Hill slams ‘disappointing’ Verstappen after Belgian GP

Damon Hill didn’t hold back in his assessment of Max Verstappen’s showing at the Belgian Grand Prix, labeling the Red Bull driver’s race as “very disappointing” despite starting from pole.

The 1996 world champion, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, pointed out that Verstappen failed to capitalize on his front-row advantage at Spa-Francorchamps. After qualifying fastest, the Dutchman received a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation, dropping him to 11th on the grid. He fought back to fourth on the track but was classified fifth following George Russell’s disqualification for an underweight car.

Hill suggested Verstappen could have pushed harder, especially with title rival Lando Norris breathing down his neck in the standings. “You’d expect Max to dominate here,” Hill said, adding a jab that the three-time champion seemed off his usual pace. “It’s not like him to leave anything on the table at a track like Spa.”

Verstappen, who leads the drivers’ championship by 78 points over Norris heading into the summer break, admitted the weekend was tough for Red Bull. The team has struggled with recent upgrades, allowing McLaren and Mercedes to close the gap. Despite the setback, Verstappen remains focused on defending his crown, with the next round at Zandvoort offering a home advantage.

Hill’s comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Verstappen’s aggressive style, though this critique centered on strategy and execution rather than on-track battles. As F1 pauses for the break, Red Bull will aim to regroup before the Dutch Grand Prix on 31 August.