Both McLarens start ahead of Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix, but that doesn’t mean they’ll have the advantage heading into Turn 1.

The last few occasions, Verstappen has been able to overtake them on the run down to the first corner, whether it was Oscar Piastri in Imola or Lando Norris at Miami.

The Red Bull driver knows the importance of having clean air at the start of a race, which is why he’s been able to perfectly execute the early overtake on his main championship rivals.

Verstappen’s Imola overtake was described as ‘beautiful’ by Alex Brundle, after he pulled off an impressive overtake around the outside of Piastri at Tamburello.

Discussing his starts on Sky Sports F1, former driver and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg believes McLaren has now been left ‘traumatised’ by Verstappen.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

McLaren drivers left ‘traumatised’ by Max Verstappen’s starts

Rosberg believes the McLaren drivers have underestimated what it’s like having Verstappen directly behind them on the second row of the grid, as he can often pick out spots in the braking points into Turn 1 that give him the advantage.

“It’s always so uncomfortable to have Verstappen behind you. Always. Especially, both McLaren drivers by now are traumatised by Max Verstappen,” said Rosberg.

“Because Piastri had Verstappen overtake him at Turn 1 in Melbourne, he had Verstappen overtake him in Imola; he had Norris overtake him the last ten times.

“Both of them are scarred and they underestimated [Verstappen]. Then you’re scared, because you see this guy behind you and you know he’s gonna dive bomb.”

Max Verstappen now being ‘hurt’ by Yuki Tsunoda

Verstappen starts the Spanish GP from third on the grid, but his teammate Yuki Tsunoda will be at the back of the grid in P19.

This is after the withdrawal of Lance Stroll, who was due to start from P20 but had to miss the race because of an issue with his hand, which requires surgery.

Tsunoda is now no longer in a position to score points and will have to fight back through the field to contribute to Red Bull’s total in the Constructors’ Championship.

Rosberg believes Tsunoda is now ‘hurting’ Verstappen after he went slower than Liam Lawson in Spanish GP qualifying, indicating that another swap could happen at Red Bull if this form continues.