Max Verstappen’s qualifying mistakes cost him third at Belgian GP, says Helmut Marko

Max Verstappen will start fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix after two qualifying errors, but remains optimistic about his chances in a potentially rain-affected race following his sprint race victory

Red Bull Racing's Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen made two mistakes during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, which cost him a P3 start.

Verstappen will start the race from fourth on the grid at Spa-Francorchamps after slip-ups at Turn 1 and Turn 5. Although Marko claimed that a third-place start was possible, he remains confident about Verstappen's chances in the race.

"I think he had two mistakes in his lap, so P3 was possible, but with the downforce we knew we would be slower, so I think for tomorrow we're in a very good position," Marko explained to Motorsport.com and other media.

The four-time champion complained about a lack of grip during the session.

"Maybe the tyre pressure was not optimal, so I'm not so worried for tomorrow," Marko added.

This followed Verstappen's win in the sprint race earlier today. After starting from second on the grid, the Dutchman overtook pole-sitter Oscar Piastri at Turn 5 and managed to keep him at bay for the remainder of the race.

"The race pace, I think if we wouldn't have overtaken Piastri we wouldn't have had a chance, but being in the front worked very well. But today we have four cars in the top-10, I can't remember when that happened."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Rainfall is expected during the race tomorrow. Verstappen claimed that it is "always very tricky" around the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in such conditions, but he is hopeful of pushing his way up the grid.

“In the wet around here it’s always very tricky. Also we have to wait and see how much rain is going to fall," he explained to Sky Sports F1.

"Ideally, of course, I’d like to at least be P3. Fighting the McLarens will be very hard but anything can happen."

He added, “I would have liked to have started third, that was probably our position today, but Q3 didn’t come together."

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will start the Belgian Grand Prix from seventh on the grid, which is a pleasant change from the string of Q1 and Q2 exits in recent races. In fact, the Japanese driver's last Q3 appearance for a grand prix was in Miami when he qualified 10th.