Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the rainy qualification for the Belgian F1 Grand Prix
Francisco Seco, ČTK / AP
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A native of Hasselt, Verstappen, Belgium, will try to erase an eight-point shortfall on Hamilton on Sunday’s almost home track. With a time of 1: 59.765, he scored his sixth pole position of the season. In Belgium, he will start from the first place for the first time in his career, so far he has been the third twice in the race.
Verstappen secured the fifth pole position from the last six races in the final lap, when he overcame the fastest Hamilton to date on the drying track. In addition, the reigning champion, who will attack the jubilee 100th victory in his career, was not even good enough for his compatriot Russell. He took care of his team’s sensational success and will start from the front row with Williams for the first time.
There will be no substitute for the canceled F1 in Japan, the season will have 22 races
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The third qualifying part was initially affected by Norris’ accident. The McLaren pilot skidded in the heavy rain and crashed hard into the barrier. Although he escaped in good health and went to the medical car “on his own”, the qualification was interrupted for almost 40 minutes due to rain and dangerous conditions.
The co-driver of Mercedes Valtteri Bottas did not succeed either. The Finnish rider finished eighth on his 32nd birthday and due to a penalty for an accident in the previous Hungarian GP he will lose another five places at the start. Lance Stroll from Aston Martin, who will start from the last 20th place, also received the penalty of losing five places.
The Belgian Grand Prix, which will be the first race after a four-week summer break, will start on Sunday at 15:00 CEST.
| Qualification for the Belgian Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship in Spa-Francorchamps: |
| 1. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) 1:59,765 |
| 2. Russell (Brit./Williams) -0,321 |
| 3. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) -0,334 |
| 4. Ricciardo (Austr./McLaren) -1,099 |
| 5. Vettel (Germany / Aston Martin) -1,170 |
| 6. Gasly (Fr./AlphaTauri) -1,399 |
| 7. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) -2,347 |
| 8. Bottas (Fin./Mercedes) -2.737 |
| 9. Ocon (Fr./Alpine) -3,748 |
| 10. Norris (Brit./McLaren) without time. |
| Note.: Bottase is waiting for the loss of five places at the start of the race due to a penalty. |
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