Tensions were high between Max Verstappen and Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in qualifying at Spa on Friday, but the Dutchman said that it was "all good" in the end between the latter and himself.
After clocking in P10 at the end of the second segment of qualifying, Verstappen felt that he had nearly missed the Q3 cut through the fault of Lambiase's insistence that he complete a full lap at slow speed to recharge his batteries and cool his soft tyres before his final flyer instead of pressing on for two consecutive hot laps.
Verstappen's long-standing race engineer also made the call at a moment in time when track evolution was fast and furious as conditions transitioned from wet to dry.
On his in-lap, Verstappen vented his frustration over the team radio in a heated exchange with Lambiase.
Verstappen: "We should have just f****** pushed two laps in a row like I said."
Lambiase: "But you are through, Max."
Verstappen: "Yeah – I don't give a f***, mate, if I'm through in P10. It was just s*** execution."
Lambiase stood his ground however and snapped back: "OK, and then when the track was two seconds quicker for your final lap and you didn't have any energy left, how would that have gone down? But you tell me what you want to do in Q3, and we'll do it. Let me know – sets, fuel, run plan…"
Verstappen went silent thereafter, likely realizing the rational logic of Lambiase's response.
©RedBull
After topping the timesheet fifteen minutes later at the end of Q3, the two-time world champion apologized for his expletive laden earlier rant.
Verstappen: "Oh – nice gap that! Well, at least we had a good Q3. And, sorry GP for sending such a… so long a rant."
Lambiase: "[I'm] slowly getting used to it, Max. That was eight tenths to Leclerc."
Verstappen: "Luckily we've got a few more years [together], mate. So, it's all good."
The Belgian Grand Prix poleman was reluctant to dwell on the subject after qualifying, insisting he would discuss the matter privately with his race engineer.
"That happens, sometimes," he said. "Most of it is normally always blocked off.
"I think we can both be quite vocal or emotional, but we always solve it afterwards. So, it's all good."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
