Red Bull driver Max Verstappen labelled his Belgian Grand Prix as “pretty boring”, expressing frustration at being unable to properly attack Spa-Francorchamps.
Verstappen started and finished third, unable to trouble Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in front, and comfortably clear of fourth-placed Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen mirrored the Mercedes drivers by running a Medium/Hard tyre strategy that meant nursing the white-banded compound for 29 green flag laps.
“This music playing in the background is more exciting than my race,” said Verstappen as he fielded questions in the press conference.
“It’s a shame. I mean, it’s such an amazing track and then you can’t really push. So, it was pretty boring to be honest. It’s a shame.
“I really enjoy driving here and honestly, we did 44 laps right? So, I probably did 38 of them managing a lot. It’s not been the most exciting.
“They let us do a one-stop and then also the cars, it’s so hard to follow. It makes you really push for that one-stop.”
Verstappen maintained second position in the Drivers’ Championship but is now 47 points behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.
“We finished third and more than that was anyway not possible,” he said.
“OK, maybe it was not the most satisfying third but it’s still better than nothing, so I’m pretty pleased with that.”
