Max Verstappen took an impressive fastest time in an exhilarating Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session – but a five-place grid penalty will see Charles Leclerc start the race from pole position.
It was a far from straightforward session for the championship leader, however, after the Red Bull man snuck into Q3 by the skin of his teeth in 10th position – and had some words for his team over the radio. But by the end of the session everyone had made up as he secured the best possible position for his race.
READ MORE: Penalty-hit Verstappen fastest in Belgian GP qualifying as Leclerc set to start from pole
In the end Leclerc will inherit pole for the race, as he put in a stellar lap of his own during an action-packed session, while Verstappen’s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez is elevated to the front of the grid after his P3 finish in qualifying.
On a day of plenty of change at Alpine – with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane to leave after the Belgian Grand Prix weekend – both cars exited in Q2, Esteban Ocon taking a bumpy trip through the gravel before forcefully colliding with the wall at Turn 9.
To watch all the highlights from qualifying, where the track conditions forced plenty of teams to think on their feet, click on the video player above.
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