Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday, continuing his strong form this Formula One season. The Mercedes driver set a fastest lap of 1:44.361 on the 7.004-kilometre Spa-Francorchamps circuit, claiming his sixth pole of the year. Max Verstappen was second fastest, trailing by 0.317 seconds despite assistance from his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, who provided a slipstream on the final lap. Lando Norris of McLaren qualified third but will start from 13th on Sunday due to a 10-place grid penalty.
Antonelli described the qualifying session as challenging, noting changing track conditions but praised his team's consistent improvements. He acknowledged the importance of getting a strong start alongside Verstappen, especially heading into Turn Five. Verstappen, a three-time winner at Spa, credited Hadjar’s tow for securing second place on the grid, suggesting that without it he might have only qualified as low as sixth. The four-time world champion, who has yet to win this season, remained cautiously optimistic about his chances in Sunday’s race.
Antonelli’s championship lead has narrowed to 25 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell, who qualified fourth. The pair have seen challenges recently, with Antonelli missing out on victories in the last three races and finishing outside the points twice. In third place in the standings is Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who qualified sixth after his team swiftly repaired his car following a heavy crash in final practice.
Norris initially topped the times during the third qualifying segment, which was interrupted by a red flag to clear gravel following a spin by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. However, Norris and several other drivers will face grid penalties due to exceeding their allocation of engine components for the season. Norris and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll each received 10-place penalties, while Hadjar and teammate Fernando Alonso will start from the back of the grid.
Norris expressed frustration that his qualifying result would not reflect his starting position, acknowledging that the penalty will affect his chances of competing at the front. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc filled the fifth qualifying spot, just ahead of Hamilton’s sixth. Mercedes maintained their perfect record in qualifying pole positions this season, with Antonelli also leading both second and third practice sessions on Friday. The Belgian Grand Prix is set to take place on Sunday, with anticipation high for a fierce battle at Spa.