by Terry Widdows
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Sunday 27 July 2025
Max Verstappen came into the Belgium GP off the back of a Sprint win the previous day and left with nothing more than fourth. Red Bull rolled the dice on a wet race that never arrived. And while Verstappen sat glued to Leclerc’s gearbox, unable to strike, it was Liam Lawson who stepped up for the Red Bull camp, bagging four crucial points for the Racing Bulls with a mature drive to eighth.
It wasn’t the Sunday either team had imagined. But it wasn’t a total loss.
Red Bull’s Risk Doesn’t Pay Off
It could’ve been a double podium weekend for Verstappen. Instead, the main race at Spa exposed the limits of Red Bull’s setup and their strategy.
“Disappointing,” Verstappen admitted. “We set up for a wet race and didn’t get one. The rear wing we chose held us back, and once we were on slicks, Charles was just pulling away every lap.”
He didn’t make a mistake. Neither did the car. But Red Bull’s high-downforce gamble turned into dead weight the moment the track dried. The team banked on rain. They got a dry, processional race and no way past Leclerc.
Laurent Mekies called it straight. “We added more downforce expecting rain. Once it stayed dry, passing Charles became impossible.”
The result? Verstappen settled for fourth. It’s still solid points, and he keeps third in the standings. But on a weekend that began with momentum, the main event felt like a missed opportunity.
Chaos and Confusion for Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda’s race was undone before it even got going.
As the track dried and pit stops loomed, a mistimed call from the pit wall saw Tsunoda miss the entry by a matter of seconds.
“There was a misunderstanding. I was already past the pit entry when they called me,” said Tsunoda. “From there, I had no straight-line speed and no DRS. Couldn’t pass Pierre.”
The team owned the error. “We were ready for a double stop with Max,” said Mekies. “But we called Yuki too late. That lap made a big difference.”
He finished 13th. It could’ve been more.
Lawson the Standout, Hadjar Hits Trouble
Amid all the frustration, Liam Lawson delivered one of his most composed F1 performances yet. Eighth place, clean overtakes, and perfectly managed tyres on both compounds.
“I really enjoyed today,” Lawson said. “Crossing over to slicks when it’s damp is always risky. But the car felt great in clean air and the pace was there.”
Alan Permane was full of praise. “Liam had a near-perfect race. Strong on the inters, strong on the slicks, pulled away comfortably from Bortoleto. He was very happy with the car.”
His teammate, Isack Hadjar, wasn’t so lucky. A car issue from lap 8 wrecked his race.
“I knew something was wrong early on. The pace was there but I couldn’t use it,” said Hadjar, who trailed home in 20th. “It’s a real shame. The car felt good, just not in a straight line.”
Permane confirmed the fault and didn’t sugar-coat it. “It cost him massively. If not for that, it could have been a double points finish.”
Budapest Awaits
It’s a short turnaround. Hungary is up next, and it’ll be hotter, tighter, and higher downforce. Red Bull still believe in the gains from their upgrade package. And Lawson? He’s riding a wave of confidence.
For Verstappen, it’s a regroup. For Tsunoda, a reset. For Racing Bulls? Momentum to build on.