Brundle delivers brutal blow to Verstappen after Belgian GP

18:30, 27 Jul
Updated: 18:31, 27 Jul
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Max Verstappen's Belgian Grand Prix did not go as well as it could have, with the Dutchman finishing exactly where he started, in P4. Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has now issued a harsh verdict on Verstappen's 2025 season.
Whereas Verstappen and Red Bull Racing bet on a low downforce configuration for what turned out to be a wet British Grand Prix, at Belgium the decision was made to play it safe.
As such, and coupled with clipping issues in his engine, Verstappen was unable to make any headway in the 44-lap race.
With Oscar Piastri's win in Spa-Francorchamps, the Dutchman has now fallen 81 points back behind the Australian in the championship. A gap that Martin Brundles sees now as unsurmountable.
Max Verstappen drives in the rain in Spa-Francorchamps

Verstappen out of the championship battle: 'It's Piastri vs Norris now!'

Speaking on Sky Sports F1's broadcast of the Belgian Grand Prix, Brundle said: "Without that penalty in Silverstone, he had a great job of winning the British Grand Prix."
"That's over three race wins ahead with 11 rounds to go."
- Martin Brundle speaking in Sky Sports F1's broadcast
He was referring to the Stewards-issued penalty that demoted Piastri to a de facto P2 behind Norris, the driver who went on to eventually win the race at Silverstone.
"Also, importantly, he's 81 points ahead of Max Verstappen. That's over three race wins ahead with 11 rounds to go."
"Even if there's a bit of a scrap or they end up running into each other, this race confirms it's Piastri vs Norris for the World Championship," effectively ruling Verstappen out of the championship battle.
This sentiment had already been expressed by Verstappen himself after the Bahrain Grand Prix and later on as the season went on, with his post Austrian GP DNF statements also revealing as much.