Verstappen sets fastest qualifying time in Belgium, Leclerc to start from pole
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Max Verstappen displayed impressive speed in the qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix, clocking an unbeatable lap time of 1m 53.159s. Despite setting the fastest time, the Dutchman will start the race from P11 due to a 10-place grid penalty for a power unit change. This development means Charles Leclerc will inherit pole position.
Verstappen's remarkable performance saw him finishing half a second ahead of Ferrari's Leclerc. Sergio Perez also had a strong qualifying session, securing P3 in his Red Bull, edging out Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in P4.
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured fifth and sixth places, respectively. Mercedes’ George Russell followed closely in seventh.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz claimed P8, while fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished P9 in the Aston Martin. Esteban Ocon completed the top 10 for Alpine.
Williams' Alex Albon narrowly missed out on Q3 by just three-thousands of a second, leaving him in P11. Alpine's Pierre Gasly landed in P12.
Read next ❯ Ferrari to reveal Hamilton's debut F1 car on February 19 at MaranelloDaniel Ricciardo took 13th place in the RB, ahead of Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas in 14th. Lance Stroll, whose Aston Martin was repaired in time after an FP3 crash, qualified in P15.
The Haas duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen had a disappointing qualifying, with both drivers exiting in Q1 in 16th and 17th, respectively. Yuki Tsunoda also did not advance past Q1, ending in P18, though he was already set to start from the back due to an engine penalty.
Williams' Logan Sargeant finished in P19, followed by Kick Sauber's Zhou Guanyu in 20th position.
