25/07/2025
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's Shootout the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 37 degrees. It is bright and sunny, albeit quite windy.
Piastri set the pace earlier in the weekend's sole practice session, the Australian out-pacing his nearest rival - Verstappen - by over 0.4s.
While there is no doubting the McLaren's supremacy and pace, one has to think that his penalty at Silverstone has given the championship leader an extra bit of incentive.
On the other hand, teammate - and Silverstone victor - Norris looked wobbly, making a mistake on his first flying lap and finishing 0.504s off the pace on his second.
Behind the Australian and his Dutch rival it was the usual suspects... Norris, Russell, Leclerc, Antonelli and Hamilton followed by the Aston Martin pair.
Despite the length of the track issue was an issue whilst we also saw a number of twitches and lock-ups, while plank wear could prove to be an issue... as it was last year.
Something else to consider is the weather which is always as problem in Spa. We have seen that Verstappen is running the skinniest of rear wings in a bid to find more pace, but should it be wet tomorrow...
The lights go green but there is no immediate rush to action.
Eventually Hadjar breaks the silence, the RB driver followed out by Hulkenberg, Lawson, Bortoleto and Ocon.
In the Red Bull garage mechanics are working on the right-rear of Verstappen's car.
Soon all bar the Dutchman, Tsunoda and Alonso are on track.
Hadjar posts a benchmark 42.711.
Bortoleto goes second, ahead of Ocon, Lawson and Hulkenberg.
Antonelli runs wide in Stavelot kicking up a cloud of dust as his teammate goes top with a 42.650.
Leclerc goes third and Hamilton ninth.
Replay of the Antonelli incident suggests that the wind may have played a part in his off.
No sooner has Norris gone top (42.068) than his teammate responds with a 41.769.
Russell complains that her lost time on the gravel deposited on the track by his teammate.
Verstappen splits the McLarens with a 42.043 as Tsunoda goes eleventh.
Alonso goes fourth (42.427) and Stroll seventh, as Hamilton seeks to improve on 16th.
Less than a minute remains and Antonelli has yet to post a time.
Alonso goes quickest in S1, as Sainz goes ninth.
Tsunoda goes twelfth and Leclerc eighth while Hamilton makes a mistake and spins in the final chicane and fails to make the cut.
Antonelli also fails to make the cut, a disaster for Ferrari and Mercedes.
Piastri is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Norris, Alonso, Russell, Hadjar, Stroll, Leclerc, Sainz and Bortoleto.
We lose Albon, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Colapinto and Antonelli.
The start of SQ2 is delayed while the gravel is cleared from the track.
Eventually Norris gets things underway, the Briton followed by his McLaren teammate.
With the rest remaining in their garages the Woking pair have a clear track for their flying laps.
Eventually Verstappen heads down the pitlane, followed by Leclerc and Tsunoda.
Norris posts a 42.182, but Piastri responds with a 41.736.
However, the Australian's time is deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 4 (Raidillon).
Verstappen goes top with a 41.583, 0.599s up on Norris, as Leclerc goes second with a 41.786.
Tsunoda goes fifth, but is demoted when Russell crosses the line at 42.330.
Hadjar goes third and Stroll eighth and Lawson fifth.
Alonso goes ninth, but is demoted when Sainz goes third, only to be demoted by Ocon, Bortoleto and Bearman.
Norris has dropped to tenth.
Gasly goes fifth, but is demoted when Norris stops the clock at 41.412.
Piastri makes it by the skin of his teeth, finishing tenth quickest, while Russell fails to make the cut.
The improving track conditions as it rubbered in played out well for some while others had simply timed it too late.
Norris is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Leclerc, Ocon, Bortoleto, Gasly, Bearman, Sainz, Hadjar and Piastri.
We lose Lawson, Tsunoda, Russell, Alonso and Stroll.
Check out our Friday gallery from Spa here.
SQ3 gets the green light but again there is no rush to action. Indeed, as Norris finally leads the pack down the pitlane there are less than four minutes remaining.
Don't they ever learn?
Behind Norris it's Verstappen, then a gap to Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz, Ocon and Bearman. Last out is Hadjar.
Norris is quick in S1, but Verstappen is quicker, bot Ocon quicker still.
Piastri is quickest in S2.
Norris crosses the line at 41.128, but Verstappen responds with a 40.987.
Piastri crosses the line at 40.510, while Leclerc goes fourth and Sainz fifth.
A 41.565 sees Ocon go fifth while teammate Bearman goes seventh.
Gasly goes eighth and Bortoleto ninth but the Brazilian is demoted when Hadjar posts a 41.971.
Piastri claims Sprint pole, ahead of Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Ocon, Sainz, Bearman, Gasly, Hadjar and Bortoleto.
Lawson is eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Russell, Alonso, Stroll, Albon, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Colapinto and Antonelli.
"That was a good lap," says Piastri. "A little scare in SQ2 with the lap deletion, but the car has been mega all day and I feel I’ve been able to put in a lot of good laps.
"This is a track I love," he adds, "it is my favourite of the year."
"It's nice to get a result today. The Red Bulls are very quick in a straight line, that makes life difficult and Spa is probably the worst track to have pole position at. But the car feels good, so I'll see what I can do tomorrow."
Other than an intriguing line-up at the front of the grid, at the other end we have Russell, Hamilton and Antonelli all starting out of position, as are the Aston Martin pair and indeed Albon, so we could be in for something special tomorrow morning.
On the other hand, it's a Sprint and the big points come on Sunday.
And let's not forget those weather Gods, who have form here.
Check out our Friday gallery from Spa here.