Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen can look at virtually any race on the Formula 1 calendar and recall some positive memories.
The four-time world champion didn’t have it all his own way in 2024, and Max Verstappen will hope that Red Bull are more competitive than they were at the back end of last season.
Their third-place finish in the constructors’ championship might not have been entirely representative of where Red Bull ranked in terms of raw speed across the campaign.
Verstappen finished nearly 300 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and while the Dutchman was superior to the rest of the grid in 2024, the 35-year-old should have been much closer to the four-time champion.
Red Bull will be hoping Liam Lawson can close the gap this year, although the fact he only has 11 Grand Prix under his belt means it’s unlikely he’ll be on the pace immediately.
Verstappen has grown a huge fanbase around the world, and his fans are immediately recognisable in their bright orange attire at each race.
They can occasionally be mistaken for McLaren supporters, although at the European races, it’s normal for Verstappen to have full grandstands dedicated to his fans.
Verstappen’s fans will be excited by what paddock insiders are saying about his 2025 title chances, but those who support him at his home race at the Dutch Grand Prix might be a bit surprised that they’ve been overlooked when he named his favourite track on the F1 calendar.
Max Verstappen says the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa is his ‘favourite track’ in Formula 1

Verstappen was asked on the Racexpress YouTube channel if there are any tracks he’s particularly excited about in 2025 and said: “I think for me personally, the most exciting ones are always Spa and Zandvoort.
“Two great tracks, Spa my favourite track and then of course with Zandvoort, my home track with good memories as well racing there.
“For me, those are always big highlights on the calendar purely because of the driving experience and of course from a fan experience as well.”
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The Belgian Grand Prix is iconic and has been on the Formula 1 calendar since the first season in 1950.
With the sport celebrating its 75th anniversary this year – including the F1 75 launch event happening in London on Tuesday – it’ll be interesting to see if Spa have anything up its sleeve to commemorate the anniversary.
What is Max Verstappen’s record like at the Belgian Grand Prix?
Verstappen received a grid penalty at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix due to a power unit change but would have started on pole position without it.
Red Bull were in the midst of their struggles compared to the previous season and the Dutchman could only finish fourth, while Perez sunk from the front row of the grid to P7 after being promoted one position by George Russell’s disqualification.
Remarkably, Verstappen’s record at Spa isn’t as good as many would expect.
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He started on the front row of the grid during his first season at Red Bull in 2016 but has only recorded one pole position back in 2021, although he does tend to take grid penalties in Belgium because he’s so confident around the circuit.
Year | Team | Grid | Race | Notes |
2024 | Red Bull | 11* | 4 | 10-place grid penalty |
2023 | Red Bull | 6* | 1 | 5-place grid penalty |
2022 | Red Bull | 14 | 1 | Power unit penalty |
2021 | Red Bull | 1 | 1 | Race stopped after 1 lap |
2020 | Red Bull | 3 | 3 | |
2019 | Red Bull | 5 | Ret | Crashed on lap 1 |
2018 | Red Bull | 7 | 3 | |
2017 | Red Bull | 5 | Ret | Power unit failure |
2016 | Red Bull | 2 | 11 | First lap incident |
2015 | Toro Rosso | 18 | 8 | 10-place grid penalty |
Verstappen won three races on the bounce at Spa between 2021 and 2023 and has featured on the podium on two further occasions.
The 27-year-old will have to enjoy the circuit while he can, with Belgium set to be rotated off the calendar in the future after the most recent deal they signed with Formula 1.
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