Oscar Piastri’s emphatic lap in the final part of qualifying saw him take pole position for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix Sprint Race in dominant style.
The McLaren driver took pole by almost half a second from Max Verstappen, with team-mate Lando Norris third.
There were big casualties, with Lewis Hamilton out of the first part of the session due to a possible car-related spin, and was followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli who spun earlier. Team-mate George Russell was out in SQ2.
SQ1 started with Isack Hadjar setting the first time, but some of the early running was truncated by Antonelli going wide through the strong gusts at Stavelot sent him into a spin across the gravel, but was able to rejoin.
The usual suspects – Piastri, Verstappen, Norris – all went to the top of the pile, but Lewis Hamilton was in desperate trouble, also going wide where Antonelli did.
This placed him in the danger zone, and he was unable to get out of it with just a minute to do, but went on one more run to try and ensure a longer stay in the session.
But, a spin at the Bus Stop confirmed his exit, and that ended the laps of everyone else looking for a late bid to get into SQ2.
Hamilton’s spin appeared to come from nothing, and the sound of locking from the rear axle was heard.
Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto and Antonelli all joined him, the Italian perhaps unable to move up the order through floor damaged in the earlier spin.
Russell exit completes miserable Sprint Qualifying for Mercedes
SQ2 was delayed by the gravel left on the circuit, leaving the marshals time to sufficiently sweep it off.
Just before 5pm local time, SQ2 began, and the McLarens were back on top straightaway, with Norris’ 1.42:182s taking him to the top just ahead of Piastri, whose first fast time was deleted for track limit infringements.
Verstappen went quickest with two laps to go with a 1:41.876s, but was immediately displaced by Leclerc, who set a lap around four tenths quicker.
Piastri went third, demoting Norris to fourth. With seconds remaining, all drivers went on their run to set a time, and both Racing Bulls went into safety, with Hadjar going third and Liam Lawson taking fifth.
Carlos Sainz went third, then Ocon did, with Bearman going fourth, and with more drivers coming in fast, Norris was on the bubble of danger.
He set a late lap to take top spot with a 1:41.412s, but George Russell was condemned to an early finish, languishing in 13th, and would be joined by Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and both Aston Martins.
SQ3 was also delayed with more detritis needing to be removed from the track but got going at around 10 minutes later, and with only four minutes left on the clock, all the cars came out, leaving them with just one lap.
Norris was first out and looked committed, as Verstappen followed behind on his lap. Norris set a 1:41.128s, but Verstappen went quicker by a tenth.
But it did not last, as Piastri took it by four tenths, with a 1:40.510s, a barnstorming lap.
Leclerc could only manage fourth, with the Haas cars working together to give Ocon a tow, giving him fifth place, with Sainz sixth, and Bearman in seventh.
Gasly was eighth, with Hadjar ninth, and Bortoleto rounding up the top 10.
READ MORE – F1 2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying Results
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