Piastri secured pole position in sprint qualifying for the Belgian GP. He edged out second-place Max Vertappen by more than four tenths and Lando Norris by six, who will start third. Ferrari was a mixed bag: Leclerc managed to secure the second row, while Hamilton was eliminated in the first heat of these sprint qualifying heats. Mercedes fared poorly, with Antonelli and Russell failing to even make it to the third session. Haas, on the other hand, had a strong showing, with both cars finishing in the top ten.
First dramatic changes in sprint qualifying: Hamilton and Antonelli out
Green light and there's already a small skirmish between Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg, with the former accusing the German of an unsafe release when the latter exited his garage. Meanwhile, however, the first to set the very first time of the session was Isack Hadjar, who beat his teammate and the two Saubers. Kimi Antonell is slightly in difficultyi, who on his first flying lap spun at Stavelot. George Russell followed shortly after, passing the Italian and managing to qualify in fourth place.
Resumes from where he left off This morning, Oscar Piastri set the fastest time. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were more than two tenths behind. All the drivers on the grid were lapping and setting their times. with medium rubber. Leclerc and Hamilton are also well behind with two minutes to go. The Monegasque is eighth, while the Englishman is sixteenth. Therefore, both are ready to relaunch, as is Antonelli. Leclerc remains eighth. Antonelli nineteenth and Lewis Hamilton seventeenth instead, who spins at the final corner. Colapinto, Hulkenberg, and Albon are eliminated along with him.
In the second heat Piastri risks elimination
The second heat of sprint qualifying for the Belgian GP started slightly late. During the first session, Kimi Antonelli's spin brought gravel onto the track, which is why the stewards authorised the entrance of a tractor to clean the road surfaceThe green light then went off at 16pm, with the McLarens first to take to the track. Piastres takes the lead in the second heat, but, due to track limits, his time is thus eliminated. The first position then goes to his teammate, Lando Norris. Direct rivals, such as Verstappen, present more unloaded cars, setting excellent times in the first sector, but then losing a lot in the more driven sections.
The Dutchman, along with Leclerc, surprisingly managed to get ahead of Lando Norris, waiting for the fastest lap that Oscar Piastri would have to repeat. The other drivers, however, were waiting for the last few seconds to set their times. They thus took advantage of a better track than at the start of qualifying. Important performances of the Haas, Sainz, Bortoleto and Hadjar. Everyone inside as Lawson, Tsunoda, are eliminated. Russell, Alonso and Stroll. Piastri saved himself tenth place by 41 seconds over the New Zealander, while Norris reclaimed the lead at the checkered flag, after having dropped dangerously outside the top ten.
SQ3 begins: pole position no longer seems so obvious
The track conditions have changed, with the asphalt temperature dropping slightly by a few degrees. McLaren he passed the second heat unscathed, after having suffered the comeback of his opponents towards the end of the session. The sprint qualifying sessions for the Belgian GP are thus rekindled., with the drivers making a one-and-done attempt to finish as high up the order as possible. In fact, in the first minutes of Friday's final session, none of the drivers took to the track. Only with four minutes to go did the cars decide to exit the pits. In the lead, as in the second heat, There's Lando Norris, who will be the first to launch.
The Englishman is followed by Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. The Dutch, as usual, manages to get the upper hand in the first sector andhe takes the temporary first position, which however is stolen from him by a very strong Oscar piastri, detaching the Red Bull driver by almost five tenths thanks to a 1:40.510. Third is Norris, followed by Leclerc. Extraordinary Ocon in fifth positionSainz is sixth, followed by Bearman, Gasly, Hadjar and Bortoleto.
