World champion Max Verstappen has dominated wet qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix but due to a grid penalty, Charles Leclerc will start the race from pole.
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Red Bull's Verstappen clocked 1 minute 53.159 seconds on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit to finish more than half a second ahead of Ferrari's Leclerc.
Verstappen's team-mate, Sergio Perez was third, and will share the first row with Leclerc because Verstappen will serve a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding engine allowance and enter the race from 11th.
It was a deliberate decision by Red Bull because Spa offers good overtaking opportunities. Verstappen also served grid penalties the past two years and still won, from 14th in 2022 and sixth in 2023.
"It was a nice qualifying session," said Verstappen. "The car worked well in the wet.
"I know tomorrow will be warmer, and with no rain. This was the best I could do today with the penalty. I hope we can be in the mix to try and move forward."
Leclerc admitted he was surprised to find himself on pole. "I did not expect this today. With the tricky conditions we could do something above our expectation. Without the rain, we would have been looking at fifth position," he said.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will start from third. The McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Australia's Oscar Piastri, will be fourth and fifth, respectively, on the grid.
Another Australian, RB driver Daniel Ricciardo, finished 13th, 1:43:682 adrift.
Triple champion Verstappen is winless from his last three races and his Red Bull team are also struggling overall, not as dominant this season as in the past two years.
Verstappen tops the drivers' standings, 76 points ahead of Norris.
Australian Associated Press
