Piastri wary of Verstappen threat despite grid penalty

Oscar Piastri has refused to rule out Max Verstappen as a potential Belgian Grand Prix winner despite his grid penalty.

The Red Bull driver has taken a new internal combustion engine aboard his RB20, his fifth of the season with only four permitted.

As such, Verstappen will start 11th at best at Spa, with Red Bull having done similar at the 2022 and 2023 races.

Verstappen won both of those races, and is perceived as a real threat, despite the increased competitiveness of McLaren in particular, with Piastri finishing second in a one-two behind Lando Norris in FP2 ahead of Verstappen in third.

"I mean, it's better than if he was starting at the front, so I mean, I don't think you can count him out," Piastri explained. 

"It's a track they've been very quick at the last couple of years, and they look quick this weekend again. 

"I'm expecting him to make progress through the field, but having a little bit of a head start, hopefully will definitely help."

Piastri's own day

As for his day, Hungary winner Piastri was relatively pleased with his running, but was cautious about the impact the weather could have on the day, with Saturday tipped to be wet.

"I think in FP1, we looked we looked reasonably quick, and FP2, we got stronger," he said. 

"So I feel like we're in a good place, it feels like it's been a very smooth day, and we've gone through everything we wanted to and learned as much as we could. 

"The feeling is good, but the weather is probably going to mean that it is useless [on Saturday], but it's been a really, really strong first day."