Belgium - Qualifying

While the sprint race might not have shown the best side of the historic Belgian circuit, including little action and few overtakes, there are two sessions left in the Grand Prix weekend to remind fans why Spa is such a highly regarded track. Oscar Piastri was the driver to take the pole during Friday's sprint qualifying, but was he able to repeat the feat when it mattered most? 

The first qualifying tension appeared before the cars managed to get out on track, as Nico Hulkenberg nicked the car of Lance Stroll while trying to secure a position in the pitline queue. The Kick Sauber driver's nose was quickly replaced, and the situation was set to be investigated after the session. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were the first cars to set their times. This, of course, put them on top, but as the track rubbered in, the two tumbled down the order. By the time all drivers finished their first flyers, it was Leclerc who sat on top of the leaderboard. He didn't stay there for too long. As soon as the McLarens finished their second flying laps, they returned to the spot everyone had gotten used to seeing them in. 

The session couldn't be as great for everyone. Kimi Antonelli, who had been struggling in the sprint qualifying, didn't set a time good enough for Q2. Another driver who finished his work on Friday earlier than he would have liked, Lewis Hamilton, set a first effort good enough only for P16. It seemed like he managed to escape elimination after having completed a good second flyer, but it was soon revealed that he exceeded track limits at turn four. His lap was deleted, and he dropped back to the elimination zone, where he was joined not only by Antonelli but also Franco Colapinto, Fernando Alonso, and Lance Stroll.

Q2 began with the McLarens unsurprisingly quickest and, more importantly, very close together, promising an exciting fight for pole later down the line. Oliver Bearman was the only driver not to set a time in the first half of the session, after a dangerous slide that put his car outside the track limits. He tried his best to redeem himself with his second attempt, but just wasn't quick enough to advance. Unfortunately for Haas, neither was his teammate, Esteban Ocon. Carlos Sainz performed his first flying lap on used tires, saving a new set for the second effort. The strategy didn't work out, and he also found himself in the elimination zone. The last two drivers who made up the bottom five were Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg.

Norris began Q3 as the quickest of all cars, with Piastri following right behind. The difference between the two was marginal, and it seemed like either one could end up taking the coveted pole. Verstappen was also in contention, having finished his first Q3 lap not far behind the McLarens, despite setting it on used tires. For him, all hopes hung on the second attempt. Unfortunately for all Red Bull fans, he had a bit of a moment in sector one and couldn't recover from it enough to fight for the front row. He had to settle for P4 after a glorious lap from Leclerc pushed him all the way to third. 

With Verstappen out of contention, the pole was sure to go to one of the McLarens. Norris was still tightly holding onto the provisional one, and the fact that he didn't manage to improve on his second attempt seemed to tip the scales towards Piastri. But, in the end, the Australians' improvements simply weren't enough. Tomorrow, it will be Lando Norris who begins the Grand Prix from the best possible position. 

Order of the grid:

1. Lando Norris

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Max Verstappen

5. George Russell

6. Isack Hadjar

7. Liam Lawson

8. Yuki Tsunoda

9. Alex Albon

10. Gabriel Bortoleto

11. Esteban Ocon

12. Oliver Bearman

13. Pierre Gasly

14. Nico Hulkenberg

15. Carlos Sainz

16. Lewis Hamilton

17. Franco Colapinto

18. Kimi Antonelli

19. Fernando Alonso

20. Lance Stroll