Max starting from P5: “Lap worth more than P5”
Published on 26 August 2017 by Mike Motilall
Max Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the third row, the youngster was fifth fastest during qualifying. Ferrari and Mercedes were just too strong. Lewis Hamilton was the fastest man on track in his Mercedes. Ferrari running Sebastian Vettel came in second ahead of Valtteri Bottas who claimed third in his Mercedes.
After qualifying, a happy Max stands in front of the press: “This lap was just good, I don’t often have the feeling like this lap was really good, but this lap deserved more than a fifth spot. But we need to remain realistic and with so many straights, we cannot fight with Ferrari. But I was just super happy with my lap.” Looking ahead at the race, Max continues: “During qualifying, the car was way better than I have had all weekend long, so that is for sure something positive and yes, we’ll see tomorrow. It will be difficult to overtake when you are not fast enough yourself and that’s why we need to wait for the others ahead of us to make mistakes. On this track anything can happen. It looks dry for tomorrow, hopefully that will change but let’s wait and see.”
Prior to qualifying, Ferrari announces that Sebastian Vettel will be driving for Scuderia Ferrai the coming three seasons. The current leader in the standings for the world championship, will be joining Kimi Raikkonen who will also remain at the Italian squad next year. Raikkonen was already confirmed for the 2018 season some days earlier.
At the start of qualifying, it is dry and the FIA estimates a 10% chance for a rainshower during quali. Before qualifying, numerous grid-penalties have already been handed out. Stoffel Vandoorne was dropped a jaw dropping 65 places, both Sauber-drivers and Felipe Massa five places. Both the Sauber gents changed their gear box and Massa failed to reduce his speed sufficiently enough during the third free practice when the yellow flags were out.
Hamilton gets things going at the start of Q1. Bottas and both Force India’s follow suit. Hamilton is the first to get a time on the clocks while Max heads out on track. When Max is about to start his flying lap, Vettel is P1 followed by Hamilton and Raikkonen. Max is fast and ends up third fastest. Not much later, Daniel Ricciardo slots in behind Bottas in P6.
After the first run, Pascal Wehrlein, Marcus Ericsson, Lance Stroll, Daniil Kvyat and Romain Grosjean are in the dangerzone. After the end of Q1, it’s the end of the road for Wehrlein, Ericsson, Stroll, Massa and Kvyat. Especially the tempo of both Williams’ is not something to write home about.
At the start of Q2, it is once again Hamilton who first ventures out on track. This round, Bottas and both Ferrari’s follow not too far behind. Both Red Bulls are also out on track quite early. Raikkonen is still complaining about vibration in his Ferrari. “This is what we have to work with this session”, is his team’s reply.
After his first run, we find Max in P4, behind the likes of Hamilton, Raikkonen and Bottas, but ahead of Vettel. Hülkenberg, Magnussen, Sainz, Vandoorne and Grosjean have to worry about not making it through to the next part of qualifying. They have their work cut out for them in their second run. Jolyon Palmer is seventh fastest but has issues with his clutch. After a reset, the Brit is able to venture out for a second run.
At Mclaren, they’re playing a nice game with both cars: Vandoorne gives his team mate Alonso a great slipstream in an effort to send the Spaniard off to Q3. Technical issues at the end of the lap however prevents this from happening and he aborts his lap. After Q2, it’s curtain time for Alonso, Grosjean, Magnussen, Sainz and Vandoorne.
Raikkonen is the first one out on track for the final part of qualifying. Both Mercedes and Red Bulls follow closely. Palmer’s car starts bellowing smoke and the Brit is done for the day, P10 is where he will finish. Max is on the radio about oil on the track. Despite that, Max puts his RB13 in fifth behind Mercedes and both Ferrari’s, but ahead of Ricciardo who is sixth.
Everyone is out for another run for pole in the final minutes. Hamilton is the first, he betters his time to a 1:42.553. Bottas cannot beat that and is in P2. Max improves his time and climbs to fourth. But Vettel crashes his party and sends the Dutchman back to fifth again. Ricciardo poses no threat and remains sixth. Hamilton takes the pole home ahead of Vettel, Bottas and Raikkonen. Max in fifth, ahead of Ricciardo, behind him Hülkenberg, Pérez, Ocon and Palmer.
Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps - Saturday 26 August
RESULTS QUALIFYING 01 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:44.184 1:42.927 1:42.553 18 02 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:44.275 1:43.987 1:42.795 13 03 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:44.773 1:43.249 1:43.094 19 04 7 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:44.729 1:43.700 1:43.270 11 05 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:44.535 1:43.940 1:43.380 12 06 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:45.114 1:44.224 1:43.863 12 07 27 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:45.280 1:44.988 1:44.982 15 08 11 Sergio Perez Force India Mercedes 1:45.591 1:44.894 1:45.244 14 09 31 Esteban Ocon Force India Mercedes 1:45.277 1:45.006 1:45.369 14 10 30 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1:45.447 1:44.685 DNS 10 11 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren Honda 1:45.668 1:45.090 11 12 8 Romain Grosjean Haas Ferrari 1:45.728 1:45.133 12 13 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:45.535 1:45.400 12 14 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso 1:45.374 1:45.439 12 15 2 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren Honda 1:45.441 DNF 11 16 19 Felipe Massa Williams Mercedes 1:45.823 7 17 26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:46.028 6 18 18 Lance Stroll Williams Mercedes 1:46.915 5 19 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber Ferrari 1:47.214 6 20 94 Pascal Wehrlein Sauber Ferrari 1:47.679 6
Belgian GP contest: win 1:8 Max Verstappen helmet scale models
