Kimi Antonelli beats Max Verstappen to secure Belgian Grand Prix pole

Kimi Antonelli secured his sixth Formula 1 pole position of the 2026 season, edging out Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds in a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. The Mercedes driver’s dominant final lap of 1 minute 44.361 seconds ensured he started alongside Verstappen on the front row, with the Red Bull driver benefiting from a strategic slipstream assist from teammate Isack Hadjar, who started at the back due to grid penalties.

The session was marked by dramatic shifts in pace, particularly in the final stages of Q3. Lando Norris initially led after the first runs, posting a time of 1m44.801s, but Antonelli and Verstappen overtook him. A red flag interrupted the final runs after gravel scattered on the track at Stavelot, extending the gap between the first and second attempts. When action resumed, Antonelli delivered a decisive lap, while Verstappen’s bid for pole was hampered by a late near-miss with Hadjar during his final effort.

Antonelli’s victory highlighted his consistency, as he extended Mercedes’ dominance in qualifying this season. The Italian, who leads the championship by 25 points over teammate George Russell, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “It was not a straightforward session, the track changed a lot,” he said. “But we were able to improve lap by lap and bring home pole, which was nice.” Verstappen, meanwhile, credited Hadjar’s tow for his strong performance, admitting, “Otherwise I would not be standing here. Otherwise I think I would be like P6, or something.”

McLaren’s Norris, who qualified third, will start 13th due to a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his power unit component limits. The penalty promoted Russell to third, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupying fourth and fifth. Hamilton, who suffered a heavy crash in final practice, was able to return to the track after Ferrari’s rapid repairs, though he finished 0.534 seconds behind Antonelli.

The starting grid saw significant reshuffling due to penalties. Norris and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll each lost 10 places, while Hadjar and Fernando Alonso started from the back after accumulating multiple power unit changes. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad, benefiting from an upgraded car, claimed eighth, while Liam Lawson narrowly missed Q3, finishing 0.038 seconds behind Gabriel Bortoleto. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto secured 12th and 13th, respectively, with Colapinto’s late improvement pushing out Nico Hulkenberg, whose session ended early due to a hydraulic leak.

The race promises to be a battle for supremacy, with Antonelli and Verstappen set for a front-row showdown. The long, high-speed layout of Spa-Francorchamps favors aerodynamic efficiency, a potential challenge for Ferrari, whose drivers struggled to match the pace of Mercedes and Red Bull. Meanwhile, Norris’s penalty leaves him in a difficult position, though his ability to overtake on the circuit’s many straights offers hope for a strong performance.

As the 2026 season enters its critical phase, Antonelli’s dominance in qualifying underscores his position as the title favorite. Yet, with Verstappen’s resilience and the unpredictable nature of Spa, the Belgian Grand Prix could once again deliver a memorable contest for the championship. The race begins on Sunday, with fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the intense rivalry between the two drivers.