P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc bagged a surprise 25th career pole position for Ferrari at a wet Belgian Grand Prix qualifying
Charles Leclerc was surprised to secure pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, as he initially expected to fight for fifth place. Despite starting Q3 in seventh position and trailing Max Verstappen, Leclerc’s strategic use of fresh tires landed him in second place. Due to Max Verstappen’s grid penalty, Leclerc will officially start from pole, marking his 25th career pole and best qualifying result since Monaco in May. Leclerc acknowledged the rain’s impact on the qualifying results, as without it, Ferrari would have battled Mercedes for fifth place. Leclerc expressed satisfaction with his Q3 performance but remains cautious about maintaining his lead during the race, especially considering Spa’s challenging start. Leclerc emphasized the unpredictability of racing and plans to assess the situation post-rain to make strategic decisions during the race.
