Max Verstappen praised Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar for delivering "a tow and a half" in qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix, crediting the slipstream for his front-row start. With Hadjar penalized to start at the back after taking new power unit components, Red Bull kept him available in Q3 to assist Verstappen through the final sector.

The second tow attempt proved more effective, with Verstappen gaining 0.15s from a better Turn 9 exit and 0.3s overall on his final lap. He briefly topped the timesheets before Kimi Antonelli claimed pole by three tenths. Verstappen noted the car's balance was decent but lacked straight-line speed, saying "flat is flat" in corners.

Hadjar explained the first tow was compromised by confused energy deployment when he backed off, while the second attempt saw him run out of energy. "I couldn't tow him the whole way," he said. Verstappen joked he would have "just pushed" Hadjar if needed, but trusted his team-mate's execution.