Norris takes pole position for Belgian F1 GP after Verstappen wins sprint race
Date: 2025-07-26T15:49:04.000Z
Title: And with that
Content: Max Verstappen took sprint race honours at Spa, but slipped down the grid to fourth in qualifying as McLaren locked out the front row
Tom Bassam
Sat 26 Jul 2025 16.46 BST
First published on Sat 26 Jul 2025 10.23 BST
4.46pm BST
16:46
we wrap up our Formula One live coverage for the day. Luke McLaughlin will be your man for the race tomorrow, light out at 2pm.
4.44pm BST
16:44
Here is Giles Richards' qualifying report from Spa:
4.26pm BST
16:26
Verstappen has spoken to Sky after slipping down to fourth in Q3. On his setup for qualifying, he said: 'I was hoping it would help the driving feeling bit it didn't do that. It was a bit weird and we need to look into that. I couldn't push, which you need to do around Spa.'
Asked about being fourth on the grid, he said: 'I would have liked to start third, we felt that was our posiition today but it didn't come together.'
As for tomorrow's race: 'In the wet it's tricky around here. We'll see how much rain will fall and give it our best shot.'
4.15pm BST
16:15
Norris, who looked thorough nonplussed during the sprint race earlier, said he knew he had more in the tank, even if others didn't: 'Everyone was pretty worried after yesterday, I wasn't even that far off. I was confident coming into today, so I was happy to be back at the top.
'The car has been flying all weekend, Oscar has been doing a good job so we have been pushing each other which is good. It is a good but tough battle we are having at the moment.'
With the forecast looking wet for the race tomorrow anything could happen, but Norris would like to avoid that if possible: 'I'd prefer it to stay dry to be honest - it would be nice to have a dry Sunday.'
4.12pm BST
16:12
Piastri is clearly disappointed with his P2: 'The second lap was coming together really well and I just made a little mistake into 14. It's fine margins out there. Not a bad place to be starting, but there was more in [the car] so that is disappointing.
'I felt I did an okay job today, but did not execute when it matters. Bit of a shame. I don't know what the weather will hold tomorrow, we'll wait and see what we get.'
4.10pm BST
16:10
Leclerc speaks to Nico Rosberg on Sky: 'I'm very happy today. It is strange to say that as it is still three tenths [off] and third place but we thought we were quite far back, but that was a really, really good lap and I loved how the car felt.
'It took some time to maximise those upgrades on the car, but I have felt comfortable with the car since FP1. It is good to have a qualifying where you look back and know you left nothing on the table.'
4.06pm BST
16:06
1. Norris (McLaren)
2. Piastri (McLaren)
3. Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Albon (Williams)
6. Russell (Mercedes)
7. Tsunoda (Red Bull)
8. Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9. Lawson (Racing Bulls)
10. Bortoleto (Sauber)
4.02pm BST
16:02
Leclerc goes quicker than Verstappen! Big shock there. Norris on pole as Piastri cannot better his time and Alex Albon bumps Russell down to sixth.
Updated
at 4.03pm BST
3.59pm BST
15:59
We'll get Verstappen's time first, he has a fresh set of tyres on. Will it make a difference?
3.58pm BST
15:58
Out laps underway, two minutes to go.
3.56pm BST
15:56
All cars are in the pits as they prepare to have one more go at moving up the grid.
3.55pm BST
15:55
Bortoleto sees his lap time deleted due to breaching track limits. He's currently tenth
3.53pm BST
15:53
In the early fast laps, Norris leads Piastri from Verstappen. Leclerc fourth and Russell fifth. Six minutes left.
3.49pm BST
15:49
The cars head out for the top ten shootout, we'll know who is on pole in 12 minutes.
3.46pm BST
15:46
Bortoleto goes from out of Q1 through to Q3 thanks to Hamilton's elimination.
3.44pm BST
15:44
So the back of the grid tomorrow will looks like this:
11. Esteban Ocon
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Pierre Gasly
14. Nico Hulkenberg
15. Carlos Sainz
16. Lewis Hamilton
17. Franco Colapinto
18. Kimi Antonelli
19. Fernando Alonso
20. Lance Stroll
3.42pm BST
15:42
Ocon, Bearman and Gasly also bumped out.
3.41pm BST
15:41
Hulkenberg is out but Bortoleto has gone quicker and may make it to Q3. Sainz is gone too.
3.39pm BST
15:39
Verstappen has stayed in the garage, he seems happy with his current time and is saving his tyres.
3.37pm BST
15:37
Crunch time as we tick down towards the final three minutes, all the cars out on track.
3.34pm BST
15:34
Six minutes left and Hulkenberg, Bortoloeto, Gasly, Sainz and Bearman on the bubble.
3.32pm BST
15:32
With nine minutes to go, Piastri is the first to put a big time on the board. He is currently quickest with a 1:40:626. Norris is just behind him.
3.29pm BST
15:29
A few cars, including the Red Bulls, out on the track.
3.26pm BST
15:26
Bortoleto is the man who gets a reprieve, sneaking through in 15th.
3.24pm BST
15:24
We lose Hamilton, Colapinto, Antonelli, Alonso and Stroll. Hamilton thought he had made it through as he posted the seventh fastest time on his final hot lap but his time doesn't count for a track limits violation.
3.17pm BST
15:17
This will come down to these last laps, with most drivers out on the track now. Norris and Piastri look safe, Verstappen is thrd fastest.
3.15pm BST
15:15
Three minutes to go, Russell and Antonelli in the Mercedes are yet to post a decent time. They're both below the cut line and heading out.
3.14pm BST
15:14
Five minutes left in Q1, Norris' new best time is a major step up from Leclerc, some sixth tenths.
3.11pm BST
15:11
Seven minutes to go, Sainz and Lawson have just posted quick times, Leclerc sits on top. Hamilton sixth fastest, he'll need more as the usual suspects are yet to post second times.
3.09pm BST
15:09
Nine minutes to go in Q1, Piastri so far the fastest, ahead of Verstappen and Norris.
3.06pm BST
15:06
Sainz didn't complete but Hulkenberg is out now. Race officials are going to investigate his incident with Stroll post-session.
3.03pm BST
15:03
Carlos Sainz is out on a hot lap.
3.03pm BST
15:03
No further action on the Bearman-Alonso incident.
3.02pm BST
15:02
The race directors are looking at an incident between Bearman and Fernando Alonso from the pit lane. I'll update on that when there's an update. Also looks like a bump with Hulkenberg and Stroll too.
2.58pm BST
14:58
We're about three minutes away from the start of qualifying. Cars heading out shortly.
2.39pm BST
14:39
After this morning's sprint race here the latest top six in the drivers' championship standings:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 241
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) 232
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 173
4. George Russell (Mercedes) 147
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 124
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 103
2.29pm BST
14:29
Hello, welcome back! Qualifying is set to get underway in about 30 minutes and after a sprint race where Verstappen looked in pretty good form, this from Giles Richards on Red Bull's new era under Laurent Mekies is a nice primer:
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