Max Verstappen ended up fastest in a wet F1 qualifying in Belgian GP but Charles Leclerc will start from pole alongside Sergio Perez.
Q1:
The first part in F1 Belgian GP qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps saw it remain wet all-through, with intermediate tyres in use mostly. It was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (1m54.835s) in the lead from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman looked quick all-through but held back eventually. He was impeded by Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu, which will be investigated after the session. The knockout zone saw both the Haas cars out in 16th and 17th respectively.
Nico Hulkenberg (1m56.308s) was ahead of Kevin Magnussen (1m56.500s) in the order, with Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m56.593s) in 18th, – with the penalty – Williams’ Logan Sargeant (1m57.230s) 19th and Guanyu (1m57.775s) 20th.
Q2:
The rain continued in second part of F1 Belgian GP qualifying as intermediate was course of action throughout the session. Improvements happened right until the end but it didn’t deter Verstappen, who led the way with a 1m53.837s lap.
The late run put Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in second and third, as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez made it in by just the 0.003s margin, which knocked out Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m54.473s) in 11th.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (1m54.635s) was 12th in a tight end, with Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m54.682s) 13th, Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas (1m54.764s) 14th and a repaired Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (1m55.716s) 15th.
Q3:
The wet conditions continued in final part of F1 Belgian GP qualifying as teams hurried to get their first lap in. It was Verstappen (1m53.159s) in the front with a 0.606s margin over Red Bull teammate Perez (1m53.765s) to have a provisional 1-2 situation.
Hamilton slotted in third from Piastri, with Russell rounding the Top 5 from Norris. A second run was taken up by several drivers and the order only changed for Norris who moved up to fourth ahead of Piastri and Russell, with Hamilton remaining third.
The final tour saw Verstappen retain top spot to secure F1 pole in Belgian GP by 0.595s margin after a late improvement from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1m53.754s), who will start from pole on Sunday due to the 10-place penalty for the Dutchman.
Perez ended up third after no improvement, but will start from the front row, as Hamilton (1m53.835s) dropped to fourth from Norris (1m53.981s), Piastri (1m54.027s), Russell (1m54.184s) and Sainz (1m54.477s) in the Top 8.
It was Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (1m54.765s) in ninth from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m54.810s) in the Top 10. All of them will move up by one place on Sunday with Albon in 10th ahead of Verstappen, who will start in 11th.
UPDATE: The stewards has handed a grid drop for Gunayu for impeding Verstappen in Q1 in Belgian GP. The Chinese driver anyhow qualified last. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Belgian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2024%20-%20Impeding%20of%20Car%201.pdf
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