Max Verstappen secures poles at the Belgian Grand Prix, while George Russell takes second in qualifying with a sublime lap around Spa

Max Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix on pole position after he produced the only lap under two minutes in a treacherously wet qualifying. But it was Williams driver George Russell who shocked the world as his time of two minutes flat was enough to see him on the front row, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. 

Lando Norris fastest in Q1

A downpour between third practice and qualifying left teams unsure what tyres to use in Q1. It was Williams who out-smarted the rest of the grid by being the only team to go out on the intermediate tyres. A spin by Nicholas Latifi ruined his and Russell’s laps. But it didn’t matter as Russell set a lap that was five seconds quicker than the fastest wet runners on his second go around. 

After everyone changed onto the intermediates it was standard procedure. Lando Norris took the fastest lap of the session and we lost Antonio Giovinazzi, Yuki Tsunoda, Mick Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Nikita Mazepin. 

Mercedes suffer a scare during Q2 around Spa

Q2 was near disaster for Mercedes as it took to their very final lap for both Bottas and Hamilton to get into the top 10. The Silver Arrows were the only team to go out on used inters and immediately realised their mistake as they pitted straight away with rain threatening. But they couldn’t find the pace with spots of rain appearing around the track. But another new set of tyres for the final go-around was enough to see them through.

Norris was again the fastest in the session as we lost Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Latifi, and Charles Leclerc.

Russell stuns everyone during Q3

Q3 started in pouring rain. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel on his out-lap said it should be red-flagged and it was a minute later when Norris crashed at Eau Rouge. The car was completely destroyed but the driver got out of the car unassisted and seemed OK, thankfully.

After a lengthy delay, the rain stopped and the drivers went back on inters. On the first lap around, Hamilton led Verstappen by five-tenths of a second. But on the second go around it was Russell who was quickest. His time was enough to put him on provisional pole. Hamilton crossed the line but he missed out by 0.13s.

The Williams team thought they had it in the bag but a mighty final sector from Verstappen put the Dutchman on pole for Sundays race.

Daniel Ricciardo starts fourth. With Vettel in fifth, Pierre Gasly in sixth, Sergio Perez in seventh, Valtteri Bottas in eighth and Sebastian Ocon in ninth.

By Charlie Parker