Verstappen explains remark on the radio: "That gives a strange feeling"

The Belgian Grand Prix qualifying was the last chance for the teams to show the power of their 'party mode'. Max Verstappen, however, doesn't expect to be able to fight for the pole position in Monza straight away. 

The original plan was to enter the new rules this weekend, where teams can only use one engine set-up for the whole weekend. This means the end of qualifying mode, where the power of the engine is pushed to its limits for the final part of qualifying.

It is expected that the change will have a major impact on Mercedes, which has shown in the past to have a powerful "party mode". Verstappen doesn't expect him to be able to fight for the highest starting position right away. "I honestly don't think so yet, but it would be nice if we could get closer as a result. We really have to wait and see how much difference that new rule will make," said the Red Bull Racing driver at the press conference after qualifying.

A tough battle with Mercedes

On the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Dutchman was already close to the time of Valtteri Bottas. Verstappen was only 0.015 away from the front-row. Over the radio, the driver regretted the missed opportunity and said he had just run out of energy. "When I came out of the last corner, I had already used the energy in the battery. You can feel that because the car isn't accelerating the way it did before, which always gives the driver a strange feeling. Still, I'm sure, by looking at the data, it was the fastest way to drive this lap for us".

This means that at the start of the race, Verstappen has two Mercedes cars in front of him and former teammate Daniel Ricciardo next to him. "It won't be easy to compete with Lewis Hamilton, but I'm going to try to follow them and then I'll see what happens," concluded the combative Dutchman.