Max Verstappen was quickest in qualifying for the Belgian GP, but a grid penalty for an engine change means the Red Bull will start the race from P11 while Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez get to be on the front row on Sunday
Inconsistent wet weather meant it was a hectic session with no one able to rest on their laurels as track conditions changed by the second, even Perez only just making the final cut at the end of Q2.
Those unlucky to make the grade for the top ten were Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo, while neither Haas driver proved able to progress beyond the first round.
The good news was that after the morning washout, the rain had stopped during the interval. The bad news that more rain during qualifying was forecast with dark clouds soon clamouring for attention over the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Anything could happen in the next hour.
Q1: Piastri quickest in wet start to qualifying, Haas miss out with both cars
Inevitably there was a crowd of cars waiting on intermediates to get out when the lights went green at the end of pit lane, Oscar Piastri annoyed to have the two Haas cars muscle into the queue ahead of him. The track was wet enough for intermediates with cars throwing plenty of spray up into the air, and race control keeping DRS set firmly in the 'off' position.
Piastri set the initial pace with a lap of 1:57.411s before the Red Bull drivers made their play, Max Verstappen going top by a second and a half. He was almost immediately deposed by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. The two Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell then tucked into third and fifth respectively, despite Hamilton complaining of having no grip whatsoever.
The two Alpines made strong starts, Pierre Gasly second ahead of Piastri and Esteban Ocon eighth just behind Lando Norris. With the inters soon moving water off the race line, Leclerc improved his time to go quickest ahead of Daniel Ricciardo's flier in the RB, before a new effort from Piastri put the McLaren back on top on 1:54.835s.
Norris was at risk of elimination but a last gasp lap put him through. Likewise, improvements from Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon saw them to safety. Russell was left in the bottom five with only time for one more lap, but he jumped into the top ten with Perez and Sainz making similarly late escapes from the drop zone. That left the two Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen along with RB's Yuki Tsunoda, Williams' Logan Sargeant and Sauber's Zhou Guanyu missing the cut.
Q2: Verstappen fastest as changing conditions result in a mad scramble to make the cut
The threat of more rain remained on everyone's minds, so there was another quick start to the second round of qualifying. Albon led the way out on a new set of inters and briefly went top before Norris took over, then it was Verstappen back in charge with a time of 1:53.857s as the rain briefly picked up in intensity again.
The worsening conditions meant Gasly tried but failed to force his way into the top ten. Russell was also at risk in P11 along with Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll with the track too wet to allow them to drive their way out of trouble until Russell aquaplaned into a lurid slide but somehow managed to vault into P4.
Evidently the track was coming back to them. The two Ferraris likewise scampered to the safety of the top ten leaving Perez on the bubble. He was dumped into the drop zone by a flier from Ricciardo, but the Perez responded immediately by punching in the fourth fastest lap. Ocon went even quicker and now it was the two Mercedes in danger of elimination. Hamilton and Russell promptly responded, their final push laps putting them P2 and P3 respectively.
After a breathless finish to the round Perez found himself back on the bubble - but he had survived nonetheless and just made the cut. Missing out were Albon, Gasly, Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll.
Q3: Verstappen quickest but Leclerc pips Sunday pole position from Perez
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were at the head of the line to get back out on track even as the rain continued to fall, meaning that there was still no alternative to running on inters and forsaking DRS.
Hamilton was top initially with Piastri P2 ahead of Russell despite dipping a wheel in the gravel along the way. Verstappen and Perez quickly shot to the top with a time of 1:53.159s for the championship leader on fresh tyres, six tenths ahead of his team mate on a used set.
Ferrari initially opted to run used tyres with Sainz only seventh ahead of Leclerc, saving a fresh set of inters for their final push. McLaren and Mercedes both opted to leave their drivers out for a second run but found little improvement, although Norris was able to edge ahead of Piastri. By the time everyone pitted and embarked on their final runs, the rain had picked up again.
Leclerc pulled out something special to go second ahead of Perez who was out of fresh tyres. Verstappen also couldn't improve his existing time: he remained top anyway. but will start tomorrow's race from P11 due to his grid penalty for an additional engine.
That will leave Leclerc and Perez on the front row of tomorrow's grid, with Hamilton and Norris sharing row two ahead of Piastri and Russell. Sainz was only eighth putting him alongside Alonso, while Ocon will be paired with Albon at the back of the top ten just ahead of the demoted Verstappen who will be aiming to make short work of them all when the lights go out on Sunday.
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