Piastri leads Verstappen and Norris for Sprint, as Hamilton and Mercedes fail to make SQ3 in a dramatic Spa shootout.
Oscar Piastri continued his strong form in Spa by securing pole position for the Sprint at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver delivered an emphatic lap in SQ3, beating championship rival Max Verstappen by nearly half a second, while teammate Lando Norris followed closely in third.
But the biggest shock of the session came earlier, as Lewis Hamilton suffered a costly spin in SQ1 and was eliminated in a mixed-weather qualifying hour that once again tested the grid’s precision and nerve.
SQ1: Hamilton Spins, Mercedes Falters
SQ1 produced the day’s biggest upset as Lewis Hamilton spun at the Bus Stop chicane on his last push lap, ending his session in the gravel and dropping him to 18th on the grid for the Sprint. Joining him on the sidelines were Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hülkenberg, and Alexander Albon – all failing to progress into SQ2.
It was another blow for Mercedes, who have struggled in variable conditions this season. Kimi Antonelli was knocked out after spinning off the track into gravel and flat-spotting his tires. Hamilton’s elimination, in particular, sets up a challenging Saturday for the Brit, who now faces a difficult task recovering into the points.
SQ2: Russell Out, Track Limits Bite
George Russell compounded Mercedes’ frustrations by failing to make the cut in SQ2, finishing 13th. The Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso also dropped out at this stage, as did Tsunoda and Lawson.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri had a lap deleted for cutting the curb at the top of Raidillon, an error that briefly raised concerns in the McLaren garage and which Piastri also called a “little scare”. But his pace remained strong enough to safely advance into SQ3, where he would soon reassert dominance.
SQ3: Piastri Dominates
In the final segment, Piastri delivered a commanding lap of 1:40.510, comfortably ahead of Verstappen’s best effort. Norris locked in third to secure another strong grid slot for McLaren, further underlining the team’s status as the fastest outfit in Spa’s technical middle sector.
Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon completed the top five, while Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman, and Pierre Gasly also performed well to claim strong starting positions for the Sprint.
With points on the line for the top eight finishers in the Sprint, strategy and tyre choices will play a key role on Saturday. Rain remains a threat, and Spa’s reputation for unpredictable microclimates means no lead is ever safe.
For McLaren, Piastri’s pole marks another statement of intent in the championship battle. For Hamilton, it’s a long road back, starting from P18, with just 15 laps to recover and rescue a difficult weekend.
Featured Image Credit : EverythingF1