Verstappen posts fastest qualifying time, but Sainz will start on pole

Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix was always going to be a strange one, given that Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Zhou Guanyu, Mick Schumacher and Valtteri Bottas all knew beforehand that they would be serving grid penalties.

Verstappen looked sharp as he posted the fastest time of Q3, of 1:43.665, but he’ll move backwards to P15 and this leaves second-quickest Carlos Sainz at the front of the grid for Sunday’s race, even though he was 0.632 seconds slower than the Red Bull.

“I’m happy to be starting on pole, but obviously not so happy to see the gap to Verstappen this weekend,” Sainz said.

“But, to start from pole is a good start and we will try to win from there tomorrow.”

Sergio Perez was third in qualifying and will start second, while Sainz‘s Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc was fourth fastest, which, after the grid penalties, translates into a P16 start, just behind his championship rival Verstappen.

Further back, Alex Albon made it into Q3 for the first time this season, meaning all 2022 drivers have reached the final stage of qualifying at least once. As a result of grid penalties, he’ll start sixth.