Formula 1: Verstappen goes quickest, LeClerc inherits pole

***Due to a site error, this article was delayed from publication***

Despite having the quickest lap in the final round of qualifying, Max Verstappen will not start from pole position in Spa for the 3rd year running as Red Bull opted to change critical power unit components that have led to a 10-place grid penalty for the start of tomorrow’s race. Instead, it will be the Ferrari of Charles LeClerc and the Red Bull of Sergio Perez that will lead the field to turn one with Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris on the 2nd row. For the third race in a row, wet conditions in qualifying lead to drivers sticking to intermediate compound tires for the session as the lack of dry running hindered the progress of some cars, and elevated others.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the qualifying action from Spa as Verstappen goes fastest while Leclerc inherits pole

Q1 Results:

With the threat of heavy rain incoming, cars queued at the end of pit lane in hopes of dropping in a quick lap before the track was too washed out. Lewis Hamilton was quick to report the lack of grip as cars completed the opening laps, but as the times began to come in it was evident the track was rubbering in.

As the clock wound down it was Verstappen who went quickest ahead of Oscar Piastri on the timesheets as big names were at risk to make the transfer. George Russell in particular found himself in 17th with only minutes remaining before he pulled himself out of the danger zone and up into third place, though would eventually fall to seventh as the final laps came in.

Piastri in the final moments went quickest of all, dropping Verstappen down to third as Pierre Gasly shot his Alpine into second position. Sergio Perez made his effort worthwhile and ended 4th behind Verstappen. Meanwhile, a double elimination for Haas, and a rough start for Tsunoda, Sargeant, and Zhou made up the first of the eliminated drivers.

Drivers out in Q1:

• 16th: Nico Hulkenberg ( Haas)
• 17th: Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
• 18th: Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
• 19th: Logan Sargeant (Willians)
• 20th: Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)

Q2 Results:

Drivers took to what appeared to be a drying track to start the second qualifying session as a fine drizzle began to set in over the circuit. Verstappen set the benchmark early with a 1:53.857s lap to put himself six tenths up on Lando Norris as rain continued to increase its intensity.

With five minutes remaining, the Ferrari duo found themselves at risk to transfer to Q3 before both drivers dropped in top-5 times, demoting Sergio Perez to the drop zone. Perez, however, was able to put in a lap quick enough to push through and ended 10th, narrowly beating Alex Albon for the final spot in Q3 by 0.003s.

Drivers out in Q2:

• 11th: Alex Albon (Williams)
• 12th: Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
• 13th: Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
• 14th: Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
• 15th: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

Q3 Results:

Mercedes were the first on track in the final session as the rain continued to fall over Spa. As the first runs came in, Verstappen blitzed the field with a 1:53.159s lap that put him squarely over Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton as Piastri, Russell, and Norris followed suite.

The field began to return to the pits but Mercedes and McLaren opted to stay out, banking on changing conditions to allow them to improve times while others sat too long and were unable to steal a position away. LeClerc in the final seconds shot his way up to 2nd, pushing Perez to third, but was still a half second behind the Red Bull of Verstappen.

The checkered flag fell and with that, Max Verstappen had secured pole position, however, due to a 10-place grid drop would start 11th, allowing Charles LeClerc to inherit pole position for the race. Alongside him, Sergio Perez would made his best qualifying start in quite some time, as Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri would round out the top five.

George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and Esteban Ocon would round out the top 10, but with Verstappen’s penalty, Alex Albon would be promoted into the top-10.

It’s qualifying over and all that’s left is the race. Catch everything live tomorrow at 15:00 local time for the final event before the Formula 1 summer break.

Free Practice 1 Report – CLICK HERE

Free Practice 2 Report – CLICK HERE

Free Practice 3 Report – CLICK HERE

FORMULA 1 ROLEX BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 Schedule

Qualifying Results