Verstappen: We're in a Good Place, No Major Issues

Pulse Sports Team 20:06 - 17 July 2026

Former world champion Max Verstappen topped the first free practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix. While he slipped slightly in the second session, he expressed satisfaction with Red Bull's performance by the end of the day.

“They were good sessions for me; we didn’t make major changes and found a good operating window for the car,” Max explained. “Our actual gap to the leaders isn’t shocking; it’s actually what we expected.”

“The track is challenging when it comes to energy management, though. I think we’re slower on the straights compared to some of our rivals, but in terms of balance and overall performance, we’re in a good spot.”

Max finished third in the qualifying simulations during the second practice. In the longer runs, his race pace appeared close to Andrea Kimi Antonelli's, but this still needs further confirmation.