F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and results at wet Spa-Francorchamps
Max Verstappen took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix despite an X-rated radio row with his race engineer.
Verstappen was embroiled in a squabble with Gianpiero Lambiase after he only just made it through to Q3 during a wet-dry session at Spa-Francorchamps.
But the championship leader regained his composure at the business end of qualifying to demolish the opposition, finishing eight tenths clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with Sergio Perez third in the other Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth.
However, Verstappen will only start Sunday’s race from sixth position as he serves a five-place grid drop for exceeding his gearbox allocation.
Follow live updates from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING
Charles Leclerc will be on pole for the Belgian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen quickest in qualifying but has a grid drop
Pierre Gasly out in Q2, also out: Tsunoda, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon
Daniel Ricciardo out in Q1, also out: Albon, Zhou, Sargeant, Hulkenberg
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer in shock exit after Belgian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz quickest in wet practice session
A story in two parts!
17:58 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen is NOT happy after Q2 😡📻 pic.twitter.com/oBu5PBgKek
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 28, 2023
That friendship between Max and GP 🤝 pic.twitter.com/rUtgsP23lt
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 28, 2023
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton to see the stewards
17:47 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton has been summoned to the stewards after a risky rejoining of the track, potentially impeding his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Max Verstappen after qualifying fastest:
17:38 , Kieran Jackson
“My final lap in Q2 I didn’t have the confidence, was very lucky to be P10. But on that final lap, to be on pole again, it was the best I could do today.
“It’s all about feeling confident and risking everything in that final run to get lap time!”
Charles Leclerc after qualifying second-fastest
17:30 , Kieran Jackson
“Not a bad qualifying for us. We went a bit too early for that last run, pole was definitely not for us, Max was too quick. But we have a great starting position for Sunday.”
Sergio Perez after qualifying third-fastest
17:25 , Kieran Jackson
“Very tricky qualifying. We thought it’d get drier quicker. A shame I didn’t get Charles there .”
What is the starting grid?
17:21 , Kieran Jackson
1) Charles Leclerc
2) Sergio Perez
3) Lewis Hamilton
4) Carlos Sainz
5) Oscar Piastri
6) Max Verstappen*
7) Lando Norris
8) George Russell
9) Fernando Alonso
10) Lance Stroll
11) Yuki Tsunoda
12) Pierre Gasly
13) Pierre Gasly
14) Valtteri Bottas
15) Esteban Ocon
16) Alex Albon
17) Zhou Guanyu
18) Logan Sargeant
19) Daniel Ricciardo
20) Nico Hulkenberg
*Max Verstappen receives a five-place grid drop for exceeding his gearbox allocation
Charles Leclerc is on pole for the Belgian Grand Prix!
17:19 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen goes quickest with a mammoth lap!
A 1:46:168 puts him eight-tenths faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second, but Verstappen’s five-place grid drop means Leclerc will be on pole on Sunday!
Sergio Perez qualifies in third, with Lewis Hamilton in fourth.
5-10: Sainz, Piastri, Norris, Russell, Alonso, Stroll
That is so quick from Verstappen. Sixth on the grid? He could win from 20th, frankly.
Lewis Hamilton goes sixth-fastest
17:13 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes on a slightly different strategy to the others, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell setting another lap before heading into the garage.
Didn’t make the world of difference, though. Hamilton only goes from P8 to P6 while Russell is ninth.
Now all the cars are back out on track ahead of their final flying laps - can Charles Leclerc keep top spot?!
Charles Leclerc quickest after the first set of runs
17:10 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc is on provisional pole! He goes fastest with a 1:47:931, 0.128secs quicker than Max Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz is third.
4-10: Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Perez, Hamilton, Stroll, Russell
6:00 left
Q3 underway!
17:04 , Kieran Jackson
And we’re away with the top-10 shootout at Spa-Francorchamps!
Though, interestingly, no cars out straight away here.
12 minutes left. DRS has now been enabled too.
Q3 to get underway at 5:03pm (BST)
17:00 , Kieran Jackson
Q3 slightly delayed as they take some debris off the track around where Esteban Ocon collided with the wall.
5:03pm (BST) is when Q3 will start. Sun is still out at Spa-Francorchamps too.
Max Verstappen angry after Q2
16:59 , Kieran Jackson
“I don’t give a f*** if its P10!” Max Verstappen says after being told he’s through to Q3.
“Tell us what you want to do and we’ll do it,” replies Gianpiero Lambiase. Bit short with his driver there. Rightly so, I say!
Max Verstappen squeezes through in P10
16:54 , Kieran Jackson
That was dramatic!
The track ramping up quick, with times tumbling, and Max Verstappen sneaks through in 10th! His gap was four-tenths to Yuki Tsunoda in 11th.
Bottom-five and out in Q2: Tsunoda, Gasly, Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon
Top-3: Piastri, Sainz, Leclerc
Time for Q3!
All cars now switching to softs!
16:48 , Kieran Jackson
Times set to tumble here as everyone switches to soft tyres.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Stroll, Norris
Esteban Ocon had a collision with the wall - and his front wing is badly damaged!
2:00 left! Who will make the top-10 shootout?!
Valtteri Bottas first driver on softs!
16:46 , Kieran Jackson
Valtteri Bottas makes the move early and switches to slicks - but he’s struggling initially!
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell still in the bottom-five, as is Lando Norris!
Current bottom-five (11-15): Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Stroll, Norris
4:00 left
Max Verstappen quickest early on
16:43 , Kieran Jackson
With a 1:55:535, Max Verstappen is top of the timesheets with Sergio Perez four-tenths off in second.
Lewis Hamilton is well off the pace at the moment and is P13!
Current bottom-five (11-15): Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Stroll, Norris
All on inters so far. Will anyone dare try slicks in this session?
8:00 to go
Q2 underway!
16:38 , Kieran Jackson
15 minutes to decide who will be in the top-10 shootout!
We’re getting close-ish to slick tyres, me thinks. But not quite there yet...
Daniel Ricciardo out in Q1!
16:32 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo looked to have got into Q2 with a time quick enough for P6 - but his lap time has been deleted for exceeding track limits! He went over the white line at Eau Rouge!
Alex Albon also misses out on Q2!
16-20 and out in Q1: Albon, Zhou, Sargeant, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg
Top-3: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton
Nico Hulkenberg out of qualifying
16:27 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton at the top with a 1:58:841, as the track continues to dry.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Ocon, Albon, Sargeant, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
Looks like Nico Hulkenberg has a problem as he’s still in the garage. He’ll start P20.
3:00 left.
Lando Norris runs through the gravel
16:21 , Kieran Jackson
Hairy moment for Lando Norris as he loses control and enters the gravel, but he does well to keep his McLaren out of the wall and gets it back on the racetrack!
Carlos Sainz now quickest, with Max Verstappen second and Oscar Piastri third.
More importantly, though, the current bottom-five (16-20): Zhou, Stroll, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Sargeant
Eight minutes left - plenty of time for it all to change!
Lando takes a trip through the gravel in Q1 👇 pic.twitter.com/1LtavcaddR
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 28, 2023
Lando Norris fastest early on in Q1
16:17 , Kieran Jackson
The spray behind cars at full pelt is quite something - you need a good five seconds before its removed from the air!
Early on, Lando Norris is fastest with a 2:01:874, four-tenths quicker than Lewis Hamilton in second. George Russell in third.
These are all on intermediate tyres. But these times will fall throughout the session, as the track improves....
12 minutes left.
F1 qualifying underway at Spa!
16:11 , Kieran Jackson
Led by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, the cars take to the track as Q1 starts at the Belgian Grand Prix!
Huge queue at the end of the pitlane... just as the sun comes out!
Talk about timing!
BREAKING - Qualifying delayed by 10 minutes
15:58 , Kieran Jackson
The rain has stopped at Spa-Francorchamps but due to the wet weather previously and a damp track, qualifying has been delayed to 4:10pm (BST).
It’s to allow the circuit to drain a bit more after the heavy showers throughout the day.
Sit tight!
F1 qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix LIVE
15:55 , Kieran Jackson
It’s still very overcast at Spa-Francorchamps but the rain has eased off slightly - so we should be all good for a full qualifying session here!
Can anyone topple Max Verstappen? How will Lewis Hamilton follow up his pole position from Hungary?
A reminder that today sets the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, with tomorrow designated ‘sprint day’ with its own quickfire qualifying and race.
What time is F1 qualifying today at the Belgian Grand Prix?
15:50 , Kieran Jackson
What is the race schedule?
(All times BST)
Friday 28 July
Qualifying: 4pm
Saturday 29 July
Sprint shootout: 11am
Sprint race: 3:30pm
Sunday 30 July
Race: 2pm
Constructors’ Championship ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
15:48 , Kieran Jackson
1) Red Bull - 452 points
2) Mercedes - 223 points
3) Aston Martin - 184 points
4) Ferrari - 167 points
5) McLaren - 87 points
6) Alpine - 47 points
7) Williams - 11 points
8) Haas - 11 points
9) Alfa Romeo - 9 points
10) AlphaTauri - 2 points
Max Verstappen receives penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
15:40 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has received a five-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix as a result of exceeding his gearbox allocation.
The Red Bull driver, who is cruising to his third-straight world title, currently has a 110-point lead in the standings at the halfway stage of the 2023 season.
More info below:
Max Verstappen receives penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz fastest in practice at rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps
15:29 , Kieran Jackson
FP1 report
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz topped a rain-hit practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
With persistent rain falling at Spa-Francorchamps, not one driver completed more than eight laps.
Sainz headed the timing charts, half-a-second clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri with team-mate Lando Norris third.
Full report below:
Carlos Sainz fastest in practice at rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps
BREAKING: Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer in shock exit after Belgian Grand Prix
15:10 , Kieran Jackson
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer will leave the team after this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix in a shock announcement.
Szafnauer joined the French team from Aston Martin at the start of last season but has seen his former team and McLaren leapfrog Alpine in the standings at the halfway stage of the 2023 campaign.
Sporting director Alan Permane, who has been associated with Renault - the parent company of the Alpine brand - for 34 years, will also depart.
More info below:
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer in shock exit after Belgian Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz interview: ‘All of us at Ferrari expected more – we haven’t done the best job’
14:44 , Kieran Jackson
Exclusive interview by Kieran Jackson
Silverstone, 2022. That was the moment a goal within touching distance for so long was finally grasped by Carlos Sainz. Fittingly, his first pole position of his career was duly followed by a first Formula 1 race win, in his 150th grand prix. Ferrari were back among the top contenders and Sainz, this time, was the leading man ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc. The Scuderia were a force at the front once more. Or so we thought.
Despite producing a race-winning car, Ferrari failed to capitalise last year amid strategy and reliability clangers. Red Bull leapfrogged the calamitous prancing horse – and have not looked back. Now, Ferrari have not won since Austria last year, just a week after Sainz’s inaugural triumph. They are fourth in the Constructors’ Championship at the halfway stage this season. Sainz has not even finished on the podium.
“I thought we’d be fighting for more podiums and wins but unfortunately it’s a very competitive team called Red Bull who are dominating,” Sainz tells The Independent.
Carlos Sainz interview: ‘All of us expected more – we haven’t done the best job’
George Russell reacts to prospect of Belgian Grand Prix cancellation
14:30 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell has raised the prospect of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix being cancelled amid poor weather.
Heavy rain fell over the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit on Thursday, with the grizzly weather expected to continue throughout the weekend.
Although the forecast is better for Sunday’s Grand Prix, the weather is notoriously difficult to predict in the Ardennes and there is a fear in the paddock that the weekend’s running – which features a sprint race on Saturday – could be heavily disrupted.
Full quotes below:
George Russell reacts to prospect of Belgian Grand Prix cancellation
Driver Standings ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
14:14 , Kieran Jackson
1) Max Verstappen - 281 points
2) Sergio Perez - 171 points
3) Fernando Alonso - 139 points
4) Lewis Hamilton - 133 points
5) George Russell - 90 points
6) Carlos Sainz - 87 points
7) Charles Leclerc - 80 points
8) Lando Norris - 60 points
9) Lance Stroll - 45 points
10) Esteban Ocon - 31 points
11) Oscar Piastri - 27 points
12) Pierre Gasly - 16 points
13) Alex Albon - 11 points
14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points
15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points
16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points
17) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points
18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points
19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points
20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points
21) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points
REMINDER
13:59 , Kieran Jackson
If qualifying is unable to take place this afternoon due to the heavy rain, the grid will be set by the order of the championship standings.
That would mean Sergio Perez would be on pole, given Max Verstappen’s five-place grid penalty.
FP1 CLASSIFICATION
13:46 , Kieran Jackson
FP1 CLASSIFICATION
Sainz tops a sodden first practice in Spa #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/PQU5Wb0iQM— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023
Carlos Sainz quickest in FP1
13:35 , Kieran Jackson
Carlos Sainz the quickest car with a 2:03:207, with Oscar Piastri in second and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in third.
4-10: Leclerc, Perez, Albon, Tsunoda, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg
Max Verstappen set no time out there. Nor did Ocon, Gasly, Stroll or Sargeant.
Carlos Sainz top of the timesheets
13:25 , Kieran Jackson
The Ferrari goes top of the standings with a 2:03:207, with Oscar Piastri half-a-second off in second.
Lando Norris is third, 1.2 secs off the pace, and they’re all times set on intermediates.
4-10: Leclerc, Perez, Albon, Tsunoda, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg
REMINDER
13:05 , Kieran Jackson
The order in this practice session will not set the grid for Sunday’s race should this afternoon’s qualifying be unable to take place due to wet weather.
More cars now giving it a go on track!
12:55 , Kieran Jackson
It’s in-between full wets and inters for tyres right now, with more cars giving it a go at Spa-Francorchamps!
After 25 minutes, Alex Albon in the Williams is fastest with 2:08:394, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in second two-tenths back.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly has a moment as he goes off the circuit, but avoids the barriers.
Rain keeping cars in the garage in first practice
12:43 , Kieran Jackson
So an update... there isn’t one!
Daniel Ricciardo one of a few drivers who’ve tried their luck out on track - but it’s so wet that it makes running more of a risk than anything else!
His team-mate Yuki Tsunoda ended up off the track at Eau Rouge. Even for full wets, it looks too damp!
Race odds!
12:40 , Kieran Jackson
Fancy a flutter on Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen - 1/3
Lando Norris - 8/1
Sergio Perez - 11/1
Lewis Hamilton - 12/1
George Russell, Oscar Piastri - 22/1
Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso - 40/1
Odds provided by Sporting Post
FP1 underway!
12:30 , Kieran Jackson
We’re underway with FP1 in Belgium!
The cars take to the circuit for the first and only practice session of what is a busy weekend before the summer break starts.
And let me tell you - it is wet out there!
First practice at the Belgian Grand Prix!
12:28 , Kieran Jackson
We’re about to get underway with first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps!
Only one hour for all the drivers to get up to speed before qualifying later this afternoon.
It’s cloudy and very wet on track!
Constructors’ Championship ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
12:24 , Kieran Jackson
1) Red Bull - 452 points
2) Mercedes - 223 points
3) Aston Martin - 184 points
4) Ferrari - 167 points
5) McLaren - 87 points
6) Alpine - 47 points
7) Williams - 11 points
8) Haas - 11 points
9) Alfa Romeo - 9 points
10) AlphaTauri - 2 points
George Russell reacts to prospect of Belgian Grand Prix cancellation
12:15 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell has raised the prospect of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix being cancelled amid poor weather.
Heavy rain fell over the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit on Thursday, with the grizzly weather expected to continue throughout the weekend.
Although the forecast is better for Sunday’s Grand Prix, the weather is notoriously difficult to predict in the Ardennes and there is a fear in the paddock that the weekend’s running – which features a sprint race on Saturday – could be heavily disrupted.
Full quotes below:
George Russell reacts to prospect of Belgian Grand Prix cancellation
Driver Standings ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
12:12 , Kieran Jackson
1) Max Verstappen - 281 points
2) Sergio Perez - 171 points
3) Fernando Alonso - 139 points
4) Lewis Hamilton - 133 points
5) George Russell - 90 points
6) Carlos Sainz - 87 points
7) Charles Leclerc - 80 points
8) Lando Norris - 60 points
9) Lance Stroll - 45 points
10) Esteban Ocon - 31 points
11) Oscar Piastri - 27 points
12) Pierre Gasly - 16 points
13) Alex Albon - 11 points
14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points
15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points
16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points
17) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points
18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points
19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points
20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points
21) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points
Carlos Sainz interview: ‘All of us at Ferrari expected more – we haven’t done the best job’
11:54 , Kieran Jackson
Exclusive interview by Kieran Jackson
Silverstone, 2022. That was the moment a goal within touching distance for so long was finally grasped by Carlos Sainz. Fittingly, his first pole position of his career was duly followed by a first Formula 1 race win, in his 150th grand prix. Ferrari were back among the top contenders and Sainz, this time, was the leading man ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc. The Scuderia were a force at the front once more. Or so we thought.
Despite producing a race-winning car, Ferrari failed to capitalise last year amid strategy and reliability clangers. Red Bull leapfrogged the calamitous prancing horse – and have not looked back. Now, Ferrari have not won since Austria last year, just a week after Sainz’s inaugural triumph. They are fourth in the Constructors’ Championship at the halfway stage this season. Sainz has not even finished on the podium.
“I thought we’d be fighting for more podiums and wins but unfortunately it’s a very competitive team called Red Bull who are dominating,” Sainz tells The Independent.
Carlos Sainz interview: ‘All of us expected more – we haven’t done the best job’
Max Verstappen receives penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
11:47 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has received a five-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix as a result of exceeding his gearbox allocation.
The Red Bull driver, who is cruising to his third-straight world title, currently has a 110-point lead in the standings at the halfway stage of the 2023 season.
More info below:
Max Verstappen receives penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
F1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE
11:44 , Kieran Jackson
The Formula 1 paddock returns to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix and the third sprint weekend of the 2023 season.
Max Verstappen claimed his seventh grand prix victory in a row last weekend in Hungary and now returns to a track he won at from 14th on the grid last year. The Dutchman is cruising to a third world championship this season and currently holds a 110-point lead at the halfway stage of the campaign to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole since December 2021 in Budapest but slipped down to fourth during the race. The Mercedes star will be looking to bounce back at a circuit he retired at in 2022, while McLaren’s Lando Norris is hoping to keep up his good form after two second-place finishes in a row.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a staple F1 track and for the first time in 2023 will host an F1 sprint race, meaning there will be more action than ever before in the final meet before the summer break.
FP1 starts at 12:30pm; qualifying is at 4pm (BST)!
