'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAkYcK/8QAIRAAAgEDAwUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCAAQRBQYSExRBouH/2gAIAQEAAT8A1rca1IsLiMXRLVwY0ADzHOflM31arZKHaPlxOOXUIz7V/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIh/9oACAECAQE/AFp//8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/aAAgBAwEBPwB//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Max Verstappen pulled off a masterclass at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and claimed pole position in the 2024 Belgian GP qualifying. The Red Bull driver was mighty in the middle sector and, as a result, he was around six-tenths faster than his nearest competitor, Charles Leclerc.
The Dutchman managed to clock 1:53.159 on the timesheet in his penultimate flying lap and was thoroughly unchallenged by his rivals. Charles Leclerc, in his final flying lap, could only extract 1:53.754. Red Bull's Sergio Perez wrapped up P3 in the qualifying with 1:53.765 on board.
However, Verstappen's grid penalty sent him to the back. The Dutch driver incurred a ten-place grid penalty after he opted to use an extra Internal Combustion Engine for the Grand Prix. The penalty sent him back to P11 and promoted Leclerc to the pole, followed by Perez in P2.
Trending
The difference between drivers in the front row is agonizingly close, with just 0.011 seconds separating the two. Their promotion meant the drivers till P11 in the qualifying received one place advancement.
Lewis Hamilton moved up to P3, thanks to the penalty. His compatriot Lando Norris joined alongside him, and behind him is Oscar Piastri. They completed the top five.
They are followed by Mercedes' George Russell, Ferraris' Carlos Sainz, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Williams' Alex Albon in P6, P7, P8, P9 and P10, respectively.
Here is the complete grid line-up for the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix:
Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, are all set for a mega F1 Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton, in the post-qualifying interview, stated that he expected a Max Verstappen masterclass on Sunday at the Belgian GP. He believed that the Red Bull star could make his way to the top quickly and take himself into contention for podiums, and even a race win.
"Max will make his way through pretty quick, I think their car is the fastest here this weekend. Or at least tied with McLaren," Hamilton said.
Verstappen, on the other hand, is also determined. The three-time world champion put himself up front, thanks to his wet weather race craft. However, he knows the weather will be different on Sunday, but he is ready for the challenge.
"It was a nice qualifying, luckily the weather was okay, raining a little bit but we could still do a decent qualifying. The car was working quite well in the wet so I could just do my laps. Tomorrow is a different day, warmer, no rain," Verstappen said.
Ahead of the Belgian GP race, Max Verstappen leads the Drivers' standings with 265 points, 76 more than second-placed Lando Norris. Charles Leclerc is third with 162 points.
