Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) dominated the only free practice session in the rain before qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, postponed to Friday due to the sprint race scheduled for Saturday. This single session was essential to test the various settings before qualifying at 5:00 p.m. Paris time. For the third time this year after Baku, and Austria, a sprint race will take place on Saturday before the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Friday’s qualifying sets the starting grid for Sunday. On the other hand, a proper qualification will take place on Saturday noon for the sprint. Limited by the pouring rain on Friday on the Spa-Francorchamps track, the drivers were unable to complete the laps.
With only nine laps on the clock, Sainz set an anecdotal best time, ahead of the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The undisputed leader of the Formula 1 world championship Max Verstappen (Red Bull) is one of five drivers who have not recorded a time. Among them, we also find the French from Alpine Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
If the weather conditions do not allow the drivers to compete in qualifying later in the afternoon, the starting grid for the GP on Sunday will then be established according to the order of the championship. Thus, Verstappen would start on pole but according to the specialized press, the Dutchman will receive a penalty of five places for having changed his gearbox again, beyond the quota authorized per season.
For the time being, the FIA has not confirmed this information but if this were the case, his teammate at Red Bull Sergio Pérez would then start at the head of the GP on Sunday, ahead of the Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin). The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell would start on the second row, ahead of the Ferraris of Sainz and Charles Leclerc, respectively 6th and 7th in the championship.