Source – formula1.com
Charles Leclerc will start from pole position in the Belgian Grand Prix, since Max Verstappen set the quickest qualifying time. However, the Dutchman will start from P11 because he was penalized ten places for changing his power unit.
Max Verstappen showcased his exceptional speed during the Belgium Grand Prix qualifying session, securing pole position with a blistering lap time of 1m 53.159s in his Red Bull. His performance was notably dominant, as he finished half a second ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite knowing he would face a grid penalty, Verstappen’s determination to claim P1 remained unwavering.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, had a strong showing by securing third place, a much-needed boost after recent struggles. His Red Bull outpaced the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who settled for fourth. Hamilton’s performance was solid, but it couldn’t match the pace set by the Red Bulls and Leclerc’s Ferrari.
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continued to impress, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Their consistent performances highlight McLaren’s growing competitiveness this season. George Russell, driving the second Mercedes, followed closely in seventh, showcasing the team’s solid but not quite top-tier pace.
Carlos Sainz managed to secure eighth place for Ferrari, just ahead of fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who placed ninth in his Aston Martin. Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten in his Alpine, continuing his consistent form this season.
Just missing out on Q3, Alex Albon ended up in eleventh place for Williams, a mere three thousandths of a second shy of advancing. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly followed in twelfth, unable to match his teammate Ocon’s top-ten performance. Daniel Ricciardo, in his Red Bull, took thirteenth place, a respectable result considering the competitive field.
Valtteri Bottas, driving for Kick Sauber, secured fourteenth, while Lance Stroll, whose Aston Martin was repaired in time after his FP3 crash, managed fifteenth. Stroll’s recovery from the crash to participate in qualifying was commendable, although his car’s performance lagged behind the leaders.
The Haas team had a challenging day, with both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen exiting in Q1 and finishing in sixteenth and seventeenth, respectively. Yuki Tsunoda, set to start from the back due to an engine penalty, was also eliminated in eighteenth. Despite his impending penalty, Tsunoda’s pace was not sufficient to advance further in qualifying.
Logan Sargeant had a tough session, ending the day in nineteenth place for Williams. Zhou Guanyu, in his Kick Sauber, completed the grid in twentieth. Both drivers struggled to find the pace needed to compete with the midfield and front-runners.
As teams debrief and make final adjustments ahead of the race, Verstappen’s dominant performance in qualifying sets a high bar. Despite his grid penalty, his pace indicates he will be a formidable contender once the race begins. With Leclerc and Perez starting at the front, the battle for podium positions promises to be intense. The weather conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, known for their unpredictability, could add another layer of complexity to the race strategy.
Fans and teams alike are eagerly anticipating the race, where Verstappen will aim to climb through the field and challenge for victory, while his rivals look to capitalize on his grid penalty. The stage is set for an exciting Belgian Grand Prix, with plenty of drama and high-speed action expected from start to finish.
