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By the time the final part of Belgian GP qualifying came around, both McLaren drivers had got to a very similar place. Mark Hughes explains how Lando Norris took pole from Oscar Piastri’s grasp
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, edging out his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by 0.085 seconds at Spa.
Max Verstappen showcased the advantage of starting second by passing Piastri in the sprint race and holding on to that position. Despite being outqualified by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, Verstappen faced a pace deficit compared to the McLarens.
Norris’s pole lap was slightly slower than Piastri’s sprint pole due to changing track conditions, with the sun increasing temperatures during the final qualifying runs.
Verstappen’s strategy was hindered by limited new sets of soft tires, allowing Leclerc to overtake him for third place on the grid.
Both McLaren drivers showed improvement in qualifying, with Norris ultimately claiming pole position after a closely contested battle with Piastri.
