'So, we call it pole?' - Max Verstappen' candid reaction after Belgian GP Quali goes viral

Max Verstappen's radio comments during the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session have sparked attention and amusement among fans and commentators alike. The Dutch driver, who finished first in the qualifying round, made a light-hearted remark to his race engineer, asking, "So we call it a pole? Haha, again here." 

This playful comment came despite Verstappen facing a 10-place grid penalty, which would drop him from P1 to P11 at the start of the race. Verstappen's impressive performance in qualifying showcased his skill and the efficiency of his Red Bull car.

Here is the video:

"Shall we call that a pole, kind of?!"



Max was fastest and by some distance 💪#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/BLY2t7eHUB

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 27, 2024

He clocked the fastest time during the initial Q3 runs with a lap of 1m 53.159s, leaving his teammate Sergio Perez trailing by six-tenths of a second. While Charles Leclerc managed to surpass Perez to secure P2, Verstappen’s position at the top remained unchallenged, a testament to his prowess on the wet track.

Max Verstappen calls qualifying ‘nice’

After the session, Max Verstappen reflected on the qualifying, describing it as "nice" and expressing relief that the weather, although rainy, allowed for a decent performance. He emphasized the importance of managing his tyre sets wisely throughout the session, particularly in Q3, where he aimed to have two fresh sets of tyres ready.

Looking ahead to the main race, Verstappen acknowledged the challenges that lay in wait. With a 10-place grid penalty, he is set to start from P11, making his path to victory more arduous. "Tomorrow I know it’s going to be quite a different day," Verstappen noted, pointing out the anticipated warmer and drier conditions. He highlighted the critical factor of tyre degradation, indicating that managing this aspect would be crucial for a successful race.

Check Qualifying Results Here

Despite the penalty, Verstappen remains optimistic about his chances, drawing confidence from his car’s performance in the qualifying and his ability to adapt to changing conditions. The reigning world champion is preparing for a "tough battle" but his qualifying performance has set a strong foundation for what promises to be an exciting and competitive race.