Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver during a challenging wet qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc will take the coveted pole position owing to Verstappen’s 10-place grid penalty. The reigning world champion’s penalty was triggered by exceeding the seasonal engine limit, which means he will start from 11th position, while Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez occupy the front row.
This marks Leclerc’s second pole position of the season, with his impressive lap narrowly beating Perez by just 0.011 seconds. Lewis Hamilton secured the third spot on the grid, missing out on second place by less than a tenth of a second.
McLaren’s Lando Norris aimed to capitalize on Verstappen’s setback, qualifying fifth. He will start from fourth due to Verstappen’s penalty, followed by Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
Norris, who trails Verstappen by 76 points in the drivers’ championship, needs to navigate past three cars to achieve a second career victory.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz locked down eighth place, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Impressively, there were no red flags during the wet qualifying session.
Belgian GP Qualifying: Top 10
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull*
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
5) Lando Norris, McLaren
6) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7) George Russell, Mercedes
8) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
9) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
10) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
*Verstappen has a 10-place grid penalty and will start 11th.
"I definitely did not expect that this weekend," Leclerc remarked. "With the tricky conditions, we exceeded our expectations. Without the rain, we would likely have been fighting for P5 with the Mercedes. I’m thrilled to be back on the front part of the grid; now we need to finalize everything for the race tomorrow."
Leclerc acknowledged the challenge of maintaining his lead on the first lap but expressed confidence in strategizing as he navigates through Eau Rouge.
In a dry scenario, Red Bull has consistently shown stronger race pace, prompting questions about Verstappen’s ability to replicate his past performances where he overcame grid penalties to win in Belgium.
As qualifying progressed, Verstappen showcased his skill, finishing Q1 in second place and dominating Q2. In Q3, he displayed exceptional speed, clocking in a half-second advantage over his rivals before Leclerc delivered a stunning lap to snatch pole.
Though Sergio Perez barely made it through Q2, he delivered under pressure and is optimistic about challenging Leclerc during the race, where Red Bull’s pace could prove decisive compared to Ferrari’s.
Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Russell capitalized on the wet conditions, with Hamilton just 0.081 seconds off the pole time, while Russell finished slightly behind him. Despite earlier struggles, McLaren retains confidence in its race pace after showing competitive practice times.
Norris mentioned, "The Red Bulls have been a step above us all weekend, but we hope to push for a podium finish." He remained optimistic about his chances, contrasting his performance with that of his teammate Piastri.
Official Belgian GP Qualifying Timesheet
1) Max Verstappen* – Red Bull – 1:53.159
2) Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +0.595
3) Sergio Perez – Red Bull – +0.606
4) Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – +0.676
5) Lando Norris – McLaren – +0.822
6) Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +0.868
7) George Russell – Mercedes – +1.025
8) Carlos Sainz – Ferrari – +1.318
9) Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – +1.606
10) Esteban Ocon – Alpine – +1.651
*Verstappen has a 10-place grid penalty; he will start 11th.
As fans look forward to the Belgian Grand Prix, the upcoming race promises to be filled with excitement and potential surprises as the teams prepare for the final showdown before the summer break.
