Belgian GP Qualifying Facts & Stats: Williams secure first front row start at Spa in 20 years

It was an action-packed qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps with rain delays, crashes and red flags – not to mention a surprise front row, with George Russell sensationally set to line up alongside Max Verstappen for the Belgian Grand Prix. Here are some of the fascinating numbers thrown up by that thrilling qualifying...

• It was Red Bull’s first pole position at Spa for ten years in their 50th race with Honda.

• George Russell’s P2 is the first front row start for Williams since Lance Stroll in Italy in 2017.

READ MORE: Verstappen denies Russell shock pole in dramatic wet qualifying session at Spa

• It is also the team’s best qualifying at Spa since locking out the front row in 2001 with Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher.

• Russell also ties his best qualifying performance, achieved for Mercedes in Sakhir in 2020.

• Lewis Hamilton lines up in third place, having only taken one pole in the last eight races with his P1 start in Hungary.

• Nobody has won from third on the grid here since Michael Schumacher in 2001.

• Daniel Ricciardo’s fourth is his best qualifying since joining McLaren.

• Sebastian Vettel’s P5 is the best start for Aston Martin since Roy Salvadori qualified on the front row at Aintree in 1959.

WATCH: Norris walks away after dramatic Eau Rouge-Raidillon crash in Belgian GP qualifying

• Pierre Gasly has his ninth top-six start in 12 races this season.

• Valtteri Bottas is set to start a lowly P13 after his grid penalty is applied.

• Esteban Ocon has tied his qualifying head-to-head with Fernando Alonso at six apiece.

• Lando Norris was quickest in Q1 and Q2 and looked on for a strong result until his crash in Q3.

HIGHLIGHTS: See all the key moments from final practice for the Belgian Grand Prix

• Ferrari failed to reach Q3 with either car at Spa for the second year running.

• Nicholas Latifi reaches Q2 for the second time this season, having also managed the feat at Imola.

• Carlos Sainz has fallen by the wayside in Q2 in four of the last five races – but he has scored points in the last three races regardless.

• Lance Stroll failed to reach Q3 for the third consecutive race.

• Antonio Giovinazzi ends a five-race streak of Q2 appearances after qualifying in P16.

• Yuki Tsunoda was out in Q1 for the seventh time this season, and third race running.

• Kimi Raikkonen exited at the first time of asking for the fifth time in six races, and second year running at Spa.

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