Max Verstappen has described how he was forced to complete "15 qualifying laps" to defeat McLaren in the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint.
From second on the grid, Verstappen used his low downforce rear wing to power past pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on the charge to Les Combes, taking a lead he would never lose.
Throughout the 15-lap race, Piastri was hovering within the DRS activation range of Verstappen, piling the pressure on the Red Bull driver not to make a mistake as the Dutchman's superior top speed allowed him to stay ahead.
His only slip came at the end of Lap 10 when he ran deep into the final chicane, allowing Piastri an attack on the approach to Les Combes on Lap 11 after being closer through La Source and Eau Rouge/Raidillon.
Reflecting on the win in Red Bull's first race in the post-Christian Horner era, Verstappen described the extreme measures he had to take to keep Piastri behind.
"It worked out really well, that was the only real opportunity that you are going to get against him," Verstappen explained.
"We got it into Turn 5, and then I knew it was going to be very tough to keep them behind, so it is just like playing cat and mouse with the DRS, the battery usage and the whole race, he was within seven tenths, so I couldn't afford big mistakes.
"I had a tiny lock-up into the last corner, but apart from that, it was a great result to keep them behind and at Spa, it's a Sprint win, but it still counts, there were lots of eyes in the mirrors.
"You have to drive over the limit of what you think is possible, tyre management is out of the window, and I'm doing 15 qualifying laps to try and keep them behind.
"It wasn't easy, but we managed to do it.
"I don't know if [I want pole in qualifying], I have a few ideas of what we want to do, and then try to be as close as possible."
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!