Piastri Claims Pole at Belgian GP Sprint, Hamilton Stumbles to 18th
Oscar Piastri secured a commanding pole position for the Sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix, showcasing his prowess at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The McLaren driver achieved this feat by outpacing his competitors with a margin of 0.4 seconds, marking a significant turnaround after a disappointing penalty at the British Grand Prix three weeks prior.
Piastri’s performance was highlighted by his strong showing in Friday’s practice session, where he also set the pace. His closest title rival, Lando Norris, qualified in third place, while reigning champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished in second. This weekend marks a notable moment for the Red Bull team, as it is the first race without former team principal Christian Horner, who has been with the organization for two decades.
Race Day Dynamics at Spa-Francorchamps
In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Ferrari, faced an early exit from qualifying after spinning during his final lap of SQ1. This mishap left him starting the Sprint from 18th position, a significant setback for the seven-time world champion. Hamilton’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, managed to qualify in sixth place, while the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli struggled, finishing 13th and 20th, respectively.
With Hamilton and both Mercedes out of contention in the early rounds, midfield teams took advantage of the situation. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman from Haas secured fifth and seventh positions, respectively. Other notable performances came from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who rounded out an uncharacteristic top ten.
The results of the Sprint qualifying set the stage for an exciting 15-lap dash on Saturday. Fans can look forward to watching the Belgian GP Sprint, which promises to deliver thrilling action from the start.
Top 10 Qualifiers for the Belgian GP Sprint
1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Lando Norris, McLaren
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) Esteban Ocon, Haas
6) Carlos Sainz, Williams
7) Oliver Bearman, Haas
8) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
9) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
10) Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
The excitement continues as the 2025 Formula 1 season resumes at Spa. The Sprint format returns to the track, promising an action-packed weekend for fans and competitors alike.
