Max Verstappen’s Bleak Chances as Mercedes Join McLaren for Victory Fight – F1 Belgian GP 2024 Preview

Before heading into the summer break, F1 is set for its last hurrah at the most loved circuit on the calendar, the Spa-Francorchamps. If you ask a driver which tracks they love racing on the most, 9 out of 10 times they will name Spa. What makes it more special in 2024 is the fact that it is not a Max Verstappen-dominant sport anymore. With seven different race winners this year, it could be anyone’s game. Interestingly, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes have had both their drivers stand on the top step of the podium, but the reigning champion’s Red Bull only has Max Verstappen to pin their hopes on, but with his disadvantage, glory seems distant.

Can Max Verstappen hope for a miracle?

Max Verstappen has won the last three editions of the Belgian GP. In fact, in 2022, he won this very race from P14 on the grid. However, with the field bunching up, even getting on the podium is an uphill task for the Dutchman now. The bad news for Red Bull fans is that Verstappen is set to take a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race and Max has a very tough competition ahead.

Verstappen has been very calm about the world title, even talking about the chances of Lando Norris‘ P2 in the championship. It doesn’t sound like he is hoping for a miracle, but the fans can always hope. Giving an insight into this, Will Buxton wrote on X, “Just finished a fascinating chat with Max Verstappen you’ll be able to see on F1TV’s Belgian GP pre-race show. Perhaps most telling is that despite the doubts some might have, Max himself is adamant Lando can win the world championship. Sees the threat as very, very real.” And the teams asserting the real threat may look to build on the past week’s momentum.

Playing with Max Verstappen’s weakness, McLaren and Mercedes will aim for the win

What weakness? His 10-place grid penalty. But how will other teams benefit, you ask? For context, the last two races were won by McLaren (Oscar Piastri) and Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton) drivers. It is fair to say that both teams are inching towards the championship battle, with both their drivers fighting tooth and nail for it. And as Christian Horner rightly said, the Milton Keynes-based team cannot limp on its way to the championship in what is supposedly the fastest car on the grid. To add to the competition, Lando Norris, who has one win and several podiums under his belt this season, is Verstappen’s closest competitor in the fastest car on the grid and after forgoing his chance at the top step last weekend, Lando will surely aim for the win.

Last week, McLaren ended in a 1-2 and Mercedes took the last step of the podium. This left Red Bull living off scraps in a race where the other two teams established their significant dominance. Building on the momentum, the two teams will again eye the prize. More likely of the two is McLaren aiming for the win because of how badly things turned out last week. Oscar’s first win was overshadowed by the drama that unfolded between Lando and the team.

The teams are going into this weekend full-throttle, aiming to finish on a high before they head for a month-long hibernation. What are your predictions for the weekend? Can Red Bull finish on the podium? Can Mercedes or McLaren win it?