Max Verstappen starts the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday from fourth place. Lando Norris took pole at Spa-Francorchamps, ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc was third.
Verstappen previously won the sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. Afterward, the teams were allowed to adjust the cars again, and Red Bull fitted a different, larger rear wing to the world champion’s car for more downforce.
Much rain is forecast in the Belgian Ardennes on Sunday, especially in the morning and the hours before the race. That may come in handy. Showers are also very possible during the Grand Prix.
With that different wing, the 27-year-old Verstappen lost less time to the McLarens in the twisty middle sector of Spa-Francorchamps, but in total, he still came up short against the McLarens.
Verstappen lost grip in Q3
In Q3, Verstappen didn’t get a good lap out of his Red Bull at all. After losing grip in the first corner, his secure third place was snatched away by Leclerc and Ferrari.
Verstappen did stay ahead of the strongly driving Alexander Albon (fifth) and George Russell (sixth). Teammate Yuki Tsunoda qualified well for his standards with a seventh time.
Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton will also need the predicted showers on Sunday to work his way forward again. The seven-time world champion went over the white line in Radillion and saw the time with which he would have advanced to Q2 go up in smoke. The Ferrari driver starts Sunday in sixteenth place.