Piastri Claims Pole Position in Sprint Qualifying at Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix after a commanding performance in the SQ3 segment, outpacing Max Verstappen by 0.477 seconds. With the iconic 4.4-mile circuit offering limited opportunities for overtaking, Piastri’s strategic advantage could prove crucial in the sprint race.
The qualifying session featured a high-stakes eight-minute shootout, where Piastri initially faced a setback in SQ2. He dropped to 10th after having his best time invalidated for exceeding track limits at Raidillon, narrowly avoiding elimination by 0.041 seconds. Once in SQ3, Piastri showcased his skill and the car’s downforce setup, posting a fastest lap of 1:40.510. Despite being fifth in the straight-line dominated first sector, he found his rhythm through the middle and final sectors, where he excelled.
“That was a good lap,” Piastri remarked, acknowledging the performance of his team and car. "This is a track I love – it’s my favorite one of the year. The car has been in a good window from lap one."
However, Piastri remained cautious, noting the challenges presented by the Red Bulls’ straight-line speed: “This is probably the worst track to have pole position at… But I think the pace in the car is really strong."
Verstappen’s deficit primarily stemmed from the middle sector, where he was nearly half a second slower than Piastri, likely due to his car being trimmed for top speed. Lando Norris, Piastri’s McLaren teammate, qualified third but trailed closely with a 0.618-second gap.
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth for Ferrari, 0.768 seconds off the pace, while Esteban Ocon impressed with a fifth-place start for Haas, securing the fastest first sector but ultimately finishing 1.055 seconds shy of Piastri. Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top ten positions.
Notably, Lewis Hamilton faced a disappointing elimination, ending up 18th after a spin at the final chicane and an earlier incident at Stavelot relegated him from contention.
Sprint Qualifying Results:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:40.510
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.477
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.618
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.768
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +1.055
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +1.255
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1.269
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.512
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +1.524
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – +1.675
As teams prepare for the Sprint race, the strategic repercussions of this qualifying session are set to unfold, particularly in the context of Spa’s unique demands and competitive landscape.
