Red Bull left to rue fuel error in qualifying

Red Bull were missing in action at the end of qualifying due to an error in judgement meant both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were underfuelled for the dying moments of the session when the track was at its best. Racing Point Force India were the team able to take advantage securing a second row lock-out.

Speaking to SkySports F1 after the session, Horner was left to reflect on an opportunity missed taht their slower rivals were able to take advantage of.

“In those conditions it can go either way for you,” Horner said.

“We aborted, went onto the inters, got straight out as there were reports more rain was on the way and both drivers got a pretty decent first lap in – third and fourth.

“Ironically, Force India’s misfortune at the beginning of the session where they got out and stayed on the slicks in wet conditions, it bought them the time to then pit for inters and it has worked out well for them.”

Both Red Bull's will have a big task ahead of them tomorrow as they will look to charge back through the field from lower down in the top ten. Verstappen will have the backing of his legions of fans who have made the trip to his unofficial home grand prix at Spa.

“It is not ideal, at the time we thought we had the right strategy but in the last three laps it stopped raining.

Ricciardo, who was almost knocked out in Q1, agreed that the timing of the chaotic qualifying was the reason that Red Bull were so far down the order rather than a lack of pace.