Max Verstappen returns to Spa-Francorchamps, the track where he has enjoyed significant success, hoping to break a three-race winless streak and secure his fourth consecutive Belgian Grand Prix victory. The Red Bull driver, who has been dominant in recent seasons, experienced a frustrating race in Hungary, finishing fifth and expressing dissatisfaction with both the car and team performance. Despite being 76 points clear in the championship standings, Verstappen is eager to restore momentum before the August break.
The 2023 season has seen a departure from Red Bull's previous dominance, with seven different winners from four teams, marking the most varied season since 2012. McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished first and second at the Hungaroring, will enter Spa with confidence. Piastri, fresh off his first career win, is optimistic about their performance, while Norris aims to bounce back from another second-place finish that came despite a strong qualifying position and team orders.
Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton achieving his 200th career podium finish in Budapest, and George Russell, looking to improve after a challenging qualifying session, will be strong contenders. Hamilton’s experience and Russell’s potential make Mercedes a significant threat at Spa, where cooler temperatures and high-speed corners will present a different challenge compared to the previous race.
Ferrari, having been pushed to third in the constructors' standings by McLaren, hopes to benefit from recent updates to their car. Charles Leclerc, who secured pole position at Spa last year and won his first race there in 2019, will be keen to demonstrate the improvements made to the car’s performance. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur is optimistic that recent upgrades will address issues observed at high-speed tracks and help the team compete effectively.
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