Max Verstappen blames a tow from teammate Isack Hadjar for his front‑row berth at the Belgian Grand Prix, saying the move could have lifted him from the sixth spot.
Why Hadjar Was Back in the Grid
Hadjar sat at the rear due to a swap of major power‑unit elements—engine, turbo, and exhaust—beyond his allocated count, leaving him unused during Q3 but available for strategic support.
Red Bull capitalised on that reserve by assigning Hadjar a slipstream role in the last sector, easing Verstappen from the Blanchimont sweep to the final chicane.
Physics of the Tow
On the first attempt, Hadjar eased off at Turn 15 to let Verstappen close and burn off the tow, but the reduced slipstream limited its effect.
The second try had Verstappen nearer, demanding precise timing; a narrow pass heightened the risk but ultimately enabled a 0.15‑second gain and a 0.30‑second advantage over his first Q3 lap.
Driver Reactions
Verstappen praised the team’s teamwork over the radio, noting, “If it hadn’t been for Isack, I might have ended up in P6.”
He added a light humour: “If I wanted to push him, it would have been a bit extreme.”
Hadjar admitted that the first tow failed because “the energy deployment was confused” after an early slowdown, while the second attempt left little power to maintain the scrape.
Technological Hurdles
Hadjar explained the engine’s “confusion” as the software misinterpreted an unexpected stop after Turn 14, leaving his power delivery erratic.
He declared that at first he possessed excess power, but on the second lap he “didn’t have enough” to sustain the full tow to the finish.
Implications for Sunday’s Race
With the tow operation giving Verstappen a critical advantage, the result is a stronger front‑row position that strengthens Red Bull’s dominance as the weekend unfolds.
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