Lando Norris clinched pole position for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix following a sensational qualifying performance at Spa-Francorchamps. The McLaren driver narrowly edged out teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri by just 0.085 seconds. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen followed closely in third and fourth, respectively. However, Lewis Hamilton endured a disappointing session, getting knocked out in Q1 for the first time since joining Ferrari, after breaching track limits on his final lap.
Earlier in the day, Max Verstappen triumphed in the sprint race despite starting behind Piastri, overtaking him at the first corner and maintaining the lead throughout. Piastri’s inability to reclaim the top spot means he enters Sunday’s main race trailing Norris by nine points in the championship standings. The weekend also marked Red Bull’s first event without long-time team principal Christian Horner, with Laurent Mekies now at the helm, though Verstappen has downplayed the leadership change’s effect on his future.
The top 10 qualifiers showcased some standout efforts beyond the McLaren duo. Williams’ Alex Albon secured a brilliant fifth-place start, celebrating just making it into Q3. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda impressed with a career-best qualifying in seventh, aided by recent car upgrades. Rookies like Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Gabriel Bortoleto also made it into Q3, with Bortoleto benefiting from Hamilton’s deleted lap to sneak into the final session.
Verstappen’s struggles were evident as he complained about grip during his final Q3 run, blaming his tires for the lack of performance. Meanwhile, Norris delivered a near-perfect lap early in Q3, clocking a 1:40.562 that neither Piastri nor Verstappen could better. As the skies threatened rain, tension built on the pit wall, and the qualifying podium lacked its usual exuberance, possibly hinting at nerves about the upcoming weather or the tight title battle.
In Q2, several notable drivers were eliminated, including Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Carlos Sainz, with Oliver Bearman also missing out narrowly. Tsunoda and Bortoleto capitalized on their opportunities, with the latter reaching Q3 for the first time, showing signs of potential in the Sauber. As anticipation builds for Sunday’s race, all eyes are on the front row, where the McLaren teammates will battle it out once again.
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