Belgian GP: Kimi Antonelli beats Max Verstappen to pole at Spa-Francorchamps with Lando Norris to start 13th after grid penalty

18.07.2026, 18:37 skysports.com

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after a tense conclusion to qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.

Antonelli dominated practice but Lando Norris was on provisional pole after the first Q3 runs only for Antonelli and Verstappen to topple the McLaren driver.

Verstappen benefitted from a big slipstream with the help of Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar, who starts at the back due to a power unit change, but missed out on pole to Antonelli by 0.317s.

Antonelli absorbed the pressure of being favourite with a strong final lap and has a big opportunity to extend his 25-point lead in the Drivers' Championship over George Russell, who qualified fourth and was half a second down on his team-mate.

Norris will start 13th because of a 10-grid place penalty for exceeding his control electronics allowance - an element of the power unit - so Russell will move up to third on the grid.

Ferrari will be disappointed as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start fourth and fifth, making it difficult for the Scuderia to continue their recent winning form.

Hamilton crashed heavily in final practice but Ferrari were able to change his suspension, floor and gearbox in time for qualifying with no impact on the car's performance.

Stream every F1 race with NOW

Belgian GP schedule and how to watch

F1 team-mate head-to-head scores

Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp

British teenager Arvid Lindblad had his best qualifying in eighth as he continues his impressive rookie season, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri in seventh and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth.

1) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull3) Lando Norris, McLaren*4) George Russell, Mercedes5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari6) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren8) Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls9) Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi10) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls***10-grid place penalty**starts at the back

More to follow...

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sunday July 197.30am: F3 Feature Race9am: F2 Feature Race10.45am: Porsche Supercup12.30pm: Belgian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX4pm: Belgian GP reaction: Chequered Flag

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix with Sunday's race at 2pm (build-up from 12.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime