Lando Norris clinched pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix in a rain-hit qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, edging out McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.003 seconds. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who set the quickest lap, will drop to 11th on the grid due to a 10-place penalty for exceeding engine allocations.
Norris, driving the upgraded McLaren, navigated the tricky wet conditions masterfully in Q3, posting a 1m53.981s to claim his fourth career pole. Piastri looked set to snatch it until a slight error in the final sector cost him, leaving the all-McLaren front row intact.
Verstappen dominated with a 1m53.159s, but his penalty—stemming from a new internal combustion engine—hands the advantage to the papaya duo. Sergio Perez lines up fourth for Red Bull, followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in fifth and George Russell in seventh, sandwiching Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
The session unfolded amid variable weather, with light rain intensifying in Q3, forcing drivers onto intermediates. Earlier, Q1 saw Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda eliminated, while Q2 knocked out Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ Alex Albon.
Norris reflected post-session: “The car felt alive today; we pushed hard in the wet.” With McLaren’s strong form this season, including recent wins, they aim to capitalize against Verstappen’s charge from mid-pack. Race day promises drama, especially if more rain arrives.
