Yuki Tsunoda wasn’t the only driver who gave Max Verstappen a slipstream in Abu Dhabi qualifying

Follow us on Google Discover

Yuki Tsunoda was instructed to give Max Verstappen a tow during qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull are doing all they can to maximise Verstappen’s title chances.

Tsunoda reached Q3 for just the seventh time as a Red Bull driver in what is his final race for the team. He will become their reserve next season.

With guidance from his engineer, Tsunoda dragged Verstappen along the second DRS straight on the circuit. The reigning world champion blitzed the McLarens on the first run and improved his time further at the end.

Verstappen starts on pole position ahead of championship leader Lando Norris. Victory alone is not enough; he needs Norris to finish off the podium given the 12-point gap.

Fernando Alonso gave Max Verstappen a tow at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

While sister team Racing Bulls won’t help Verstappen, it was predictable that Tsunoda was called to his aid.

However, it was perhaps more surprising to see Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso give Verstappen a slipstream during Q2.

It’s unclear if this was intentional, but Alonso stayed on the racing line as the Dutchman caught him, which isn’t the customary approach on a slow lap. He eventually pulled over to the left side.

After qualifying, have you changed your mind about who will be champion on Sunday? 🤔

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

During his outlap, Verstappen cut a hole in the air for Alonso, so the 44-year-old may have felt he was repaying the favour.

Mercedes star George Russell hoped for similar assistance from Red Bull, given that he’s one of the drivers who could potentially beat Norris, but it didn’t materialise.

The immense respect between Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen

Speaking in a press conference in Brazil last month, Alonso said he has always had ‘a lot of respect’ for Verstappen. He sees elements of himself in the Red Bull superstar.

“When you come here and you have some success at the beginning of your career, maybe you are not the good guy,” he said. “Maybe you are not politically correct. You are not in the system. You are more yourself than what you should be.

“And I think it’s what I saw in Max as well. And obviously, apart from that strong personality, the results and the talent, not only in F1, also in the junior categories and from karting already. We all knew that he was this kid coming. So, in my case, I had always a lot of respect.”

Verstappen was a fan of Alonso when he watched races as a child because he was the ‘underdog’ figure against Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

“What I like is just Fernando’s mentality and just general personality,” he said. “He’s just himself, which I think is just very nice to deal with. You see what you get.

“And, of course, before I was in Formula 1, when Fernando was fighting against Red Bull, I was cheering for him to do a good job. And being that underdog and still getting these results and dragging the car to wins when he shouldn’t, it attracts you.

“I think as a driver, you like what you see. He’s a proper fighter, and he still is. I have a lot of respect for Fernando, still doing it at his age. It’s very nice to see, to have that much passion for the sport.”

Alonso’s praise of Verstappen this year has been glowing, and perhaps he’s reminded of his own unlikely title bid at Ferrari in 2010. Of course, he’s unlikely to let that admiration influence his behaviour on track.