Max fourth after Spa quali: 'Not an easy session'

Published on 26 July 2025 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen qualified fourth for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. Lando Norris claimed pole position and secured an all McLaren front row with team mate Oscar Piastri. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three and will line up alongside Max.

“I had absolutely no grip in the first corner”, said Max. “We made some changes with the tyres and it just did not work. That’s a bit of a shame, because otherwise we would’ve been closer. During quali I never really felt I could push. I never had a really good balance in the car. Of course we made some adjustments, but in general it was a bit more tricky. I would’ve preferred to be third, that’s where we should’ve been, but it didn’t come together in Q3.”

The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver also previewed tomorrow’s Grand Prix, during which there is a chance of rain: “It’s always tricky here in the rain. We’ll have to see how much rain there is, but fighting with the McLarens will be difficult. Anything can happen, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Q1 starts eventful for Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso has to hit the brakes hard to avoid slamming into Bearman as the Haas steers out of his pitbox. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll hits the front wing of Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber. The Alonso/Bearman incident is not investigated further, but the Stroll Hulkenberg touch will be investigated after the session.

Further up the pitlane, Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari and the two Mercedes continue to struggle this weekend. Hamilton’s lap time is deleted due to a track limit infringement resulting in the seven time world champion stranding in Q1. Kimi Antonelli joins Hamilton down at the bottom of the timing sheets, whilst teammate George Russel squeezes through to Q2. Colapinto, Stroll and Alonso fail to progress as well.

In the second part of quali, Max is the first driver to set a lap, but soon after, the McLarens go quicker, with Norris, Piastri and Max comfortably through to Q3. Sainz, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Bearman and Ocon fail to progress.

Max’s first run in Q3 produces a 1:41.0 on a used set of the softs. The McLarens head out on a fresh set of Pirellis with Norris taking provisional pole position after the first of two flying laps. On his final attempts, Max struggles for traction at the La Source hairpin, resulting in a yellow first sector. Although he claws back time in the remainder of the lap, the Dutchman is unable to fight for pole and has to settle for fourth as Leclerc squeezes past Max in the dying seconds of the session.

At the very front, Norris is not able to improve on his first lap, but maintains pole position with Piastri in second.

Contest Belgian GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!

Results qualifying Belgium: