Verstappen on his approach: 'Survive, then pass a few cars'
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Max Verstappen put his car more than six tenths ahead of the rest of the field in just one run during qualifying. However, he will have to come back from fifteenth on the grid to go for the podium and maybe even the win. The first lap will be about one thing for both Verstappen and Charles Leclerc: survival.
There is also talk of an inverted starting grid, as is done in Formula 2. There, a different approach is needed than usual. "Survive, of course, lap one, that's the most important, but then after that I need to pass a few cars," Verstappen began during the press conference after the qualifying session.
Verstappen expects more caution through gravel
He compares the challenge with Hungary, although Verstappen was a little further forward there. On the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, overtaking is easier than on the Hungaroring. There are a few things to keep in mind though, like the gravel trap at the first corner. "You don't want to hit that," the championship leader continues. "It's not a rally car we are in so you have to stay off that."
Verstappen, therefore, expects the drivers to approach the first corner a little more cautiously than usual. In the past, drivers could swerve and simply return to the track, but that is different now. "Of course now you can't so now everyone will be a bit more cautious," concludes the reigning world champion.