Verstappen: 'Real gap' to Mercedes exposed in Belgian GP practice

Max Verstappen topped FP1 at Spa but acknowledged that FP2 offered a more honest read of Red Bull's pace, ending the session nearly half a second behind Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes. While encouraged that the RB22 finally arrived in a competitive setup window, Verstappen admitted the team is still losing time on the straights due to energy management limitations at one of the season's most demanding circuits.

Why it matters:

Spa-Francorchamps places enormous emphasis on power unit efficiency and straight-line speed, making it a brutal benchmark for any team with a horsepower deficit. Red Bull's inability to match Mercedes here underscores how the competitive landscape has shifted, with Verstappen now fighting to close a gap rather than defend an advantage. If the RB22 cannot optimize energy deployment through long full-throttle sections, his hopes of a Belgian Grand Prix victory could face a serious threat from a resurgent Silver Arrows.

The details:

• Verstappen described the near half-second margin to Antonelli as the "real gap" and insisted it was not unexpected given the team's simulations.
• The Dutchman labeled downshift behavior "unacceptable" over team radio, though he later clarified the issue stemmed from a software update requiring calibration time.
• Red Bull has temporarily abandoned its rotating rear wing following Verstappen's recent crashes, reverting to a conventional specification that carries slightly more drag.
• Despite the change, Verstappen does not believe the rear wing will define the weekend, noting the focus remains on maximizing the current package.

What's next:

With qualifying on the horizon, Red Bull must find a way to mitigate its straight-line speed deficit at a circuit where outright pace traditionally dictates the order. The team is preparing revised rear wing components for the Hungarian Grand Prix, but for now, Verstappen will need to extract everything from a car that finally feels balanced, even if it remains short on raw speed.