Belgium GP Qualifying Report

First Gasly and then Hamilton crashed into the same bit of wall during Free Practice; Gasly gave his team 24 hours more to fix the car before Qualifying.  Everyone was ready for the first session and we were having an unusual Spa because the weather was not top of the agenda.  There were no shock exits in the bottom six: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Perez, Alonso and Stroll.  It was Norris, Verstappen and Hadjar at the top of the time sheet with the highest running Mercedes being Russell in fifth.  Was it looking like the battle to bring upgrades was finally paying off?

Antonelli was back at the top after the second session.  The bottom siz were Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Sainz and Bearman.  

Between sessions, Hulkenberg had to retire his car at the side of the track because of a hydraulics leak.  He was removed quickly.  With six minutes to go, the final session was Red Flagged and stopped because there was gravel on the track.  Norris was fairly close to pole but abandoned his last lap allowing Antonelli to take it.  Behind him was Verstappen, Norris, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Piastri, Linblad, Bortoleto and Hadjar who did not set a time despite going out to give his team mate a tow.

Hadjar will start at the back of the grid and Norris will move back ten places, both for taking on new parts to their cars.  It still looks like an interesting front row to start the Belgian Grand Prix with although I feel it is inevitable that Verstappen will lead the first ten laps or so before Antonelli takes over for the win.