P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton in DISASTER early exit at Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton faced an early exit from the Belgian Grand Prix during SQ1, setting him up for a challenging sprint race at Spa on Saturday.
A mistake by Hamilton behind the wheel of his Ferrari cost him precious time, followed by a spin on his second flying lap, ultimately relegating him to P18 on the starting grid for the sprint race.
Hamilton’s spin, which seemed to be due to a technical issue leading to his engine stalling, dashed his hopes of advancing to SQ2.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes also had a difficult session, as a costly spin into the gravel left him starting at the back of the grid in P20 for the sprint race.
The F1 Sprint Qualifying format features three elimination windows, culminating in SQ3 where the remaining 10 drivers battle for grid positions on race day.
Red Bull faces uncertainty at the Belgian GP, with Verstappen’s car under scrutiny by the FIA, as the drama at Spa unfolds.
