Belgium GP: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on pole for fourth consecutive time

Lewis Hamilton won the pole for the fourth time in the season

Lewis Hamilton, clocking a 2:01.012 in his Mercedes, won the pole for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Mercedes have secured eight of the last nine pole positions, with Hamilton taking it for the fifth time. The Red Bull team mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished at second and third position, recording 2:01.200 and 2:01.325 respectively.

Despite clocking 2:02.332, Force India’s Paul Di Resta could only manage a fifth place finish. He looked well on his way to win his first pole position in Formula 1 but as the rain eased off, the big guns pulled it back.

Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen, the closes challenger to Vettel, finished a dismal eigth, while Ferrari‘s Fernando Alonso finished P9. Alonso was aiming to challenge the Red Bulls, after having topped third practice earlier today. But, the easening of the conditions at the end of Q3 dealt a severe blow to the Spaniard’s hopes.

A rather despondent Alonso rued the lottery luck that usually accompanies a wet session of qualifying, saying: “I think it was the conditions that helped us in Q3. In Q1, with wet conditions we were first. In Q2 in the dry, we were second, so I think the pace is there. We were not maybe to fight for pole, but we were in contention for fourth or fifth. The aim is to win. Anything can happen here. If we manage to pass people in front, we have the pace.”

Hamilton, who’ll start from pole at Spa, said: “It was a good job by the team. I was surprised when I came across line. I went wide in Turn One and my dashboard told me I was three seconds down and then it was four seconds and then six so I didn’t know what was going on but I kept pushing. It’s a blessing I am up here. Generally I feel comfortable in changing conditions. I can find the limit and I pushed through the middle sector and really caned it.”

Qualifying 1:

Pastor Maldonado was the first man out on track, followed by Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas and then the two Toro Rossos.

Fernando Alonso finished the fastest while the six drivers who were eliminated at the end of Q1 session included Pastor Maldonado, Jean-Eric Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Gutierrez and Charles Pic.

For the first time in the season, all four Brits made it into Q2 with Max Chilton doing so for the first time in his career.

Qualifying 2:

Kimi Raikkonen, edging past Alonso, finished fastest in the Q2 session. Mark Webber ended up at third while Force India’s Paul Di Resta and Jenson Button finished at fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Nico Hulkenberg, Adrian Sutil, Sergio Perez, Giedo Van Der Garde, Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton were the six drivers who were knocked out at the end of Q2 session.