Max Verstappen pipped Oscar Piastri by just 0.011s to earn pole position in Sprint Shootout Qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix. In drying conditions at Spa, Verstappen's final lap of the session was enough to just pip the McLaren rookie to P1, although Piastri will take the first front-row start of his career. Belgian GP pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was fourth after a mistake on his final lap, being out-qualified by teammate Carlos Sainz, with Lewis Hamilton down in seventh for Mercedes ahead of Sergio Perez.
Verstappen pips Piastri
After the first SQ3 runs, it was Hamilton who held the advantage, 0.088s up on Verstappen, but a squabble between the two Mercedes drivers proved costly on the final lap. George Russell, who took 10th, locked up but battled Hamilton through the run down and up the hill and onto the Kemmel Straight, costing Hamilton time. This opened the door for Leclerc and Verstappen, but a mistake at Turn 9 on the Soft tyres was enough to cost Leclerc not only pole but also position to his teammate Sainz. Piastri took advantage to beat Sainz by 0.014s to go onto provisional pole but Verstappen still had to complete his final flying effort. In the end, the World Champion beat Piastri by 0.011s to earn a second Sprint pole of the season and ensure he won both qualifying sessions over the weekend. Lando Norris was fifth in the sister McLaren, with Pierre Gasly out-qualifying Hamilton, Perez and teammate Esteban Ocon as both Alpines made it through to SQ3, with Russell 10th.
Stroll gamble backfires
In the second segment, Lance Stroll was the only driver to bolt on the slick tyres, with a set of Mediums fitted to the Aston Martin. The Canadian was unable to fit Softs as the FIA had not declared the track wet and so normal Sprint Qualifying tyre rules applied. After a tentative out-lap, Stroll crashed at Turn 9, the corner with no name before Pouhon, bringing an end to the end with 29 seconds still on the clock. The right-front of the AMR23 sustained most of the damage in the impact with the barrier. Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant and Stroll's teammate Fernando Alonso were the drivers to be eliminated as a result, with only Ricciardo setting a lap time. For the second segment, Verstappen topped proceedings from Hamilton.
Hulkenberg out without a time
In SQ1, the big story was the failure of Nico Hulkenberg to set a lap-time, missing the flag by a matter of seconds. An issue at his pit-stop during the segment with the front jack cost him a couple of seconds, by which he missed the timings, with the team apologising to him for the mix-up. He was 20th, and was joined in being eliminated by Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu as all four cars from Haas and Alfa Romeo fell as did one AlphaTauri. At the front, Verstappen topped the segment from Hamilton.
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