Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have reflected on Red Bull’s tow strategy during Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, with the latter suggesting it was “the right thing to do”.
Hadjar will start at the back of the grid Sunday’s race in Spa after multiple power unit components were changed on his Red Bull, but the team decided to use the Frenchman to aid Verstappen’s bid for pole.
On both Q3 laps, Hadjar backed off through Stavelot and gave Verstappen a tow to the final chicane, with the second attempt proving perfect as the pair almost touched through Blanchimont.
“It was definitely helping me otherwise I would not be standing here,” said Verstappen, having taken P2 with his final effort.
“Otherwise I think you’re like P6 or something. I think Isack today, knowing that he will start at the back of the grid, he did a really good job giving me a tow in the final sector. That’s why we’re standing right here.”
Despite not setting a lap in Q3 due to helping Verstappen, Hadjar believes the team made the right decision to boost the Dutchman’s chances for the race.
“I don’t know if I really helped him into second, probably, but he drove very well and anyway he would have been at the front but to give that bonus was definitely the right thing to do,” said Hadjar. “I’m happy for the team, I’m happy for him.”
Verstappen finished more than three tenths adrift of polesitter Kimi Antonelli on Saturday, as the same margin behind the four-time World Champion covered five cars down to Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in P7.
“For sure tomorrow, I think I will be looking in my mirrors with the people around me but at least today we had a really good result,” added Verstappen.
“I think the car honestly has been quite decent the whole weekend. Of course not on the level maybe as Kimi, but we’re happy of course to be on the front row with how we executed as a team.”
