Kimi Antonelli delivered another statement performance in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying to claim his sixth Formula 1 pole position of the season, beating Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds in a dramatic battle at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Mercedes driver maintained the team’s remarkable run of pole positions despite facing a late challenge from Verstappen, who briefly moved to the top of the order after Red Bull successfully used Isack Hadjar’s slipstream assistance.
Verstappen benefited from what was described as a “tow and a half” through Spa’s long straights, with Hadjar’s grid penalties for power unit changes already guaranteeing him a back-row start. However, Antonelli responded emphatically, producing a 1m44.361s lap on his final attempt that none of his rivals could match.
Belgian Grand Prix - Qualifying results
The result puts the championship leader on pole alongside Verstappen on the front row, with the Red Bull driver later praising his team’s tactical approach.
Antonelli and Verstappen break clear
The final stage of qualifying initially appeared more unpredictable, with Lando Norris setting the fastest time after the opening Q3 runs.
The McLaren driver found 0.039 seconds on Antonelli’s first effort, while Charles Leclerc also emerged as a contender after matching the leading pace within the same hundredth of a second.
However, a brief red flag interrupted the final part of qualifying after gravel was scattered onto the circuit at Stavelot, creating a longer gap before drivers returned for their final runs.
When the pressure increased, Antonelli and Verstappen found the extra performance needed. Both moved ahead of Norris, with Antonelli ultimately establishing a gap that proved decisive.
Norris held onto third place from his first Q3 lap after abandoning his second attempt when he ran across the gravel at Turn 13. The McLaren driver avoided the wall contact suffered by Pierre Gasly and Lewis Hamilton during practice at the same corner, but his qualifying position will not translate into a front-row start.
A 10-place grid penalty means Norris will begin Sunday’s race from 12th on the grid.
Ferrari recover as penalties shake up grid
George Russell inherits third place on the grid after finishing fourth in qualifying, while Leclerc moves up to the second row alongside him.
Hamilton, who completed qualifying just hours after his FP3 crash, secured sixth place and will start fifth following Norris’ penalty. Oscar Piastri’s late improvement moved him ahead of Arvid Lindblad, with the McLaren driver set to start sixth.
Lindblad produced another impressive qualifying performance to take seventh, lining up alongside Gabriel Bortoleto. Hadjar, meanwhile, did not set a representative qualifying time after accepting that his grid penalties would leave him starting from the final row.
Liam Lawson narrowly missed out on joining his Racing Bulls team-mate in Q3, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind Bortoleto. The New Zealander was also compromised by not having access to the team’s updated car package, with Racing Bulls only having one upgraded specification available this weekend.
Midfield battle produces drama
Both Alpine cars reached Q3, with Pierre Gasly qualifying 12th ahead of Franco Colapinto. The Argentine produced a late improvement to move ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, whose session was interrupted when his car stopped during the in-lap due to a hydraulic leak.
Carlos Sainz and Ollie Bearman completed the Q2 elimination zone with just 0.002 seconds separating them.
The biggest surprise in Q1 was Alex Albon’s elimination. The Williams driver had looked set to progress but was pushed into the drop zone when both Alpine drivers improved on their final laps.
Albon ended the session only 0.007 seconds behind Bearman, while Haas’ Esteban Ocon struggled despite attempting to benefit from a slipstream and qualified 18th.
Valtteri Bottas led the way for Cadillac in 17th, narrowly ahead of Ocon and Sergio Perez, who had been comfortably ahead of Fernando Alonso before the final runs.
Aston Martin endured another difficult qualifying session, with Lance Stroll ending the day at the bottom of the timesheets. Alonso will also start from the rear of the grid after taking multiple power unit changes ahead of the weekend.
With Antonelli and Verstappen set for a front-row showdown and penalties reshaping the starting order, Spa is set for another unpredictable Belgian Grand Prix.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Belgian GP: Antonelli pips Verstappen to thrilling Spa pole F1i.com.
Hence then, the article about belgian gp antonelli pips verstappen to thrilling spa pole was published today ( ) and is available on F1 News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Belgian GP: Antonelli pips Verstappen to thrilling Spa pole )
Also on site :
- London Diamond League schedule, start times and line-up including Josh Kerr’s mile world record attempt
- Argentina boss unsure about Lionel Messi’s future ahead of World Cup final: ‘He doesn’t stop surprising us’
- Why was Bryson DeChambeau given two-shot penalty at The Open? American ‘fired up’ after controversial ruling