Lando Norris Poles At Belgian GP Qualifying Session As Max Verstappen Sprint

 

Lando Norris poled for the fourth time this season in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session, as McLaren claimed one-two front row positions after Max Verstappen won the Sprint race with an emphatic control.

Piastri had dominated the grid from the practice session and the Sprint qualifying session. He started in the lead in the qualifying session, but Verstappen swiftly moved ahead at Turn One and led the Sprint. The Red Bull driver controlled the pace through 12 laps as the McLaren duo chased on. Norris had earlier dropped to fourth before improving to finish in third. 

The qualifying session was dominated by the McLaren duo. Norris posted the fastest time in Q3 in 1:40.562s with Piastri in second. it was the Briton's thirteenth F1 pole position. Piastri, on his second run, could not upset the time set by his teammate, who did not need to make a second run as his first was enough to keep him in pole position. 

Lewis Hamilton, for the second time this season, dropped out in Q1 despite improving to P7. The five-time Belgian GP champion's time was canceled for breaking the track limit regulations and was dropped to P16. However, Charles Leclerc got a front row position, having finished in third, and Verstappen followed in fourth.

The defending champion from last year, Hamilton, will face an uphill task of defending the race, having to start in P16. That leaves an advantage to his rivals, particularly either of the McLaren duo, to have their maiden victory in Belgium.