Max Verstappen reveals 'Oh my God' moment in Isack Hadjar close-call

Max Verstappen has revealed he momentarily thought, "Oh my God," when catching Isack Hadjar at the end of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, but had complete faith in his team-mate.

With Hadjar carrying a 30-place grid penalty for the 10th round of the season, Red Bull used the Frenchman in qualifying to give Verstappen a gentle tow around most of the circuit before providing a significant slipstream in the final sector.

The strategy proved highly successful, as the Dutchman secured second on the grid at Spa-Francorchamps. Without it, he believes he would have been starting from sixth or seventh.

The plan was discussed by the Milton Keynes-based outfit ahead of qualifying, with it quickly being decided where Hadjar could give Verstappen the greatest tow.

Asked if the team discussed Hadjar giving Verstappen a tow, the 28-year-old explained: "Yeah, I mean, we talked about it, and I think it was quite easily agreed, so we knew what to do. 

You always, of course, try to make it better from run one to run two. I think Isack did that really well. And why do it on that straight? I think you have a little bit less of an SM mode, so it’s a bit more draggy. 

"That’s why, I guess, it helps maybe a little bit more. I think it’s very even. In FP3, for whatever reason, I had two times a tow in Sector 1 and 3, and they were quite equal."

On Verstappen's final qualifying lap, he came incredibly close to the back of his team-mate, making it appear as though he had to lift.

Red Bull's star driver insists that was not the case and that he had complete trust in Hadjar, although he did briefly fear he was getting too close.

Pointed out that it looked like he had to lift, Verstappen responded: "No, it was flat out. I would have just pushed him! It was close, but he did amazing. 

"I initially thought, 'Oh my God, it’s too close,' but then actually it worked out well to the last corner. It was close, but I trusted him."