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Verstappen dodges qualifying drama in Belgium: 'It was close'

Verstappen dodges qualifying drama in Belgium: 'It was close'

28 July 2023 at 18:19
2
  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

Max Verstappen is stringing together wins in the current Formula 1 season like it is nothing. In qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman was around eight tenths faster than number two Charles Leclerc. But where does the gap with the rest of the field come from? Verstappen himself thinks it also has to do with luck..

"Yes, but I do know that we have a very good car," the Dutchman began. "But I think it's more just having a bit more luck with the line or the grip. If it would have been a full dry qualifying, I think the gap wouldn't have been like this," Verstappen added.

Verstappen to Q3 at the last minute

Things certainly did not go smoothly throughout qualifying. In Q2, the Dutchman managed to finish tenth just in the nick of time, allowing him to advance to Q3. It made very little difference or the Red Bull driver would have had to start from 15th position (or even further back) on Sunday.

"Yes, it was close. I had to abort my first lap because I went wide over the white line at turn nine, I think it was, or eight. So I had to abort that lap. Then I did another slow lap, and it just felt like I probably lost a little bit too much temperature in the tyres. Because of that mistake, I just took a lot of margin there, and it was way too much. And yeah, with the track ramping up that quickly it was very close," Verstappen said.