Max Verstappen praises Isack Hadjar following crucial qualifying help

Max Verstappen believes he would be starting the Belgian Grand Prix from much further down the grid but for the efforts of Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar.

With Hadjar facing a 30-place grid penalty due to multiple power unit component changes, Red Bull deployed the French/Algerian driver as Verstappen's pace man during the final part of qualifying at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

On both of Verstappen's flying laps in Q3, Hadjar provided Verstappen with a tow in the final sector, although it appeared on the second attempt as if the seven-time F1 champion was too close behind.

Verstappen, however, dismissed the suggestion, enabling him to secure second on the grid behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli for his third front-row start of the season.

"It was definitely helping me," said Verstappen on the tows from Hadjar. "Otherwise, I would not be standing here, like P6 or something.

"Isack today, knowing he had to start at the back of the grid, he did a really good job giving me a tow in the final sector, and that's why we are standing right here."

Verstappen, though, is unsure how he will fare in the race, with George Russell behind him in third - due to Lando Norris, who was third quickest in qualifying, starting 12th due to a 10-place grid penalty - followed by the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Norris is elevated a place due to Hadjar's penalty.

"For sure, tomorrow, I'll be looking in my mirrors at the people around me," said Verstappen. "At least today, we had a really good result.

"I think the car has been quite decent the whole weekend, of course, not on Kimi's level, but we are happy to be on the front row, with how we executed it as a team."

As to how he feels he will perform on the long runs, he added: "It's always tough around here with the tyres on the long run. I will just do my best and see if we can hang in there or not."