Belgian GP: Qualifying team notes - Red Bull

29/08/2020
NEWS STORY

Max Verstappen: "Overall, it's been a really positive weekend so far, we came here and thought it was going to be really tricky for us and actually to be that close to Valtteri and in P3 is a good result. The lap was decent and of course I always look at the fastest car and we are half a second down but I think it is the closest we have been to Mercedes in qualifying this year. For us on this track, that is not normally our type of qualifying track, I think we can all be very happy with the result and now I'm looking forward to the race. I don't think we prefer a wet or dry race but a change in weather during the race would spice things up. This track is amazing to drive in qualifying and already very exciting in the race, but if the weather comes into play a bit like last year at Hockenheim then it could be very special. I'm happy with the balance of the car and we have made a good step. Now we need to hope for a good start and then we can push Mercedes hard and maximise our result again."

Alex Albon: "I'm happy with P5 and it's all to play for tomorrow. I think P4 was possible but I made a small mistake into Turn One on my final run which cost me some time otherwise I think we could have been there. My best lap was actually in Q2 so there are little bits for me to improve on but I'm happy. It's been a much smoother weekend and the car felt good straightaway from the start of FP1 and it hasn't changed much since. We've been chipping away, fine tuning it, and it's been a positive weekend. I think there's been a step forward on my side too which hopefully we can take forwards. We're on a different strategy to Max and start tomorrow's race on the soft compound. The start is obviously important here with such a short run to Turn One so we'll be looking for a good and clean getaway. After that, we'll see but with the possibility of rain it should be an exciting race."

Christian Horner: "There was some great teamwork by the drivers today and they delivered a strong result for the Team. Third and fifth, so close to the front row, with Max just a hundredth off Valtteri gives us confidence at a track we know you can overtake at. Mercedes have got that advantage in qualifying but to be so close on a long track that has not been a favourite of ours marks a good Saturday. We have a slightly different strategy between the two cars with Max starting on the medium tyre and Alex on the soft, but that gives us options and of course we don't know what to expect from the Spa weather. There could be some mixed conditions and we don't know what the tyre degradation will be like so there are always opportunities. It will be hard to attack the Mercedes but with Max we have a real fighter of a driver and it's great to have Alex up there as well."

Check out our Saturday gallery from Spa, here.

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Published: 29/08/2020
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