Oscar Piastri delivered a standout performance for McLaren in Sprint Qualifying at Spa, comfortably taking pole after showing strong pace throughout the day. Despite a track limits scare in SQ2, he recovered well to top the final session, with teammate Lando Norris securing third despite a compromised final out-lap. Team Principal Andrea Stella praised the efforts of both drivers and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the upcoming sessions, especially given the unpredictable Spa weather.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen slotted into second, splitting the McLarens with a strong lap, benefiting from a low-downforce setup that helped in Sector 1. Although pleased with the result, Verstappen noted the challenge of extracting performance during a Sprint weekend with limited setup time. Yuki Tsunoda, on the other hand, was left frustrated after narrowly missing out on SQ3 and struggling with car balance, which his team attributed to the tight grip window of the car.
Ferrari experienced mixed results, with Charles Leclerc securing fourth place after feeling confident with recent upgrades. Lewis Hamilton, however, endured a disappointing session after spinning out in SQ1 due to a rear lock-up. Team Principal Fred Vasseur highlighted the positives in Leclerc’s performance but acknowledged Hamilton’s misfortune, pointing out the need for better setup evaluation under Sprint conditions and hinting at progress with the new parts.
Haas impressed with both cars reaching SQ3 for the first time this season. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman qualified fifth and seventh, respectively, signaling a positive turnaround following a frustrating weekend at Silverstone. Team boss Ayao Komatsu commended the teamwork and setup strategy, confident they can now convert strong grid positions into valuable points and continue climbing the Constructors’ standings.
Elsewhere, Williams showed promise despite early setbacks. Carlos Sainz bounced back from a fuel issue in FP1 to qualify sixth, while teammate Alex Albon struggled with straight-line speed and missed the cut in SQ1. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly impressed with an eighth-place finish after setup changes, though Franco Colapinto lagged in 19th. Meanwhile, Racing Bulls, Kick Sauber, and Mercedes all had inconsistent outings—with Mercedes particularly disappointed, as Kimi Antonelli’s crash and George Russell’s off-track excursion caused both drivers to miss SQ3. Aston Martin’s Alonso and Stroll showed decent early pace but couldn’t capitalize, though they remain hopeful their race performance will be stronger.
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