Verstappen issues GROVELLING Red Bull apology after qualifying RANT

The world champion was infuriated after edging into Q3 at the Belgian Grand Prix

Dan Davis

Friday 28 July 2023 20:57

Max Verstappen unleashed a surprise rant at his Red Bull race engineer after struggling during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix - before issuing an apology.

The world champion clinched pole position after a scintillating, untouchable lap at the death in Q3 but will start from sixth due to a five-place grid penalty.

However, his blistering effort around an unpredictable, rain-hit circuit at Spa-Francorchamps proved to be a stark contrast to his woes throughout Q2.

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Having racked up two poor laps in quick succession, saddled by his woes in the middle sector, Verstappen was left teetering on the brink of elimination in tenth.

But after Pierre Gasly failed to improve his own time, Verstappen was spared and fought on, albeit after a heated exchange with close ally Gianpiero Lambiase.

Verstappen shares a close bond with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase

Verstappen rues 's*** execution'

"I should have just pushed two f****** laps in a row like I said," the racer said.

Lambiase replied: "But you are through, Max."

A hot-headed Verstappen then raged: "Yeah but I don't give a f*** mate if I'm through in P10. It's just s*** execution."

"OK," his engineer said. "And when the track was two seconds quicker for your final lap and you didn't have any energy left, how would that have gone down?

"But you tell me what you want to do in Q3 and we'll do it."

Shortly after leaving Charles Leclerc trailing in his wake with a difference of eight-tenths of a second, Verstappen backtracked on his comments to Lambiase.

"Nice gap that. At least we had a good Q3," he said. "And sorry GP [Lambiase] for being such on the rant."