Max steps aside
Max Verstappen secured the front row in the Qualifying for the Belgian GP. It is not the first time that the four-time world champion has flashes of this caliber in this complicated 2026, but this time there was a factor that gave the RB22 a nice boost in the last sector.
Isack Hadjar, in fact, offered the slipstream to his teammate since today he will start at the back of the grid due to the introduction of a new power unit. “Hadjar is smart and then come on, we are F1 drivers, we should be able to help in this way when needed and Isack did it,” Verstappen explained in the press conference.
Without the slipstream that was worth about 2 or 3 tenths, Verstappen believes he would not have gone beyond sixth position, so he does not believe he can have great ambitions today in the race.
“Even exploiting a huge slipstream I am over three tenths from pole – said Verstappen – tomorrow in the race it will be tough from the start, I just want to do my race and see where I finish. I do not expect to fight with Mercedes and Ferrari tomorrow, I think it will be more about checking the mirrors and defending myself, or trying to do so.”
