretically easiest victories are the most difficult.”

Verstappen, though, doesn’t seem concerned about that, and he is even hoping for a “lonely” race at the front rather than a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle.

“I like solo races,” he smiled on Thursday.

“Of course it’s better for the sport if there is tension, but personally I prefer that gap with the competition. I don’t mind racing, but I’ve done that often enough in my career and I don’t necessarily have to.”

When asked if he can do anything to make Formula 1 a more interesting battle at the front in 2023, Verstappen then laughed: “Maybe I shouldn’t come to a few races.”