Marco Rossi · F1 Correspondent
Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position in Spa with a 1:44.361 – but for four Top Ten drivers, the result carries little weight for Sunday after confirmed grid penalties.
What had already been hinted at across the three free practice sessions was confirmed in qualifying: Andrea Kimi Antonelli was once again fastest when it mattered. His lap time of 1:44.361 was enough for pole position ahead of Max Verstappen, who missed out by 0.317 seconds. But the real story of the afternoon isn’t found in the timesheet alone – it’s in the number of already-confirmed grid penalties that will significantly reshuffle the starting order for the race.
Mercedes up front, Norris’ third-best time worthless
Behind Antonelli and Verstappen, Lando Norris posted the third-fastest time in the McLaren, 0.440 seconds off the pace – though it means nothing for the grid. The Briton must drop ten places after exceeding his allocation of power unit electronics components. George Russell rounded out a strong showing for the team in the second Mercedes with fourth place (0.508 seconds back), meaning the team is likely to claim not only the fastest time but also the front row once the penalties are applied.
Ferrari improvises after Hamilton’s practice crash
Charles Leclerc secured fifth on the grid, 0.532 seconds off the pace, narrowly ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton (0.534 seconds). That the two Ferraris were separated by just two thousandths of a second is remarkable given the morning’s events: after a heavy crash in third free practice, the team had to scramble to get Hamilton’s car ready again in the short time before qualifying. Oscar Piastri completed the group of drivers whose result actually reflects the starting order, finishing seventh in the McLaren (0.655 seconds back).
Hadjar, Alonso and Stroll already at the back before the race
Arvid Lindblad (eighth) and Gabriel Bortoleto (ninth) rounded out the Top Ten, before the next special case follows in tenth with Isack Hadjar, who set no recorded lap time in Q2: he too will start from the back after exceeding his power unit allocation, as will the two Aston Martin drivers already eliminated in Q1, Fernando Alonso (21st, 4.137 seconds back) and Lance Stroll (22nd, 4.312 seconds). Combined with Norris’ penalty, that means only nine of the afternoon’s ten fastest drivers will actually start from the front on Sunday – whoever fights their way up from behind them could well produce the real duel of the Belgian Grand Prix.
