Kimi Antonelli secures pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, beating Max Verstappen after a tense qualifying session. Multiple outlets report that Antonelli’s fastest lap is set on his final run, with the pole-winning time recorded around 1 minute 44 seconds. Verstappen finishes second, and the margin between the two is reported as 0.317 seconds by The Independent, while other coverage describes the result as close. Some reports note that Verstappen’s position is affected by team circumstances, but all accounts agree Antonelli’s qualifying performance determines the front of the grid.
Belgium’s qualifying also shows other Mercedes positioning, with Antonelli’s teammate George Russell listed as trailing further back, including being mentioned in fourth by BBC Sport. Coverage additionally highlights that Lando Norris is set to start further back due to a grid penalty, and that Lewis Hamilton faces difficulties, with one outlet stating he cannot mount a serious challenge for pole. Overall, the sources converge on Antonelli’s pole and Verstappen’s second-place finish as the key outcomes of qualifying.
