Lewis Hamilton faces
DOUBLE Belgian Grand Prix embarrassment as…read more
McLaren caused a major shake-up during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, delivering a stunning performance that saw them secure a front-row lockout for Sunday’s race. Lando Norris clinched pole position in a tense session, narrowly beating his team-mate Oscar Piastri by less than a tenth of a second. The result highlights McLaren’s growing dominance and their strong momentum, particularly after recent upgrades have consistently placed them among the top contenders on the grid. Piastri, while narrowly missing out on his first career pole, can take pride in locking out the front row for the team, underlining McLaren’s resurgence as a true challenger to the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari.
Max Verstappen, who has been the man to beat all season, had a tough qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite being the favourite going into the session, the Dutch driver made a crucial error on his final flying lap. That mistake allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to snatch third place, pushing Verstappen down to fourth on the grid. Though disappointed with the result, Verstappen will still start from a competitive position and remains a strong threat for victory given his pace in race trim. Red Bull, while missing out on the front row, can still take encouragement as all four of their cars — including the two from sister team RB — secured positions within the top ten. This gives the Red Bull camp plenty of strategic options for the race.
Mercedes, however, had a weekend to forget, particularly with young prospect Kimi Antonelli struggling once again at Spa. Antonelli was knocked out in Q1 for the second consecutive day, marking a frustrating run for the rookie who has otherwise shown flashes of promise this season. The disappointment for Mercedes was compounded by the struggles of their veteran driver Lewis Hamilton, who also failed to progress beyond the early stages of qualifying. Hamilton’s elimination means both silver arrows will be starting from the back of the grid on Sunday, a stark contrast to their historic dominance at this circuit.
Hamilton’s qualifying woes were made worse by a controversial moment involving track limits. Ferrari’s star driver, who had looked to have comfortably secured a place in the top ten with a late, blistering lap, saw that lap deleted for exceeding track limits at the challenging Raidillon corner. Hamilton, who had been trailing close behind, was informed of the deletion as he returned to the pits, adding to Mercedes’ mounting frustrations. The incident once again brings into focus the strict enforcement of track limits this season, which has caught out several top drivers.
As the grid lines up for Sunday’s main event, the Belgian Grand Prix promises plenty of drama. McLaren’s commanding front-row presence will make them the favourites heading into Turn 1, but with Verstappen lurking just behind, the fight for victory is far from decided. Leclerc, starting third, will also be eager to capitalise on any early battles between the front-runners. For Mercedes, the race will be about damage limitation and hoping for a strategic twist or weather conditions to play in their favour. With Spa known for its unpredictable weather and high-speed challenges, fans can expect an action-packed race.
