Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix with a 1:44.361 on his final Q3 run at Spa-Francorchamps, beating Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session that featured a red flag and late heartbreak for Lando Norris, according to the FIA’s official results.
The Mercedes driver delivered the fastest lap of the weekend on the decisive run after Verstappen had briefly seized the top spot with the help of a slipstream from Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar. Norris, who had held provisional pole with a 1:44.801, was unable to complete his final attempt after running through the gravel at Turn 13, leaving him third. With Norris carrying a grid penalty, Antonelli and Verstappen will share the front row, while George Russell and Charles Leclerc move up to the second row.
Norris set the early pace in Q1 with a 1:45.865, edging Verstappen by just 0.065 seconds. Hadjar impressed in third for Red Bull with a 1:46.062, ahead of Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad and Antonelli. The elimination battle at the bottom of Q1 proved razor-thin: Carlos Sainz narrowly progressed in 15th, while Oliver Bearman missed the cut by 0.033 seconds. Alexander Albon was a further 0.007 seconds adrift in 17th. Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were also eliminated, with Aston Martin enduring a particularly difficult session as both its drivers finished at the bottom of the order.
Antonelli raised his game in Q2, posting a 1:45.142 to go fastest ahead of Leclerc, Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen set a 1:45.589 for fifth and, confident his time would hold, stayed in the garage for the closing runs. Hadjar improved to secure ninth and the final Q3 berth, while Liam Lawson could only manage 11th. Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hülkenberg, Sainz and Bearman were eliminated.
The top-10 shootout produced high drama. Red Bull sent Hadjar and Verstappen out first to exploit the slipstream, with Verstappen initially posting a 1:44.984. Antonelli, Leclerc and Norris all moved ahead on their first runs, with Norris taking provisional pole. The session was then red-flagged after Oscar Piastri ran wide at Stavelot and dragged gravel onto the circuit, setting up one final attempt for the entire field.
On the restart, Verstappen used another tow from Hadjar to briefly reclaim the top spot before Antonelli responded with his commanding pole lap. Russell qualified fourth with a 1:44.869, just 0.024 seconds ahead of Leclerc, while Hamilton was a mere 0.002 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate in sixth. Piastri recovered from his earlier off to qualify seventh, followed by Lindblad, Gabriel Bortoleto and Hadjar.
The result sets up a compelling front-row battle between Antonelli and Verstappen for the Belgian Grand Prix at one of Formula 1’s most storied circuits.