Belgian GP: Verstappen has pole but Sainz will start first from Perez
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took F1 Belgian GP pole but second-placed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will start from there, as Sergio Perez was third.
Q1:
The start of first part of F1 Belgian GP qualifying was delayed due to repair work at Spa-Francorchamps after a crash in Porsche Cup race. Once things got going, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi did a sighting lap on the medium tyres as he readily pitted then.
The Red Bull pair did well in the first part with Max Verstappen leading the way after setting a 1m44.581s lap where teammate Sergio Perez was third behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. The big fight was on between the drivers in the lower half to make it into Q2.
The knockout zone saw a big leap from Williams’ Alexander Albon who jumped to sixth which eventually knocked out Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m46.344s), who missed Q2 by 0.002s. He was 16th from Williams’ Nicholas Latifi (1m46.401s).
Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m46.557s) was only 18th whereas teammate Mick Schumacher with the penalty made it in Q2, as AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m46.692s) was 19th after a last lap lock-up which ruined his qualifying. Alfa Romoe’s Valtteri Bottas (1m47.866s) was 20th as he pitted and backed out of his final quick lap.
Q2:
The second part in F1 Belgian GP qualifying saw Red Bull set early pace and were separated by just the 0.071s margin with Verstappen ahead after setting a 1m4.723s lap from Perez, while Ferrari’s Sainz slotted in third where his teammate Charles Leclerc struggled.
The Monegasque complained of the car jumping strangely at slow corners. Also, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo did not get a lap time in after everyone’s first run. The Australian had a wide moment over the kerb in Q1 when his quick lap was deleted.
The second run saw towing game at Alpine and McLaren where Fernando Alonso and Ricciardo were getting help from Esteban Ocon and Norris, respectively. By the end, Leclerc popped to the top with a 1m44.551s lap to lead from Verstappen and Perez.
Both the Alpine made it through and it was almost same for McLaren but for the 0.092s gap which knocked out Ricciardo (1m45.767s) in 11th as Albon made it in. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m45.827s) was 12th from Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu (1m46.085s).
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (1m46.611s) slotted in 14th as Haas’ Schumacher (1m47.718s) rounded the 15 runners, where the German did not have a great final lap which left him slowest in the second part.
Q3:
The third part of F1 Belgian GP qualifying saw early two game at Ferrari and Alpine, where Leclerc was helping Sainz and Alonso aiding Ocon on their first run. It was Red Bull’s Verstappen with the provisional pole after setting a time of 1m43.665s lap.
He led Sainz and Perez, with Leclerc eventually going for a lap and ending up fourth after his first run. Post the first lap, Verstappen ended his day early with the penalty he had. Ferrari, meanwhile, did use the Monegasque to help the Spaniard.
But Sainz (1m44.297s) had a moment with Alonso on the out lap. It was a scrappy run from the Ferrari driver and despite a two from Leclerc, he did not improve to end up second behind F1 Belgian GP pole-sitter Verstappen, who will start from the back.
Perez (1m44.462s) remained third with Leclerc (1m44.553s) staying fourth as well, as Alpine’s Ocon (1m45.180s) was fifth from Alonso (1m45.368s) where the Frenchman will go to the back. The Mercedes pair slotted in seventh and eighth.
Hamilton (1m45.503s) ended up ahead of Russell (1m45.776s). Williams’ Albon (1m45.837s) ended up ninth eventually with McLaren’s Norris (1m46.178s) rounding the Top 10, who will also start from the back.
