The weather conditions in the Ardennes mountains might have favored Max Verstappen, with rain and mist enveloping Spa-Francorchamps, yet the reigning world champion still made a significant impression during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. As the fastest driver by a considerable margin, the Red Bull racer will need all his speed on Sunday to overcome a 10-place grid penalty, but a comeback is certainly on the table.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari earned pole position at Spa, achieving it with an impressive lap that squeezed a remarkable performance from a Ferrari that has faced challenges, especially in the difficult, wet conditions. Nevertheless, Verstappen’s performance overshadowed this achievement. He clocked a time of 1 minute 53.159 seconds, nearly six-tenths quicker than Leclerc in second place, followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez in third and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in fourth.
Following a challenging outing in Hungary where Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with both his car and his team, a sense of calm returned in Belgium. The team recognized that an engine replacement was necessary at some stage during the season and chose this event for the change due to Spa’s favorable overtaking opportunities. They are confident in their decision, having taken penalties in Belgium for three successive years, from 14th in 2022 and sixth last year, with Verstappen coming back to clinch victories in both instances.
Heading into this race, it was generally believed that a comeback would be unlikely due to the impressive pace demonstrated by McLaren and Mercedes in recent races. However, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri starting in fourth and fifth respectively gives Verstappen a fighting chance.
Red Bull introduced a modified low downforce aero package for Spa, shifting from the poorly performing high downforce configuration used in Hungary, and the results exceeded expectations. Significantly, they showcased exceptional race pace and strong tyre management, which will be crucial under warm, dry conditions on Sunday. Despite Leclerc’s outstanding performance, Ferrari and Mercedes are unlikely to keep pace with either McLaren or Red Bull.
Verstappen downplayed his chances after qualifying but acknowledged that he has a shot in dry conditions. “We will see what we can do,” he remarked. “I’m not as confident as in previous years about making my way back to the front. I view it largely as a damage limitation race.
“McLaren’s race pace is quite strong, and they will quickly contend for the lead. It all hinges on how I navigate lap one. I would be satisfied if we can match McLaren’s race pace. Starting further back, especially on different tyres, presents uncertainties.”
The opening laps will be critical. If Verstappen can execute quick passes and stay close to the leaders, he stands a chance. With a 76-point lead over Norris in the championship, he has a decent buffer. Conversely, his teammate Pérez faces more pressure, as his future with Red Bull will be decided during the summer break following this race. Starting from second place, anything short of a win could be seen as underwhelming, given Red Bull’s dominant form.
McLaren also anticipates a strong performance, despite not showcasing their full potential in the wet. Following a one-two finish in the last race, both drivers can expect improved performance in dry conditions, presenting a prime opportunity for Norris to close the gap on Verstappen. He is optimistic about his chances, yet the race remains open, with Verstappen surely holding faith in a comeback as the lights go out on Sunday.
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George Russell secured seventh place for Mercedes, with Carlos Sainz in eighth for Ferrari, Fernando Alonso in ninth for Aston Martin, and Esteban Ocon rounding out the top ten for Alpine.
Lance Stroll experienced a significant crash in the rain during the final practice session and was taken for a medical examination. Fortunately, he emerged uninjured, and his Aston Martin crew managed to repair his car in time for qualifying, where he finished in 15th.
Alex Albon qualified 11th for Williams, Pierre Gasly took 12th for Alpine, Daniel Ricciardo came in 13th for RB, and Valtteri Bottas finished 14th for Sauber. Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen followed in 16th and 17th for Haas, with Logan Sargeant in 19th for Williams and Guanyu Zhou in 20th for Sauber.
Yuki Tsunoda positioned himself in 18th for RB but will start from the back of the grid following a hefty 60-place grid penalty due to the installation of a complete set of new power unit components.
