Max Verstappen's 'Eau Rouge moment' almost cost victory at Belgian Grand Prix

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen shared a heart-stopping incident at Eau Rouge that almost jeopardized his victory during the thrilling Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Upon completing his first pit stop, rain unexpectedly pelted the track after 20 laps. Despite the challenging conditions, the rain was not heavy enough to prompt a switch to grippier Soft tyres, leaving Verstappen to navigate the treacherous track on Medium tyres.

As the rain intensified, some drivers behind him decided to switch to Soft tyres, which further complicated matters on the slippery circuit, especially at Eau Rouge. Verstappen recounted how he nearly lost control of his Red Bull, but his skilful driving at Raidillon saved the day.

"That's probably not the best place to go sideways but luckily nothing happened," Verstappen modestly acknowledged, highlighting the precariousness of the situation. Despite the circuit's altered layout providing a bit more run-off, Eau Rouge remained an unsettling corner to experience such a moment.

When probed about his thoughts during the incident, Verstappen humorously responded, "A swear word!"

Throughout the weekend, rain persistently disrupted the racing, with most practice sessions being suitable only for wet tyres. This lack of dry running made it challenging for teams to formulate the optimal strategy. Even established teams like Ferrari struggled with fuel calculations due to the unpredictable weather.

Verstappen commented on the uncertainties surrounding the race: "There were a few unknowns. I think, also, the first stint [I had] probably a bit too much understeer in the car trying to follow. But honestly, if I would have to do it again, I wouldn't really change a lot on the car. So I guess we nailed it pretty much."

Displaying his racing prowess, Verstappen impressively overtook four cars within the first nine laps, setting his sights on his teammate, Sergio Perez. Reflecting on starting from sixth on the grid, Verstappen said, "You just have to wait and see what happens in front of you. I mean, once you're clear through lap one, then basically you can just settle in and work your way forward."

With the Formula 1 season now on a summer hiatus, fans eagerly await the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on 28 August, hoping to witness more exhilarating moments from the Red Bull prodigy, Max Verstappen.