The Belgian GP is a second home race for Verstappen, as the Dutchman was born in the city of Hasselt in Limburg. Spa is also one of his best circuits and a track that the Red Bull driver believes should permanently be on the F1 calendar<\/a>, even if it will soon be a rotational event.<\/p>\n As part of the contract that Spa agreed with Formula 1 back in January to continue staging the Belgian GP through 2031, the race will only be on the bill in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031. Verstappen is also losing his main home event, as 2026 will yield the final Dutch Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Verstappen winning the Belgian GP in 2025 would see him join Jim Clark and Kimi Raikkonen as four-time winners. This week\u2019s trip to Spa is also big for his team, as the Belgian GP is Red Bull\u2019s first race since the team fired Christian Horner<\/a> and replaced him with Laurent Mekies.<\/p>\n READ MORE: The most successful F1 drivers at the Belgian GP of all time and at Spa<\/a><\/p>\n Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July But Coronel is not holding out much hope for his Dutch compatriot Verstappen at Spa, as he believes the Red Bull RB21 will not be strong enough to fight the McLaren<\/a> MCL39 that Oscar Piastri<\/a> and Lando Norris<\/a> will both look to claim their maiden Belgian GP wins in this Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no home advantage, especially not now,\u201d Coronel has told RacingNews365. \u201cBut these are the circuits where you can make up a lot as a driver. But if the car isn\u2019t as good, also because the circuit is so long, then you lose a lot there, too. It\u2019s always exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n So, while motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull will debut upgrades at the Belgian GP, Coronel suggests Verstappen\u2019s best bet to win at Spa will be to let Piastri and Norris \u2018squabble\u2019. It is \u2018obvious\u2019 that he will face a disadvantage, so will need some help.<\/p>\n Coronel added: \u201cLet those two squabble and try to capitalise on it. But the car is simply too strong. That\u2019s just too obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what all the drivers had with the Red Bull a few years ago. They knew it beforehand, and then it just stopped. You can\u2019t do anything about it. You can only applaud and say they did a great job at McLaren.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Red Bull face an additional hurdle for Laurent Mekies\u2019 first race with an F1 Sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix<\/p>\n Even Marko has warned Red Bull they cannot have a \u2018disaster\u2019 in practice for the Belgian GP<\/a> on Friday, as they will only get one session to dial their update in as there is also an F1 Sprint this weekend. Red Bull have tended to struggle to find a strong set-up straight away in 2025.<\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1581628337-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Jakub Porzycki\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen must \u2018try to capitalise\u2019 on Oscar Piastri fighting Lando Norris to win the 2025 Belgian GP<\/p>\n
\n Friday 25th July 11:30 1st Practice Friday 25th July 14:30 1st Sprint Qualifying Friday 25th July 14:49 2nd Sprint Qualifying Friday 25th July 15:06 3rd Sprint Qualifying Saturday 26th July 10:00 Sprint Saturday 26th July 14:00 1st Qualifying Saturday 26th July 14:25 2nd Qualifying Saturday 26th July 14:48 3rd Qualifying Sunday 27th July 13:00 Race <\/p>\n