Verstappen secures Belgian GP front row with Hadjar tow

Max Verstappen secured a front-row start for the Belgian Grand Prix after a meticulously executed team strategy, crediting a crucial slipstream from teammate Isack Hadjar for elevating his qualifying position. The Red Bull driver set a lap time of 1:44.678 to claim second on the grid for Sunday's race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, splitting the Mercedes of polesitter Andrea Kimi Antonelli and the McLaren of Lando Norris, who faces a grid penalty.

With Hadjar already set to start from the back of the grid due to power unit component penalties, Red Bull deployed the French driver in the final qualifying session to provide Verstappen with a tow, primarily through the high-speed Blanchimont corner and the approach to the final chicane. Verstappen estimated the maneuver was worth approximately three-tenths of a second, a decisive gain in an extremely tight session where the margin from second to seventh place was minimal. He stated that without the assistance, he likely would have qualified around sixth position.

Verstappen praised the team's coordination and his teammate's role. He specifically thanked Hadjar for the help in the final sector, calling it a primary reason for his...