Max Verstappen felt fifth was the maximum in qualifying

Max Verstappen managed to qualify ahead of his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo for the Belgian Grand Prix, pulling out a lap that was just over half a second quicker than the Australian driver, with the Red Bull drivers looking to be the best of the rest behind the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, who were battling it out for pole position, but Verstappen was surprised how close Red Bull were to the Ferrari’s in Qualifying.

“I was really happy with my lap in Q3, it couldn’t have been better to be honest as I feel I put everything together and got the best performance out of the car possible," he said. “I am positively surprised we are so close to Ferrari, Lewis was way ahead but in the race I think we can be closer so perhaps a good result is possible.”

Verstappen also took the time to reflect on his qualifying last year at Spa and compare it to this year: I think the lap felt better than P5, last year I was P2 and I think it felt just as good this year, but I’m happy with the result anyway and would say it was a perfect qualifying."

Verstappen hopes for a change in weather conditions ahead of the race but is realistic that it is very likely going to be a dry race: “For now it looks like it will be a dry race so let’s hope that changes overnight and I think then we can fight properly,” said Verstappen.

With around 70,000 Dutch fans expected to attend the race tomorrow, Verstappen will not be short of support. The Red Bull driver has said the support he has received so far this weekend has been awesome.

“On my fast laps I was concentrating too much but on my in lap I could see the orange crowd and smoke from all the fans, this is amazing to see,” said Verstappen. “As I left the pit lane there was a guy on the fence in all orange waving me on, it’s awesome.”

 

 

Sian Williams

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar