Max and Carlos look ahead to Belgium Grand Prix

Published on 18 August 2015 by Niels Hendrix

Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz look ahead to the Belgium Grand Prix. What are you expecting from the weekend ahead in Spa-Francorchamps?
Max: “The Hungaroring was clearly a good track for us from a performance and point-scoring point of view. Spa will be much harder as it doesn't suit our car that well, but we will make sure we work hard to achieve the best result possible. The P4 in Hungary definitely gives us all extra motivation!”
Carlos: “Yes, you can feel that everyone in the team is encouraged to keep pushing. After Hungary, we are one step closer to our target of finishing fifth in the championship. We are all working flat-out together and this is a very good sign! We will need a kind of race like the one we had in Hungary to be able to be competitive in Spa. Well, hey, maybe not exactly 100% the same…" (Smiles in a cheeky way.)

Carlos: "We know we'd be strong in sector two if we could run all the downforce we have, but the problem is that the straights in sectors one and three are so long, that we will have to take all that downforce off to be competitive. So we are hoping for some rain, that's for sure!”
Max: “Yeah, let's start a rain dance right now!”
Carlos: “Exactly! (They both laugh and start doing their own particular rain dances.) It would be great if the rain could give us a hand… Anyway, we will do our best to extract the maximum out of the car whatever the conditions are and try and do what we did in Canada: it was a solid weekend even if we didn't have a competitive package.”

Let's talk about the track, because it's one where you've both been really successful…
Max: “Yes! I raced there last year during my F3 season and we won all three races that weekend, it felt great!”
Carlos: “I also have a similar story: in the Renault World Series last year in Spa I won back to back races in a very solid way and it really consolidated my championship chances as well as my position within the Red Bull Junior Team.”
Max: “So hopefully we can score some more points and continue with our good performances in Spa!”

You both have big smiles on your faces… It really is a track that brings back good memories to you both!
Carlos: “Yes, it will be emotional to go back there! The good memories will definitely give us a lot of energy and I will try and perform at the same level as I did there last year. There's no doubt it's my favourite track together with Silverstone. I really, really like it for so many reasons, it's difficult to pick just one!”
Max: “Because it's such an amazing track to drive, it's unique! It has some very challenging and fun corners, like Eau Rouge, and the home crowd just make it even more special. I am really looking forward to the weekend ahead.”
Carlos: “Also, the fact of doing well there makes you like the circuit even more. I specially enjoy all the downhill section from the big long hairpin to Pouhon, the right-left at the end of sector two… It's just a really exceptional track.”

By the way Max, in Spa last year you were also announced as an F1 driver for Toro Rosso for 2015, don't forget!
Max: “Oh yes, that's right! It's a day I will never forget. Wow, I can't believe it's already been a year! I've learned so much in such a little space of time, it's amazing how time flies to be honest!”
Carlos: “I agree, I'm a completely different driver to the one I was before Australia and we are only half way through the season. Bring on the second half, let's go racing!”