Yahoo Autos Max Verstappen Captures Pole but Will Start P11 at Spa, Charles Leclerc to Start P1
After a power unit switch was conducted on Friday, Max Verstappen knew the best he could start was in 11th position, and he had to capture the pole to do so.
Rain hit the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Q3, and while fast in the first two sessions, Verstappen conquered the rain with a 1:53.159 lap.
Charles Leclerc, who hadn't flirted with the front row for the first two sessions, soared in Q3 to finish second quickest and start on the pole.
Charles Leclerc will start on the pole for the first time since winning his home race at the Monaco Grand Prix at the end of May. While Leclerc was not the fastest in qualifying, the field knew from the start that Max Verstappen would not be starting on the pole after acquiring a 10-place grid penalty for a power unit swap.
The current championship leader will start in 11th, while his closest competitor for the WDC, Lando Norris, will start fourth after qualifying fifth. Verstappen still has a 76-point lead over Norris but has finished behind Norris in the last two grand prix.
Verstappen is on a three-race losing streak, which usually wouldn't be long enough to mention, except that this is only the second time since 2021 that he has lost three races in a row. The last time was leading into the 2021 season finale when Lewis Hamilton won three in a row to take the championship battle to the Yas Marina.
Spa, while tricking, gives the opportunity for drivers to make it through the field, passing or attrition, but Verstappen will have his work cut out for him, passing the seven other race-win contenders.
In front of Verstappen are both Mercedes, both Ferraris, the McLarens and his teammate Sergio Perez. Six of these drivers, excluding Perez, have race wins this season and will be hellbent on not letting Verstappen pass.
Perez, facing pressure from Red Bull Racing for his poor performance since round seven, qualifies third for the second race in a row; he'll start on the front row next to Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton and Norris will complete the second row, followed by their teammates Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
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