Lando Norris clinched pole position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, edging out Max Verstappen by a slim margin in a rain-hit qualifying session. The McLaren driver, who hasn’t started from the front since early in the season, described the result as a timely boost amid his push for consistent form.
“It’s great to be back on top,” Norris said post-session. “The car felt strong all weekend, and we nailed the laps when it mattered. Spa always throws curveballs with the weather, but we adapted well.”
Teammate Oscar Piastri, however, lamented a costly error in the final sector that dropped him to third on the grid. The young Australian admitted over-pushing on his last attempt, which cost him valuable time against the leading duo.
“I got a bit greedy in that last corner,” Piastri reflected. “It was there for the taking, but one mistake and you’re paying for it. Still, third isn’t bad – we’ll fight hard from there.”
Verstappen, starting alongside Norris, praised Red Bull’s setup tweaks but noted the challenge of overtaking at the Ardennes circuit. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lines up fourth, with Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and the incoming Oliver Bearman – replacing George Russell for 2025 – in fifth and sixth.
McLaren’s one-three grid lockout underlines their mid-season surge, setting up an intriguing battle in tomorrow’s race.
