A difficult track to read, a Sprint weekend and a more compact program, with only one free practice session conditioned by pioggia. Thethe fear of not being able to compete in the qualifications, and having to use the World Drivers' Championship ranking to determine the starting grid on Sunday, it became more concrete at the end of the FP1. However, the long rainy day on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit did not prevent F1 from taking part in the final qualifying sessions before the summer break, albeit in difficult conditions having such a long circuit, and with a 10 minute delay on the timetable. So let's see what happened and who were the protagonists of this unusual session in Belgium.
Q1 in mixed conditions
As expected, the conditions immediately began to show different strategies between the teams. The first to get into the pit lane well in advance - a good 7 minutes before the start of the session - are Russell and Hamilton both on intermediate tyres, followed by Bottas. A risky move, to try to set a time already with these compounds on a track that is still wet but with bright sunshine. Despite the different timing, all the teams took to the track with intermediate tires. The only one not to take to the track after the session started was Logan Sargeant, due to ongoing work on his Williams.
The first to launch is George Russell with a rather high time of 2:02.360, also thanks to the traffic in the last corners. His teammate does better but the track continues to improve and the lead passes to Lando Norris, with a time of 2:01.874. The English driver comes from two consecutive podiums, a Silverstone and Hungary. Chills for Norris with 10 minutes left in Q1. The McLaren driver picks up speed and makes a short excursion into the gravel, fortunately without any particular consequences. The team decides to bring him back to check the fund.
With 10 minutes to go, Ferrari lights up with Carlos Sainz who further lowers the time. The Spaniard has already set the first time in FP1 and thrives in these conditions. Instead he would like more rain Charles Leclerc, only sixth. Max Verstappen took first position in Q1 with 4 minutes to go, the first to go under 2 minutes. We remind you that the Dutchman will have to serve 5 positions penalty on the starting grid for the gearbox replacement.
With 1 minute to go the riders at risk are Ricciardo, Albon, Sargeant, Magnussen and Hulkenberg. At the front, positions change very quickly, thanks to the improvement of the track and thanks to the sets of new tires used in the final phase of Q1. Hamilton, Verstappen and Piastri the top 3.
At the checkered flag in Q1 the first eliminated from qualifying are: Albon, Zhou, Sargeant, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg. The German Haas driver only completed 5 laps due to a hydraulic problem. The best three instead were Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton. The Monegasque saved himself on the last lap thanks to a splendid third sector.
Q2 it's about strategy
The track continues to dry and many start again on used tyres. The first to set the time improve with fast laps, and they are all those who have a set of new tyres. After a series of changes, the lead is taken by Max Verstappen, with a time of 1:55:535 followed by Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc. Valtteri Bottas takes the risk of going down on slicks with 7 minutes to go. He's the first to do it. Everyone follows him except the two Ferrari drivers who leave a little later than the others. Sainz of the two is the one most at risk. Hamilton, Russell, Stroll and Norris were also virtually out with 5 minutes to go. 2 minutes from the end, an excursion by Ocon causes the French pilot's wing to break and the impact also ruined the barrier.
Everyone wants to keep warm for the last lap, for the most important shot. Every driver who crosses the finish line improves. Which makes everything uncertain until the end. And having said that, Max Verstappen saves sensationally on the wire, tenth, after a crazy Q2. However, Tsunoda, Gasly, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon didn't make it. Instead, Piastri, Sainz and Leclerc took the first positions.
Q3, there are no more excuses
Max Verstappen will have to quickly get over his anger, as at the end of Q2 he opened up in a polemical radio team with his engineer, Lambiase, who responded in kind. Q3 always starts under the sun and with the first drivers looking for the driest points of the track, all using soft tyres. In this last phase the DRS can be used. The first to set the time was Fernando Alonso, overtaken by Norris and Piastri who overtook his teammate by a tenth. Excellent first attempt also for Charles Leclerc, who achieved the best time, followed by Verstappen and Sainz. Less brilliant attempt by Sergio Perez, only seventh on the first try. The only ones to do two flying laps are Hamilton and Russell, but the move doesn't particularly pay off. 5 minutes from the end of qualifying the two Mercedes men are sixth and ninth.
Last shot at Spa, the first to go out for the last attempt are Stroll, Leclerc and Sainz. Perez comes out last. Leclerc scores 1:46.988, but there is Verstappen who improves considerably in the central sector. The Dutchman conquers a wonderful Pole Position, 8 tenths of a second from Leclerc's time. The Monegasque will still start from Pole in Spa due to Max's penalty. Perez is next to him. Second row for Hamilton and Sainz. While Piastri will start fifth, next to Max Verstappen. Rounding out the Top Ten are Norris, Russell, Alonso and Stroll.
What qualifications! Here are the session times.
