Oscar Piastri from McLaren had a stunning qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix, earning pole position for the sprint race. The Australian, who is currently leading the world championship, achieved a remarkable lap time that was 0.477 seconds faster than Max Verstappen of Red Bull and 0.618 seconds ahead of his teammate Lando Norris, who is also vying for the championship.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the fourth spot, trailing by 0.768 seconds, while Lewis Hamilton faced a tough day, finishing in 18th place after an error in the opening session and a spin during his second lap. In a surprising twist, Esteban Ocon’s Haas claimed fifth position, followed closely by Carlos Sainz from Williams and Oliver Bearman, Ocon’s British teammate.
Others rounding out the top 10 included Pierre Gasly from Alpine, Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, and Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber. Piastri’s journey to pole was notable as he narrowly advanced to the final qualifying session, initially finishing tenth but rebounding strongly after a previous lap was invalidated due to track limit violations.
Piastri’s performance not only highlights his growing talent but also reflects McLaren’s ongoing competitiveness in the championship. His ability to stay composed under pressure bodes well for the team as they aim for a strong showing in the sprint race. With a mix of seasoned experience and emerging talent on the grid, fans can look forward to an exciting race ahead.