Great teamwork
Isack Hadjar will start from the back of the grid at the Belgian GP, but his role was fundamental in Red Bull’s qualifying. The Frenchman, knowing he would have to start from the back due to the power unit replacement, accepted to play the role of the wingman and to give a slipstream to Max Verstappen in Q3, crucially helping the Dutchman to secure the front row alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
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“It was Max who decided to do it at the end of the lap – Hadjar explained to journalists present in Spa – it’s not complicated in itself, it’s just about accelerating as much as possible and then moving over as late as possible before the chicane.” The Frenchman then spoke about the choice, made by Red Bull after the two accidents involving Verstappen in Austria and Great Britain, to not use the ‘Macarena’ rear wing in Belgium, reverting to the old configuration. A necessary step back, but one that still disappointed the #6 Frenchman.
No Macarena
“Normally we should be faster with the new wing, so this is a bit the opposite of an evolution – Hadjar stated – regarding the engine, whether new or used, no difference is noticed. I think the car has excellent grip, so it’s a shame to start from the last position on the grid“.
“I think it will be more complicated than expected to overtake – added the second Red Bull driver, thinking about the race – because everyone pushes hard up to Les Combes and then from the chicane onwards I fear being stuck in a train on the straights. I think it will be difficult to attack; the advantage is that I don’t see myself in a defensive position, given where we start from. Maybe we will have to try to make some overtakes in the second sector; we are very strong under braking. Anyway, I will run my race: it is important for the team that I score points, so I don’t think I will have to sacrifice myself again,” he concluded.
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