McLaren detail key advantage in Verstappen fight

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has highlighted his squad's tyre advantage over Red Bull ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start the race at Spa-Francorchamps from fourth and fifth respectively.

Max Verstappen, who has faced an increased threat of late from McLaren, will take the start from 11th on the grid after being fitted with his fifth internal combustion engine of the year ahead of the weekend.

The Dutchman displayed strong pace during qualifying, setting the fastest lap in Q3 by almost six-tenths of a second.

Despite being pushed to the midfield pack for the start of the race, McLaren still views the three-time world champion as a contender for the win.

“Max is definitely a threat,” Stella told media including RacingNews365. “I think he’s been exceptionally fast in dry conditions. He was very fast in wet conditions.

“We knew that in this kind of track, Red Bull was still likely to have an edge on us. This was proven today in the wet and even to some extent [on Friday] in dry conditions.”

Two sets of Hard tyres

McLaren confirmed its car has been set up to better suit the dry conditions forecast for Sunday's grand prix.

With a double stint on the Hard compound following an opening run on the Mediums touted as the strongest strategy, Stella highlighted the fact McLaren has two fresh sets of Hard tyres compared to Red Bull's singular set.

“He remains the favourite for the victory tomorrow even if he starts outside the first 10 positions on the grid,” he said. 

 “We have to look at ourselves, we have to maximise the fact that we were competitive as well. “We have a tyre strategy that we are happy with. We have two hard tyres.

“We have to drive well, exploit the strengths of the car and hopefully gain a time advantage at the start that means that even if Max makes it through the field, we will be enough far ahead.”