Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying: Charles Leclerc takes pole position
Max Verstappen, who had been dominant all weekend, confirmed that he was the man in form. He gave his rivals no chance, but had to concede pole position to Charles Leclerc. Behind him, Perez made an interesting comeback to the front, and Lewis Hamilton confirmed Mercedes' good form.
Q1: The Alpine surprise
After the cancellation of the F2 race, the qualifying session starts on time despite the rain that continues to fall. The intermediate tire is favored by the entire field.
At the beginning of the session, all the drivers set off to deal with any unexpected events.
In these conditions, it is Max Verstappen who takes command, with almost a second’s lead over Oscar Piastri. However, the track quickly improves as the twenty drivers make their way through. Everyone improves lap after lap, and the field tightens up until the end of Q1. The stakes are not to get caught out by the end of the session.
The surprises come from Alpine, with Gasly leading the way at the front of the standings throughout this Q1. The driver of car number 10 finishing second behind Piastri with confidence after his Hungarian victory. As well as Sergio Perez managing to hang on to his teammate’s tail by securing an encouraging fourth place.
It should also be noted that British drivers Hamilton and Norris seem to be struggling, far behind their teammates. At this stage they risk elimination in Q2.
Pilots eliminated in Q1: 16: Hülkenberg, 17: Magnussen, 18: Tsunoda, 19: Sargeant, 20: Zhou.
Q2: Gasly trapped at the end of the session, Perez in Q3
For the beginning of Q2, the track is still wet, however some areas of the circuit are drying more and more. Intermediate tires are fitted for the start of the session, but managing the tire wear for a quick lap is crucial in order not to overheat the tires and spoil a flying lap. But beware, rain is forecasted. The strategy of using new or worn tires is crucial.
With a track losing grip, for the end of the session, but with drivers now using new intermediate tires, the ranking is being turned upside down lap after lap.
If Max Verstappen has a three-tenths cushion ahead of Piastri, who in turn also has a three-tenths lead over Norris, the rest of the drivers are racing in a close pack.
In this game, the last drivers crossing the checkered flag validate their ticket for Q3. And unfortunately, Pierre Gasly gets caught finishing 12th. Mercedes and Ferrari could have been too.
Drivers eliminated in Q2: 11: Albon, 12: Gasly, 13: Ricciardo, 14: Bottas, 15: Stroll.
Q3:
A light rain persists in the Ardennes, and the ten survivors of the qualifiers will have to do their best according to the remaining stock of intermediate tires they have. Some, like Ocon, only have worn tires left.
After the first timed lap for each of the ten protagonists, the hierarchy is taking shape and Max Verstappen leaves no doubt when it comes to the outcome, placing second, Perez, six seconds behind. Then the Mercedes and McLaren cars intertwine, with Hamilton in third place.
In Q2, it is the last ones to pass in front of the checkered flag who achieve the best laps, and it is Charles Leclerc who improves the most by snatching a beautiful second place ahead of Perez, Hamilton, Norris, and Piastri.
Max Verstappen was truly untouchable in these conditions. Esteban Ocon finishes 10th but close to Alonso’s ninth position.
Let’s not forget that the current triple world champion is penalized with a 10-place grid penalty on Sunday for changing engine components, so it is Charles Leclerc who inherits the pole position before the summer break.
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