McLaren wary of making 'big mistake' with Verstappen penalty

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has outlined it would be a “big mistake” to think Max Verstappen can't win the Belgian Grand Prix despite his grid penalty.

Verstappen has been fitted with his fifth internal combustion engine of the season at Spa-Francorchamps, resulting in a 10-place drop on the starting grid.

It means that Verstappen will start Sunday's grand prix from no higher than 11th place, at a time when McLaren has reeled in Red Bull in the pecking order.

The Dutchman enjoyed a strong start to the weekend at Spa by topping FP1 by over half a second to his nearest competitor.

Speaking to Sky F1, Brown sees Verstappen as a threat for victory despite his low-starting position. 

“It is a tricky track of how much downforce do you want versus straight-line speed, Max in the second sector there was pretty, pretty awesome,” Brown said.

“You've got to assume he's on for pole, which means P11 [on the starting grid]. You can pass around here, I think he went from 20th to ninth in two or three laps not long ago.

“It would be a big mistake to think he can't go from P11 to P1, but we've got to take advantage of every opportunity we can.”

McLaren eyeing title fight

McLaren currently sis just 51 points behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship as it eyes its first F1 title since 2008, while Lando Norris' gap to Verstappen in the drivers' standings is 76 points.

Brown highlighted McLaren is aiming to capitalise on Sergio Perez's lacklustre performances at Red Bull to reel in the team, while also not discounting the possibility of a fight in the drivers' championship.

“We want to get through the first half of the season and see where we end up this weekend,” Brown said.

“I think the constructors’ championship, while it's definitely not going to be easy, is well within reach.

“The challenge on the drivers’ front is Max's bad days are second and third places.

“To make those clawbacks that we're making on the constructors’, we can do because Perez is struggling at the moment.

“We also know he's capable of turning it on at any moment. That'll be something I think we discuss over the summer break.”