The tense radio conversation between Max Verstappen and his qualifying engineer

Du Max Verstappen in the text. We know the Dutchman is only satisfied with first place, and he clearly showed it on Friday in qualifying. For the first time really this year, he didn't come far from the penalty by qualifying for Q3 with the 10th fastest time. “It was very tight, he explained afterwards. Of course, the conditions were very delicate. The track was drying quickly, and in my last lap of Q2 I didn't have the confidence to push more, and I was very lucky to be in 10th position.

That was the cold analysis, at a press conference, after having stuck 8/10th to Charles Leclerc in Q3, who will inherit pole after the five penalty places served by the Dutchman following a gearbox change. But in the heat of the moment, once back in his garage after Q2, Max Verstappen was particularly angry at not having been authorized by his team to do two pushing laps in a row to keep the tires in a optimal temperature window, and did not hesitate to let his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase know, in a lunar radio conversation, during which the Italian did not give in.

The Bulls did well in #BelgianGP Quality 👏 pic.twitter.com/YlY3WnMwku

- Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 28, 2023

– “I should have pushed two laps in a row, like I said!” Arggghhh
– But, you are qualified for Q3, Max…
– Yeah, but I don’t care xxxxxx about being qualified in 10th position! It's this poor execution that drives me crazy.
– Ok… but when the track was 2 seconds faster on your last lap, you wouldn't have had enough energy to finish it efficiently… How would that have happened, then? But tell me what exactly you want to do in Q3 and we'll do it. Tell me. Tire train. Quantity of gasoline. Run plan. Go ahead tell me."

There was obviously no response from the Batavian. Fifteen minutes later, after crossing the line with an 8/10th lead over Charles Leclerc in Q3, Max smiled again and immediately apologized to his engineer.

«- Woah, very good gap! Wow! At least we will have had a good Q3. And sorry to Gianpiero for being so nervous in Q2.
– I’m slowly getting used to it, Max.”

Between these two, who have become inseparable, tensions never last long!

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