Max Verstappen makes McLaren, Mercedes admission with Red Bull no longer F1’s fastest

For the first time since 2020, the season before Verstappen won his maiden world title, Red Bull have gone four races without a race win after the Belgian Grand Prix, the final round before the sport’s ongoing summer break.

Verstappen – who had started 11th due to a grid penalty – and team-mate Sergio Perez finished what became fourth and seventh at Spa-Francorchamps after a race in which drastically improved Mercedes had initially finished one-two before George Russell’s disqualification.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also finished ahead of the lead Red Bull.

And with McLaren and Mercedes having made big gains so far this season to split the last four wins between them, Verstappen suggested that Red Bull clearly no longer had F1’s quickest car.

“I think they are ahead of us,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

“It depends. Sometimes McLaren, sometimes Mercedes.

“I think we were faster than Ferrari but coming from P11 we didn’t have enough time to pass them. We know that we have work to do.

“We know that we want to do better, we are of course not satisfied with this, but everyone is doing a great job and you have to take your hat off for that as well.”

Recent races have proved a far cry from the start of the season when Verstappen won four of the opening five races, and then three of the next five, to establish a commanding early lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

His advantage over nearest-challenger Lando Norris remains a still-comfortable 78 points with Verstappen’s cause helped by the fact the formbook has fluctuated between different teams over recent races and he remains the only driver this season to win consecutive races.

For the first time since 2020, the season before Verstappen won his maiden world title, Red Bull have gone four races without a race win after the Belgian Grand Prix, the final round before the sport’s ongoing summer break.

Verstappen – who had started 11th due to a grid penalty – and team-mate Sergio Perez finished what became fourth and seventh at Spa-Francorchamps after a race in which drastically improved Mercedes had initially finished one-two before George Russell’s disqualification.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also finished ahead of the lead Red Bull.

And with McLaren and Mercedes having made big gains so far this season to split the last four wins between them, Verstappen suggested that Red Bull clearly no longer had F1’s quickest car.

“I think they are ahead of us,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

“It depends. Sometimes McLaren, sometimes Mercedes.

“I think we were faster than Ferrari but coming from P11 we didn’t have enough time to pass them. We know that we have work to do.

“We know that we want to do better, we are of course not satisfied with this, but everyone is doing a great job and you have to take your hat off for that as well.”

Recent races have proved a far cry from the start of the season when Verstappen won four of the opening five races, and then three of the next five, to establish a commanding early lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

His advantage over nearest-challenger Lando Norris remains a still-comfortable 78 points with Verstappen’s cause helped by the fact the formbook has fluctuated between different teams over recent races and he remains the only driver this season to win consecutive races.

For the first time since 2020, the season before Verstappen won his maiden world title, Red Bull have gone four races without a race win after the Belgian Grand Prix, the final round before the sport’s ongoing summer break.

Verstappen – who had started 11th due to a grid penalty – and team-mate Sergio Perez finished what became fourth and seventh at Spa-Francorchamps after a race in which drastically improved Mercedes had initially finished one-two before George Russell’s disqualification.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also finished ahead of the lead Red Bull.

And with McLaren and Mercedes having made big gains so far this season to split the last four wins between them, Verstappen suggested that Red Bull clearly no longer had F1’s quickest car.

“I think they are ahead of us,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

“It depends. Sometimes McLaren, sometimes Mercedes.

“I think we were faster than Ferrari but coming from P11 we didn’t have enough time to pass them. We know that we have work to do.

“We know that we want to do better, we are of course not satisfied with this, but everyone is doing a great job and you have to take your hat off for that as well.”

Recent races have proved a far cry from the start of the season when Verstappen won four of the opening five races, and then three of the next five, to establish a commanding early lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

His advantage over nearest-challenger Lando Norris remains a still-comfortable 78 points with Verstappen’s cause helped by the fact the formbook has fluctuated between different teams over recent races and he remains the only driver this season to win consecutive races.