Kimi Antonelli Secures Belgian GP Pole, Verstappen Second, Norris Penalty Drops to 13th
5 verified1 unconfirmed1 contested
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after a tense qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. The Mercedes driver beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds for his sixth pole of the season. Lando Norris qualified third but will start 13th due to a ten-place grid penalty, promoting George Russell to third on the starting grid. Red Bull used teammate Isack Hadjar to give Verstappen a slipstream during the session. Antonelli dedicated his pole lap as a birthday present to his father.
What’s verified
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds.
Lando Norris qualified third but will start 13th due to a ten-place grid penalty.
George Russell moves up to third on the starting grid as a result of Norris’s penalty.
Red Bull used Isack Hadjar to give Max Verstappen a slipstream during qualifying.
Antonelli dedicated his pole lap as a birthday present for his father.
Where accounts differ
The sources differ on the reason for Isack Hadjar’s back-of-grid start. One source states it was due to a power unit change, while another reports it was a 30-place penalty for exceeding the season allowance on multiple components. No other conflicting reports identified across sources.
Not yet confirmed
The exact starting positions of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are only reported by one source, placing them fourth and fifth. The specific details of Antonelli’s front wing change are only mentioned in one source.
Key figures
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes driver), Max Verstappen (Red Bull driver), Lando Norris (McLaren driver), George Russell (Mercedes driver), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull driver), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari driver), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari driver), Arvid Lindblad (McLaren driver), Oscar Piastri (McLaren driver), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi driver).
Sources: Sky Sports, abcnews.com, sbnation.com
