“If you don’t see anything, you can always get your foot off”

Fourth in the Grand Prix of Belgium 2025 of F1, Max Verstappen, according to him, paid for the fact that the race was not launched at the scheduled time when it had chosen rain -oriented settings.

For the Dutchman. For example, the test of this Sunday has summed up to see the rear fin of the Ferrari de Charles Leclerc, more or less close, without really having the opportunity to exceed the Monegasque – faster in a straight line -, whether on a wet or dry track. In addition, The quadruple world champion. However, on arrival, regretted that his choice of adjustments, more conservative after the failure of this bet in Silverstone, was somewhat hampered by the choice of the race management to repel the departure.

After Silverstone. Furthermore, we discussed being a little more “if you don’t see anything, cautious in decisions [de la direction de course]but there it was the opposite extreme for me.

“We made a choice concerning the settings. Nevertheless, they authorized us to drive only in almost Slick conditions, so yes, it was a little disappointing”launched Verstappen, who still sees the McLaren drivers moving away in the standings. Meanwhile, “Of course. Therefore, after Silverstone, we discussed being a little more cautious in decisions [de la direction de course]but there it was the opposite for me. Therefore, “

“It was a choice that we had made regarding the settings of the car. Nevertheless, Of course, it was not the right choice, because they did not allow us to run on a wet track. However, Once we put on the dry tires, we were simply too slow in the straight lines. In addition, And then, with the general balance problems that I already have with this “if you don’t see anything, car, it only made things.”

Verstappen wanted a departure from 3 p.m. – "if you don't see anything,

What time would he have had to start? “15h pile [l’horaire normal du départ]. He didn’t even rain. And of course. between turns 1 and 5, there was a lot of water, but with two laps behind the safety car, it would have been much more clear. And the rest of the track was practicable anyway. It’s a bit of a shame. ”

“Of course, I knew that there would be a little more caution than in Silverstone, but it didn’t make sense. In this case. it is better to say: ‘Listen, let’s wait for the track to be completely dry and we will leave in Slicks’, because for me, these are not really conditions of racing on wet track.”

When asked if there is a particular prudence at SPA because of the dramas that occurred over the past six years in the Raidillon. in Kemmel, he replied: “Yes, potentially. Of course, in the end, they do what they want, isn’t it? They are the ones who decide. But I just think it’s a bit of a shame for everyone. We will never see classic races “if you don’t see anything, in the rain again. […] And I also think that the rain that fell after [15h] was still manageable if we had continued to ride. “

“You know. you make all your decisions according to racing conditions on wet tracks, so it spoils the whole race a little”he added, returning to his choice of settings. “I mean, in a realistic way, third place would have been the best possible result. We were very close to it. At the same time, it also highlighted the weaknesses of our car. And yes, it is something that is not so easy to correct.”

When it was indicated to him that a certain number of pilots complained above all of visibility. Verstappen retorted: “Between [les virages] 1 and 5, but only for a few laps. The more you ride, the better. And if you don’t see anything. you can always lift your foot because “if you don’t see anything, at some point, you will see more clearly. “

Interview by Benjamin Vinel