The fans arrived at Spa they can breathe a sigh of relief. The result of yesterday's qualifying will not be used. In fact, the rain only delayed the second qualifying session of the weekend, the one that will determine the starting grid for the Sprint race, the third of the season. Inevitably will also delay the departure of the Sprint, now scheduled for 17:05 p.m. But let's see what happened in Belgium and who will start on Pole in this afternoon's race!
SQ1, Haas disaster
With a full 35 minutes behind schedule, the first to go down to the pit lane for the start of the session were, like yesterday, the two Mercedes drivers. Compared to the qualifications of yesterday but the temperatures are lower. The Brackley team brought some important updates to Hamilton and Russell's W14 this weekend. On Sunday the two will start in third and eighth position respectively. Compared to the qualifying result, Lewis has in fact gained a position due to the penalty di Max Verstappen who will start sixth on Sunday.
The fastest time after the first minutes was set by Lewis Hamilton, but it is still high: 2:02.297. The others do better than English. Verstappen, Russell, Piastri the top 3 after the first attempt. Like yesterday the track is starting to dry out and the times are dropping. Given the limited time available, particularly at Spa, being one of the longest circuits, a single lap makes the difference.
Two minutes from the end the two Haas drivers return to the pits. They have to go around because they haven't made an attempt yet, but they're really running out of time. In fact they both exited in SQ1, Hulkenberg without even having set a time. In fact, apologies for the timing come from the pits. The others leaving Q1 are Tsunoda (P16), Bottas (P17), Magnussen (P18), Zhou (P19), Hulkenberg (P20). Russell, fifteenth, and surprisingly Lando Norris, thirteenth, were saved on the wire. Excellent Williams, Albon finishes the SQ1 in fourth position, Sargeant in ninth. Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso the Top 3.
SQ2 yellow Aston Martin
The first to set the time is Daniel Ricciardo, this time pardoned by Track Limits. Yesterday the Australian failed to pass the SQ1 cut despite a good pace. Lando Norris does better than Daniel. His first attempt is on 1:56.828. Despite the sun, no one dares riding slicks. They're all still on intermediates.
Logan Sargeant goes off the track in a spin but manages to keep it on the track avoiding an interruption. The first and only one to try the slick gamble was Lance Stroll who complained to the team that it was too early for this type of compound - the medium. The choice surprises everyone. His last flying lap is to be followed with bated breath. Unfortunately the gamble didn't pay off, Stroll disastrously lost his car and hit the barriers. A choice that he paid double. The session ends early. Alonso – who by the way turns 42 today – had not yet qualified for the SQ3. In short, a nice birthday present from his team. The eliminated from this part of the qualifying shootout are therefore: Ricciardo, (P11), Albon (P12), Sargeant (P13), Stroll (P14), Alonso (P15).
SQ3, Pole goes to Max
In the last phase of qualifying everyone takes to the track on soft tyres. There is little time, just 8 minutes. In the meantime, an attempt is being made to justify Aston Martin's choice of the medium tire for Stroll's SQ2. As explained by Mara Sangiorgio, on Sky Sport, the the mystery could lie in a quibble in the regulation that obliges the teams in the event of a dry session – in today's case, even though the qualifying was wet, the communication did not arrive – to clear the yellow in Q2 of the shootout. Version confirmed by Stroll at the end of the session.
But let's get to the action on the track. After the first push attempt the top 3 is made up of Hamilton Verstappen and Norris. At Alpine they decide to do three push laps. Similar strategy for Perez who puts himself in P1 with this attempt. Last attempt for everyone, the last to finish will be Max Verstappen. He makes a mistake with Leclerc, who goes wide, and drops to P4, losing at least 3 tenths. The finale plays on the edge of the vintage. Max Verstappen takes pole in the qualifying shootout, followed by a surprising Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz. Leclerc finishes in P4, with hindsight without that error a Pole would have been possible. Disappointing day also for Norris who finished in P5. Gasly finishes in P6. Hamilton and Russell finish behind, after a misunderstanding between the two. Hamilton finishes in P7 while Russell in P10. Perez finishes the session only in P8 followed by Ocon in P9.
Here the order of arrival of the qualifying shootout!
