Before qualifying, there was an initial practice session, but it was marred by heavy rain. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was the fastest with a time of 2:03.207 ahead of the pair of McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Verstappen was one of five drivers who did not complete a timed lap.
The qualification was already run on a drying track and it was also noticeable in the improving times. The two-time world champion and leader of the current championship standings Verstappen just barely advanced to the final part, but he dominated it with a performance of 1:46.168, just like in the course of the season so far.
“In the second part of qualifying I didn’t want to take any chances and I had a big sixth to advance,” Verstappen said. “But the track dried up quickly and in the last part there was more room to ride on the edge. I know I have a penalty, but I couldn’t do more today,” he added.
Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert, ČTK/AP
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Leclerc lost eight tenths to Verstappen. “We are still very far from him,” said the Ferrari pilot. “It’s great to be first and we have a chance to get a good result, but to say we want victory would be a bit over-optimistic. I think Red Bull has a much better car than us,” he added.
After a gearbox change penalty, Verstappen drops to sixth at the start. It will be the second worst starting position of the season for the Dutch pilot. He was only fifteenth in Saudi Arabia, but still finished second.
Verstappen will still be in the game to extend his unbeaten streak. The 25-year-old Dutchman won the last seven races and triumphed nine times in the season in total. He was second to team-mate Sergio Pérez in the remaining two Grands Prix.
Red Bull’s second driver will line up alongside Leclerc on Sunday, followed by Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Sainz and Piastri.
Sunday’s race will start at 3 p.m. At midday on Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps, sprint qualifying is on the agenda, followed by a 4:30 p.m.
Training and qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race at Spa-Francorchaps: Training: 1. Sainz (Spain/Ferrari) 2:03.2072. Piastri (Aust./McLaren) -0.5853. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -1.2774. Leclerc (Mon./Ferrari) -4.9415. Perez (Mex./Red Bull) -5.0336. Albon (Thailand/Williams) -5,187.Qualification for the main event: 1. Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) 1:46.1682. Leclerc -0.8203. Perez -0.8774. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) -0.9195. Sainz -0.9846. Piastre -1.197.
2023-07-29 08:08:54
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