Leclerc and Verstappen Secure Top Spots in Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying
The Belgian Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race as Charles Leclerc clinched pole position in qualifying, closely followed by Max Verstappen, who faces a 10-place grid penalty. Verstappen, currently leading the Formula One standings, initially clocked the fastest time during the rainy qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. However, due to Red Bull surpassing the allowed number of power units by installing a new engine in his car, Verstappen will start from 11th place on the grid.
Leclerc’s impressive performance in his Ferrari earned him the second-best time in qualifying, placing him at the front of the field. Sergio Pérez of Red Bull will start alongside Leclerc from second place, followed by Lewis Hamilton in third, and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Despite holding a significant 76-point lead over Norris in the overall standings, Verstappen has gone three races without a win for the first time this season. However, his past success at Spa-Francorchamps, including a victory in 2022 from 14th place and a win last year from sixth, proves that he cannot be underestimated.
Verstappen acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained optimistic about his prospects for the race. He stated, “We are not making it easy on ourselves, in the battle we are in. Today was a great day, but it was in the wet and tomorrow will be dry. Hopefully, we can battle with the Mercedes and Ferrari ahead, and hopefully with a little bit of luck, we can challenge the McLaren.”
Verstappen’s rivals are well aware of his ability to make a comeback and anticipate his rapid progress through the field. Norris, who had been faster than Verstappen in dry conditions during practice, acknowledged Red Bull’s impressive performance in the rain. He noted, “The Red Bull was on another level to us in the rain… It will be tough. Max is going to come through quite quickly still, and most likely we will be fighting with him for the win.”
Hamilton echoed Norris’s sentiments and acknowledged the speed of the Red Bull car. He commented, “Max will make his way through pretty quick. I think that car is the fastest here this week, at least tied with McLaren.” With Verstappen eager to make up ground, Hamilton’s primary goal will be to fend off his challengers and secure a podium finish.
The qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps was marred by rain, which persisted throughout the session. Heavy rain in the final practice session also led to the postponement of the F2 sprint race. The challenging weather conditions added an extra layer of excitement to the qualifying session, with the cars kicking up spray trails as they navigated the seven-kilometer track.
For Leclerc, this year’s pole position at Spa-Francorchamps brought a sense of déjà vu. Just like last year, he inherited pole position from Verstappen after the Dutch driver received a penalty. Reflecting on his performance, Leclerc stated, “I think that without this rain probably P5 (fifth place) was the position we were fighting for, but I can’t complain.”
The qualifying session saw the top eight cars from Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari make it into the final segment. Sergio Pérez’s strong performance almost secured him pole position, highlighting his improvement in qualifying. Pérez had struggled in recent qualifying sessions, leading to speculation about his future with Red Bull. However, he expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was good to finally put it together… every weekend is a new opportunity to do better.”
In addition to Verstappen’s grid penalty, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull will start from the back of the grid due to exceeding the permitted number of new engines and other parts.
As the stage is set for the Belgian Grand Prix, fans can expect an intense battle between the top contenders, with Verstappen determined to make a comeback and Leclerc looking to capitalize on his pole position advantage. The dry race conditions on Sunday will present a new set of challenges, and the rivalry between the teams and drivers will undoubtedly provide a thrilling spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts.
