Verstappen gave Perez no tow: 'P2 is a better starting position'

While Ferrari sent Charles Leclerc out to tow Carlos Sainz in qualifying in Belgium, Max Verstappen stayed in and did not tow teammate Sergio Perez. It was a conscious decision, says team principal Christian Horner.

Leclerc and Verstappen knew prior to qualifying that they would be put back on the grid due to the many parts they have changed on the car. Sainz and Perez therefore immediately looked like the main contenders for pole. Leclerc helped his teammate with a tow on the Kemmel Straight, but Red Bull Racing deliberately chose not to.

P2 better than P1

"History has shown us with Sebastian a few years ago, Daniel Ricciardo and even Max that at the start, with that run up the hill, the tow is very powerful with the DRS closed," Horner revealed in a press release from his team.

"We discussed ahead of time and agreed that tactically, P2 may be a better place to start," he continued. At Red Bull, Perez is expected to attack Sainz on the first or second lap and take the lead early in the race.