SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium : Championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by more than three tenths of a second with a commanding final lap for Mercedes.
The 19-year-old Italian clocked a lap of one minute 44.361 seconds to secure his sixth pole position of the season, finishing 0.317 seconds clear of the four-time world champion. Defending champion Lando Norris qualified third for McLaren but will start 13th after serving a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation.
Antonelli’s pole extended Mercedes’ streak to 10 consecutive pole positions this season and marked the largest pole-winning margin of the campaign.
“Let’s go, man. Let’s go!” Antonelli shouted over team radio after securing pole.
Reminded that it was his father Marco’s birthday, he added: “Happy birthday, Dad.”
“The last lap was good. It was a nice lap. It was very clean, so very happy,” Antonelli said.
“Tomorrow is another day. With Max starting next to me it will be important to get a good start and be ahead into Turn 5.”
George Russell qualified fourth to make it two Mercedes cars in the top four, ahead of Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from a crash in final practice earlier in the day to take sixth.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri qualified seventh, followed by Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
Hadjar, who will start from the back of the grid because of penalties, played a key role in Verstappen’s front-row qualifying effort by providing a slipstream during the Dutchman’s laps.
“I wouldn’t be here without that,” Verstappen said.
“It was a definite help for me. If not, I would be like P6. Today, knowing he is to start at the back of the grid, Isack did a really good job giving me a tow.”
Hamilton had begun qualifying under pressure after crashing his Ferrari in the closing stages of final practice, but the seven-time world champion advanced comfortably into Q3 and secured sixth on the grid.
The opening qualifying session saw both Aston Martin drivers, both Cadillacs, Haas’ Esteban Ocon and Williams’ Alex Albon eliminated.
In Q2, Liam Lawson, both Alpine drivers, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, who suffered a hydraulic problem, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Haas driver Oliver Bearman failed to progress.
Lindblad continued his impressive form by reaching Q3 in eighth place, while Antonelli capped another dominant qualifying performance to strengthen his position at the top of the championship heading into Sunday’s race.
