Verstappen lacking tow to reach qualifying heights

Click here for full qualifying results for the Azerbajian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen says he missed out on a boost from a tow down the long straight at the Baku City Circuit to climb higher than fifth place in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver lost out to teammate Daniel Ricciardo by just 0.083s at the end of Q3 and will start from the third row just ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in a relatively low-key qualifying for the Dutch driver after a difficult Friday hit by a crash in FP1 and a small engine issue at the end of FP2.

Verstappen felt he’d set up his top ten shootout with a strong first flying lap but lacked a vital tow up the straight which he says his rivals gained to make the jump up the grid after qualifying less than two-tenths off of Valtteri Bottas in third.

“I think my first run in Q3 was really good. It was really spot on that lap, but I didn’t get a tow,” Verstappen said. “Then in the last sector you lose at least three or four tenths. This track, with a 2km straight, you needed - I wouldn’t call it luck, but you need to find someone.

“My second time out I was trying to find a gap, but by slowing down so much I cooled down the tyres too much and in the low speed corners there was a little bit too much understeer.

“I was still gaining three tenths on the straight by just having a tow like five seconds ahead, while other cars were closer to each other.

“On this track, you need that bit of luck sometimes, or a bit of a help on the straight, but we have a good race pace, a lot of things can happen.”