Verstappen won the qualification, Sainz took the pole

Cloudy. Dry. Air +15С, track +20…21С

Qualification at Spa is not of fundamental importance, although the pole winner has won six of the last seven Grands Prix at this track. It is easier to overtake on the Belgian circuit than in the remaining races before the end of the season, so most teams have scheduled the replacement of engines and gearboxes at this stage, providing themselves with a reserve for the next stages.

If last year these replacements did not lead to penalties, now seven riders were immediately punished by starting from the last row, including the championship leaders – Verstappen and Leclerc, and besides them Norris, Ocon, Bottas, Schumacher and Zhou – the qualification determined their actual arrangement at the start.

Cool weather affected the balance of power. Not everyone managed to achieve efficient operation of tires – for some, it warmed up for a long time, gradually losing efficiency, for others it quickly wore out. Soft tires in such conditions worked best – and the teams sought to save them, leaving a certain reserve for the race.

The start of qualifying was delayed by 25 minutes to repair the safety barrier at the Fagnes chicane, damaged during the Porsche Supercup session.

In the first session Max Verstappen led the scoresheet in the first attempt with 1:44.581. Most riders only had enough tires for one fast lap, Mercedes tried to work in a series of laps to gradually bring the tires to working mode.

Verstappen, Sainz, Perez and Leclerc refused the second attempt, the rest continued to fight. Bottas returned to the pits without completing a quick lap. Tsunoda made a mistake in the last turn, ruining the attempt. Max’s result stood. Vettel, Latifi, Magnussen, Tsunoda and Bottas dropped out of the fight.

In the second session the first attempt was again left for Verstappen – 1:44.723, Perez lost seven hundredths to Max, the rest lost more than half a second.

Verstappen and Pérez gave up the second attempt, the rest continued to fight – and Charles Leclerc showed the best time, having completed the lap in 1:44.551.

Alex Albon made it to the qualifying final for the first time this season at the Williams. Ricciardo, Gasly, Zhou, Stroll and Schumacher dropped out of the fight.

In the final Leclerc later left for the first attempt, already on the track it turned out that he received a rolled set of tires, although he was counting on a new one – and the team apologized for the mistake. The best time was shown by Verstappen on fresh tires – 1:43.665.

Verstappen and Norris refused the second attempt – tomorrow they will lose positions due to a penalty, and Leclerc left to disperse his partner in a slip stream.

Max Verstappen won the qualification at Spa, but Carlos Sainz, who showed the second time, will start from pole tomorrow.

Sainz and Perez will share the first row of the starting field, Alonso and Hamilton – the second, Russell and Albon – the third. A race with so many fast cars behind is sure to be interesting!

Qualification results

Pilot	Team	1 session			2 sessions			3 sessions
		M	Time	Cr	M	Time	Cr	M	Time	Cr
1. M. Verstappen	Red Bull	1	1:44.581	3	2	1:44.723	3	1	1:43.665	3
2. K. Sainz	Ferrari	2	1:45.050	3	4	1:45.418	5	2	1:44.297	6
3. C.Perez	Red Bull	3	1:45.377	3	3	1:44.794	3	3	1:44.462	6
4. Sh. Leclair	Ferrari	4	1:45.572	4	1	1:44.551	6	4	1:44.553	4
5. E. Okon	Alpine	9	1:46.039	5	7	1:45.475	5	5	1:45.180	5
6. F. Alonso	Alpine	10	1:46.075	5	8	1:45.552	6	6	1:45.368	5
7. L. Hamilton	Mercedes	7	1:45.736	8	5	1:45.420	6	7	1:45.503	6
8. D. Russell	Mercedes	5	1:45.650	8	6	1:45.461	6	8	1:45.776	6
9. A. Albon	Williams	6	1:45.672	6	10	1:45.675	6	9	1:45.837	6
10. L. Norris	McLaren	8	1:45.745	6	9	1:45.603	5	10	1:46.178	3
11. D. Riccardo	McLaren	13	1:46.212	6	11	1:45.767	3
12. P. Gasli	AlphaTauri	12	1:46.183	6	12	1:45.827	6
13. G. Zhou	Alfa Romeo	11	1:46.178	6	13	1:46.085	6
14. L. Stroll	Aston Martin	14	1:46.256	6	14	1:46.611	6
15. M. Schumacher	Haas	15	1:46.342	8	15	1:47.718	5
16. S.Vettel	Aston Martin	16	1:46.344	6
17. N. Latifi	Williams	17	1:46.401	7
18. K. Magnussen	Haas	18	1:46.557	6
19. Y. Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	19	1:46.692	6
20. V. Bottas	Alfa Romeo	20	1:47.866	5