Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from the front of the pack for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix despite Max Verstappen taking a hugely impressive pole position at a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps.
Verstappen reigned supreme throughout qualifying but the Dutchman’s 10-place grid penalty for an engine change means he will line up from only 11th on the grid.
His demotion elevates Leclerc to the sharp end with Sergio Perez second, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris will start fourth in his McLaren.
Verstappen has been bumped down the order for taking on his fifth internal combustion engine of the season here, one more than the four he is allowed.
Follow live updates from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri overtakes Charles Leclerc (Lap 37/44)
Big move from Oscar Piastri!
The McLaren has superior pace down the Kemmel Straight and gets it done on Leclerc around the outside… just!
Piastri up to third – and now has Lewis Hamilton, five seconds down the road, in his sights.
At the front, Hamilton continues to shave Russell’s lead – it’s now 3.7 seconds.
Top-10: Russell, Hamilton, Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Stroll
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 15:11
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton on team radio (Lap 35/44)
“What’s my pace, am I on target to beat him or not?” asks Hamilton.
Bono: “It’s close, it’s close.”
Hamilton: “Understood.”
The gap is 5.2 seconds to Russell. And he’s 2.9 seconds clear of Leclerc in third, but the Ferrari is under pressure from Oscar Piastri now.
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 15:07
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: George Russell is going to the end (Lap 33/44)
Russell, as he often does, gambling then and is going to the end on these tyres!
Hamilton is cutting the gap though, it’s now 5.4 seconds.
Leclerc is 2.6 seconds down the road, while Norris is just inside DRS range on Verstappen in fifth.
Top-10: Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Bottas
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 15:05
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri pits (Lap 31/44)
Piastri overextends in his pit box, coming in too hot and almost knocking over the front jack man!
It means a slow stop, 4.4 seconds, but he does come out in front of Verstappen in fourth.
Top-10: Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Bottas
And Russell, by the sounds of it, is staying out for a one-stopper! He’s seven seconds clear of his team-mate.
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 15:02
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lando Norris pits (Lap 30/44)
Indeed, Norris does pit – and he’s out behind Verstappen but in front of Sainz!
Verstappen, incidentally, only had a medium tyre available – so it will be interesting to see what performs better against Norris’ hard tyre!
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:59
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pits (Lap 29/44)
Verstappen and Sainz pit – will Norris respond too in the next lap?
Order is shaking up then amid these pit stops…
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:58
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri is pushing (Lap 28/44)
The Aussie sets a new fastest lap of the race!
“This looks good Oscar, let’s go!” says his engineer.
Piastri: “It goes without saying, but clean air is king.”
Piastri is 5.3 secs ahead of Russell, who now occupies second place. Could it be two in a row here for the McLaren?
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:56
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 26/44)
A 2.4 second stop – and Hamilton comes out three seconds clear of Leclerc in sixth!
Oscar Piastri now takes the lead of the grand prix!
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:53
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc pits (Lap 26/44)
Ferrari have gambled first!
A slow stop, 3.4 seconds, and Leclerc drops from second to seventh.
Now then, will Hamilton respond straight away or not?
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:52
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton on team radio (Lap 25/44)
Hamilton: “The tyres are still good.”
He extends his lead to Leclerc to 2.4 seconds. Mercedes are looking really good for the win here – it’s all about the next stage of pit stops though!
Norris, meanwhile, has just dropped outside of DRS range to Verstappen but the Red Bull is now two seconds behind Russell!
Top-10: Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Perez, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Albon, Ricciardo
Kieran Jackson28 July 2024 14:50
