Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, ahead of Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader of the world championship, set the fastest time in qualifying, but will only start 6th on Sunday, after receiving a five-place penalty due to a gearbox change beyond the authorized quota.
Last year, the Dutchman won in Belgium from a distant 14th place on the grid, due to an engine change beyond the authorized quota and an unauthorized gearbox component.
“I know I’m going to drop back on the grid but today it was mostly about feeling confident, we know the car is fast,” Verstappen said at the end of qualifying. “Last year, I received more penalties (15 places in total, editor’s note) and we still won the race, so that’s the objective”.
On a drying track – and a blue sky partially recovered after the downpours that had fallen until a few minutes before qualifying – Hamilton took 4th fastest time.
He will therefore start 3rd, ahead of the other Ferrari, that of Spaniard Carlos Sainz. The McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, expected to be at the forefront this weekend after their solid performances in the last two GPs, will start 5th and 7th.
The Belgian GP, 12th meeting of the season, is the third round of the year (after Azerbaijan in April and Austria in early July) to offer a sprint format, which changes the course of the weekend.
Thus, the drivers run only one free practice session on Friday, followed by a first qualifying session which determines the starting grid for the GP on Sunday.
Saturday will be dedicated to the sprint. Drivers will take to the track at 12:00 p.m. for a second qualifying session (called “Sprint Shootout”), similar to Friday’s but shorter, which will determine the starting order for the sprint race later in the day. , at 4:30 p.m. Verstappen’s penalty will not apply at the start of the sprint.
