Verstappen admits being LUCKY after going fastest in qualifying

Max Verstappen believes he was fortunate to land the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix

The Dutchman is looking to win his eighth grand prix in a row this weekend but will be hampered on race day after being forced to take a five-place grid drop after changing his gearbox on Friday morning.

As such, despite qualifying fastest at Spa he will start sixth on Sunday, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on pole having been an astonishing eight tenths slower.

With Verstappen appearing to have such an advantage, it is little wonder he is still favourite to win on Sunday and continue Red Bull's winning streak into a 13th race going back to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season.

However, Verstappen could have lined up as low as 16th on the grid after only just managing to scrape into the final qualifying session.

READ MORE: Leclerc takes pole at Spa with Verstappen fastest despite qualifying HEADACHE

"It was very tight. The conditions were tricky and the track was drying quickly. On my final lap in Q2 I didn't have the confidence to push more and I was very lucky to be in P10.

"In Q3 you have two tyre sets and can push a bit more, risk more and that's what we did on that final lap.

"I know I have to drop back on Sunday with the penalty I have, so it was the best I could do today."

Max blitzes field to take pole

Verstappen's narrow escape was magnified after an extraordinary row with his race engineer at the end of Q2, but he put it behind him before putting in an astonishing time no driver could get near to take pole.

"Sector 2 was still a bit damp. There was only one dry line and in some corners you had to do an alternative line.

"It was all about feeling confident and risking everything in that final run to get more lap time.

"We know the car was quick and even in these tricky conditions luckily we showed it again."

READ MORE: Remembering Spa '98 and Schumacher's raging attempt to ASSAULT rival

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