Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli produced another standout performance by claiming pole position for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix after setting the fastest lap during an eventful qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps.
Antonelli delivered a superb lap of 1:44.361 to secure the top spot, continuing his impressive championship campaign. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified second, just over three-tenths of a second behind the Mercedes driver, while McLaren’s Lando Norris initially finished third before a grid penalty reshuffled Sunday’s starting order.
The final stages of qualifying were briefly delayed after Audi driver Nico Hulkenberg suffered a hydraulic issue at the end of Q2, leaving marshals to clear his stranded car before Q3 could begin. Once the track was ready, attention quickly turned to strategy, with several teams managing drivers carrying grid penalties.
Red Bull attempted to maximise Verstappen’s chances by having Isack Hadjar provide a slipstream during the decisive laps. Although the tactic helped Verstappen secure second place in qualifying, Antonelli’s pace proved unbeatable. Starting from the front row may not be a disadvantage for Verstappen, however, with recent Belgian Grands Prix showing that pole position has not guaranteed victory. In fact, the winner at Spa has not started from pole in each of the previous four races.
Norris qualified third on merit but will not line up there on Sunday. The reigning world champion has been handed a 10-place grid penalty after McLaren fitted a new power electronics unit that exceeded the season’s allocation. As a result, Norris is expected to start from 13th on the grid.
George Russell continued Mercedes’ strong showing by qualifying fourth, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fifth. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completed the top six after Ferrari worked against the clock to repair his car following a heavy crash during Saturday’s final practice session. Despite the earlier setback, Hamilton managed to return for qualifying and produced a competitive performance.
Oscar Piastri qualified seventh for McLaren, with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad delivering another impressive display to take eighth. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto claimed ninth, while Hadjar rounded out the top 10 despite failing to record a lap time in Q3.
Several notable names missed out on the final qualifying shootout. Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman were all eliminated during Q2. Aston Martin endured a particularly disappointing afternoon, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both failing to progress beyond the opening session. Williams’ Alex Albon, Haas driver Esteban Ocon, and Cadillac duo Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were also knocked out in Q1.
Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying – Top 10
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:44.361
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.317s
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.440s*
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.508s
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.532s
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.534s
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.655s
8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +0.782s
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +1.267s
10. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – No Time
*Lando Norris will serve a 10-place grid penalty, while Isack Hadjar is set to start from the back of the grid due to power unit changes, meaning Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix grid will differ significantly from the qualifying classification.
