For the last 2 years, Max Verstappen has been the first driver to see the chequered flag waving at the Belgian GP. And looking at his performance this season, he should extend that streak to 3. The only person who can challenge him is the man in the same machinery, Sergio Perez. But according to Dutch racing driver, Tom Coronel, Verstappen has that entirely covered.

The Belgian GP is Verstappen’s favorite race on the F1 calendar. He’s won it twice and is looking to make it a hat-trick this weekend. The 2021 win was achieved based on a mere formality behind a safety car. But 2022 was the opposite, with the Dutchman having to start the race in P14. He still scaled that mountain of a task and won the race by a margin of 17 seconds, ahead of his teammate, Perez, in P2. And Coronel believes it’s not just the effect of the Red Bull car but the “Max Factor” that makes a difference.

Coronel said, as quoted by F1maximaal, “Last year he went from fourteenth to number one, and then pulled away so easily. It’s a combination, it’s not just the car. Max is of course also seriously strong here, because Pérez was just ahead of him on the grid, and he seriously spanked him. So in that case I say it’s not just the car. The Max factor is also very important here.” [translated via Google]

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And to test out the “Max Factor”, Red Bull has already given him a handicap and F1 has taken a decision that swings the luck in Perez’s favor

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Red Bull has fitted a new gearbox in Max Verstappen’s RB19. This is the 5th of the year and 1 more than the regulations allow. So, he has been slapped with a 5-place grid penalty. Even if gets Pole in Qualifying, he will start 6th on the grid. That’s the best he can do. This should play well for Sergio Perez who could start on Pole. And this is not all.

There are heavy rains predicted at Spa during Qualifying. Owing to that, the session could get canceled if the weather gods show no mercy. And the FIA said, in such a case, the grid positions would be decided based on the WDC standings. While this is not confirmed, as race control would try to get qualifying for the Grand Prix done by Sunday morning latest before going toward the championship order. Regardless, this plays right into Perez’s hands. Verstappen can’t get P1, Perez is the only other driver in the fastest car, and if the session gets washed out, he still gets P1.

For the Mexican racer, this is the best possible scenario that he could get. Though his teammate has shown that he can win from P14 as well, Perez at least gets a chance at redemption.

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