presented by
2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1931 1930 1929 1927 1925 1923 1922 1921 1914 1913 1912
Belgian GP
Bahrain GP Saudi Arabian GP Australian GP Emilia Romagna GP Miami GP Spanish GP Monaco GP Azerbaijan GP Canadian GP British GP Austrian GP French GP Hungarian GP
Belgian GP
Dutch GP Italian GP Singapore GP Japanese GP United States GP Mexico City GP São Paulo GP Abu Dhabi GP
2022 Formula 1 Belgian GP
Aug 26, 2022 to Aug 28, 2022
| Spa-Francorchamps, BE
Overview Live Commentary Results News Videos
Live text
Formula 1 Belgian GP
F1 Belgian GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Updates from the Saturday practice and qualifying sessions at Spa-Francorchamps for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
Live
Chat
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
-
Summary
- Verstappen tops qualifying for the Belgian GP but will start 15th after penalties
- Sainz inherits pole for Sunday's race with Perez alongside him on front row
-
Leaderboard
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Perez, Red Bull
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Ocon, Alpine
- Alonso, Alpine
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Russell, Mercedes
- Albon, Williams
- Norris, McLaren
View more Show Less
Live Text
Sort by Oldest first Newest first
Checkered flag
11:51:47 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
With that, we'll wrap up this live text coverage of Belgian GP qualifying. But never fear, the big one is tomorrow! The race starts at 2pm BST, so be sure to check back before then tomorrow for all the build-up and excitement. Until then, go well!
11:50:00 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
What a mixed up qualifying, and some confusing Ferrari tactics too, but one thing is for certain: F1 is definitely back from its summer break!
Breaking news
11:45:42 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Here's the full qualifying report: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-belgian-gp-qualifying-/10358985/
11:43:48 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
So, the provisional starting grid should look like this, starting with the polesitter: Sainz, Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Albon, Ricciardo, Gasly, Stroll, Vettel, Latifi, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Bottas, Verstappen, Leclerc, Ocon, Norris, Zhou, Schumacher.
11:41:15 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Quote
11:36:44 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez on his third-but-actually-second: "P2 is not the worst place to be around here. I think if I am able to get a good run on Carlos it can be different."
Quote
11:35:14 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sainz on his second-but-actually-pole-position: "It was OK. Happy to be starting on pole but obviously not so happy to see the gap to Max this weekend and the gap that Red Bull has on us."
Quote
11:33:22 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen on his hopes for the race with his grid penalty: "We need to move forward, especially with a car like this, it would be a shame not to be on the podium."
Quote
11:32:20 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen on his (not) pole: "It was an amazing qualifying but I think all weekend we've been on it, the car has been working well and we've been just trying to fine tune it."
11:30:42 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
So, taking those out with penalties, the front of the grid is Sainz on pole from Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell and Albon. Easy.
11:29:23 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
11:29:01 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
That was all rather messy, but Verstappen tops qualifying from Sainz and Perez, with Leclerc fourth quickest.
Checkered flag
11:27:46 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sainz skims over the gravel and that wrecks his lap, meaning he cannot improve. But Perez doesn't improve either, so Verstappen tops qualifiyng but it is pole for Sainz!
11:26:16 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
But Leclerc does head out of the pits just in time to give Sainz a tow on his out-lap. But has that hindered Sainz, who is slow through the first sector.
11:24:59 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez won't be getting a tow from his team-mate, as Verstappen hops out of his Red Bull and won't take part in the final run. It is the same for Leclerc, meaning he'll start behind Verstappen tomorrow.
11:23:30 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
A race control message has popped up to state "Perez track limits Turn 4". It doesn't state if he exceeded track limits, and would therefore lose his lap earlier in Q3, so we'll see what happens on that one.
Stopwatch
11:21:09 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
But Leclerc can't, as he finds traffic in the final sector, and goes fourth fastest - 0.888s slower than Verstappen.
11:20:03 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc is told to push on with this Q3 run on his new softs. He will aim to beat Verstappen's time just so he can start ahead of him as they have equal grid penalties to serve.
Stopwatch
11:18:58 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen leads the early Q3 runs with a 1m43.665s, 0.6s faster than Sainz, with Perez in third. So that's a net provisional pole for Sainz.
11:17:19 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
"Wait, what are these tyres?" Leclerc asks over team radio. "It is a mistake," is the reply. He's on new tyres despite knowing he cannot fight for pole. Whoops.
11:15:33 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Time for Q3, with Albon leading the way out of the pits, followed by the two Red Bulls. Will Verstappen be giving his team-mate a tow to target pole? He's tucked up behind Perez at the moment, so might struggle there.
11:12:56 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
The value of Albon making it into Q3 this afternoon? Whatever happens he'll start, at worst, in sixth place due to those with grid penalties. Assuming no more penalties are to come.
11:11:19 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Stroll said he had "no grip" on his Q2 final lap, which could explain why he went four-tenths slower than his best effort in Q1.
11:09:55 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
So due to grid penalties Schumacher will start from last place and is joined on the back row by Zhou.
11:08:13 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Out in Q2: P11 Ricciardo, P12 Gasly, P13 Zhou, P14 Stroll, P15 Schumacher
Checkered flag
11:07:40 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Both Mercedes get clear of danger, with Hamilton in fifth and Russell in sixth, as Albon sneaks into Q3 in 10th place - dumping out Ricciardo by 0.092s.
11:06:42 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ricciardo's effort puts him eighth but still behind team-mate Norris.
Stopwatch
11:06:20 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso goes fifth with a 1m45.552s ahead of Norris and Leclerc.
11:05:15 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
It looks like Ocon (penalty incoming) will give a tow to team-mate Alonso, with Norris (penalty incoming) doing the same for team-mate Ricciardo. Team work makes the dream work, right?
11:04:06 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
There's also a chance of a surprise Q2 exit given Hamilton in 10th and Russell in eighth after the first runs. Both will need clean laps to avoid any danger.
11:02:04 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Those who need to improve to make it into Q3: Albon, Zhou, Stroll, Schumacher and Ricciardo.
11:00:13 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
All Q2 contenders pop back to the garages ahead of the final runs in the session with five minutes to go.
10:58:52 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc slots into sixth, sliding through the final chicane, and at the end of the lap complains that his car is bouncing "like crazy".
10:58:02 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Given the grid penalties for seven drivers, one of the midfield runners has a great opportunity for a strong result. Could it be Gasly? He's ninth at the moment and knows making Q3 will open up a huge chance.
10:55:40 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez slots into second behind his team-mate, with Sainz going third, Ocon fourth and Norris fifth.
Stopwatch
10:54:59 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hamilton posts the first Q2 lap, a 1m46.622s, for the rest to beat. Russell can, with a 1m46.284s, but Verstappen thumps them both on new softs with a 1m44.723s.
10:51:57 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Plenty of early takers this time, with only Leclerc and Ricciardo yet to venture out.
Green flag
10:51:11 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
We'll figure out the final order when we know how Q2 and Q3 plays out. Seems like the logical plan. Speaking of, Q2 is go!
10:49:09 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Out of those five, only Bottas has a grid penalty to serve, and he'll be ahead of the other six due to not having a 'back of the grid' penalty. The other four Q1 exit-eers will move ahead of Verstappen, Leclerc, Zhou, Norris, Ocon and Schumacher on the grid.
Checkered flag
10:46:34 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Out in Q1: P16 Vettel, P17 Latifi, P18 Magnussen, P19 Tsunoda, P20 Bottas. That's the first time Bottas has been knocked out of qualifying in Q1 since the 2015 Monaco GP.
Pagination
1
2
3
By: autosport.com
Published: Aug 27, 2022, 3:51 PM
Lap:
Copy link
Share on Viber