Kimi Antonelli outpaces Max Verstappen to grab pole for Belgian Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, outpacing Max Verstappen by a significant margin. Meanwhile, Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar face grid penalties that will impact their starting positions for the race.
Why it matters
The qualifying results and grid penalties significantly alter the competitive landscape for the upcoming race, impacting the ongoing drivers' championship.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took pole position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix , comfortably beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen into second place at Spa-Francorchamps in an intimidating margin of more than three-tenths of a second, the largest advantage for pole so far this season.
Lando Norris was third place, but McLaren’s defending world champion has a 10-place grid penalty after he used his fourth battery unit of the season, one more than allowed under regulations, meaning he’ll start Sunday’s race from 13th.
Antonelli’s team-mate and title rival George Russell – who trails the Italian by 25 points in the drivers’ championship – could only manage fourth, a full half a second back, leaving the British driver with serious work to do if he is to stay in the title fight.
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