Verstappen shines with pole in Belgium but will start sixth due to a penalty

Leclerc, who set the second fastest time, eight tenths behind the champion, will start first, while Sainz and Alonso will start fourth and ninth

MADRID, 28 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) has taken pole position, the eighth of the season, at the Belgian Grand Prix, the twelfth round of the Formula 1 World Championship at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), with the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), fifth and ninth, respectively.

The current world champion rode the last lap of Q3 to set the best lap with a 1:46.158, eight tenths faster than Leclerc (1:46.988) and his teammates, ‘Checo Pérez’ (1:47.045). However, he will start sixth on the grid for Sunday’s race, having been penalized five positions for changing his gearbox.

The Madrid driver could only set the fifth fastest time, although the penalty on ‘Mad Max’ puts him fourth for the race on the Belgian track. The two-time Asturian champion will start from ninth position, confirming that the Aston Martin is currently the fifth car on the grid in terms of performance.