Lando Norris secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps after a closely fought battle with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris delivered a remarkable lap in Q3, edging out Piastri by less than a tenth of a second to claim his fourth pole of the 2025 season. The result gives him a crucial opportunity to reduce the nine-point gap in the Drivers’ Championship. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc put in an impressive performance to take third, ahead of Max Verstappen, who couldn’t match the McLarens after a strategic downforce adjustment.
Lewis Hamilton had a disastrous qualifying session, getting knocked out in Q1 for the second day in a row. His best lap was deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 4, placing him 16th on the grid. This follows Friday’s Sprint Qualifying where Hamilton also failed to advance after a spin. His Ferrari teammate, Kimi Antonelli, also exited in Q1, while George Russell salvaged some pride for Mercedes by qualifying sixth behind Williams’ Alex Albon. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda qualified a career-best seventh, ahead of Racing Bulls’ rookies and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Norris’ pole-setting lap of 1:40.562 came in his first Q3 attempt, with Piastri unable to surpass it. Despite not improving on his final run, Norris remained composed and confident, citing minor issues on Friday that were resolved ahead of Saturday’s session. He noted the McLaren was performing excellently all weekend, crediting healthy internal competition with Piastri. With rain expected on Sunday, Norris’ pole could be a major advantage in a race where track position may prove crucial early on.
Verstappen, who finished fourth, struggled with a new set-up designed to counter wet weather conditions. Red Bull opted for more downforce to avoid the balance issues he faced at Silverstone, but the adjustment backfired. Verstappen described the car as draggy and unbalanced, admitting he couldn’t push as needed at Spa. Meanwhile, Leclerc was pleasantly surprised by his pace, overtaking Verstappen to secure third place in what was a solid qualifying effort for Ferrari.
Hamilton was visibly frustrated after his Q1 elimination, calling his performance “unacceptable” and apologizing to his team. He admitted his errors contributed to both poor qualifying sessions and noted that Ferrari’s recent rear suspension upgrade might have affected the car’s feel. With no further upgrades expected this season, Hamilton now focuses on redeeming himself in Sunday’s race. The Belgian GP kicks off at 2pm with full coverage on Sky Sports F1, promising an action-packed continuation of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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