F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2023 qualifying result, starting grid for Spa race as Leclerc takes pole

Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in qualifying on Friday but Charles Leclerc will start from pole position at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.

The drivers' championship leader produced a stunning final flying lap of 1:46:168, which was 0.82 seconds quicker than the rest of the field. However, after exceeding his allowance for new gearboxes for this weekend, he was hit with a five-place grid penalty and will start in sixth.

It was an impressive drive from Verstappen after he very nearly dropped out in Q2, which prompted a frank exchange of views over the team radio. Verstappen apologised to his engineer for his "rant" after once again showing the rest of the field that denying him an eighth consecutive race win will be no easy challenge.

His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, will start in second place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. There was disappointment in Q3 for McLaren, who looked capable of threatening pole position in the final session but could only claim fifth and seventh.

MAX: "To be on pole again, I know I have to drop back on Sunday with the penalty I have, but it was the best I could do today!" #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/RZGAs81gnV

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Qualifying was delayed after some torrential downpours caused havoc in Friday's early practice, and even with Spa-Francorchamps' impressive drainage system, there was plenty of water on the surface as the delayed qualifying got underway.

Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin all seemed to handle the changing conditions well as the track began to dry out, and they'll consider this useful preparation given tomorrow's Sprint could see similar weather.

Still, while the climate might change, some things stay the same: Verstappen is the man to beat.

MORE: Can Verstappen set a new record for most wins in a single F1 season?

F1 Belgian Grand Prix starting grid

Starting grid is provisional

*Verstappen serving a five-place grid penalty

F1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying as it happened

Max Verstappen goes fastest, but Charles Leclerc will start on pole!

It might have been an awkward Q2, but Verstappen produced a final flying lap that was more than eight tenths of a second quicker than anyone else! Of course, given his penalty, he will start back in sixth. "Sorry for such a rant," he says to Lambiese for that earlier argument. "I'm slowly getting used to it, Max," comes the reply.

Leclerc inherits pole position, then, with Sergio Perez P2 and Lewis Hamilton alongside Carlos Sainz on the second row. The McLarens will be disappointed to have dropped to fifth and seventh after looking like they could challenge for pole.

Q3 — 2 mins to go: It looks like the remaining drivers will manage one more push lap each. With Verstappen's grid penalty, we're looking at a Ferrari front row right now, with McLaren locking out the second.

Q3 — 6 mins to go: Charles Leclerc follows Verstappen over the line and beats his time! It's Leclerc on provisional pole right now, but there are plenty of competitive-looking cars here this weekend...

Charles Leclerc is on provisional pole! 🙌

Less than 6 minutes remain in Q3!!!! #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rsbDZasRCy

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Q3 — 10 mins to go: Norris is first out on track and has a bit of a wobble on his outlap. There are quite obvious patches of wet out there, and just clipping them with a wheel is causing havoc for these cars that are now on softer compounds.

Here we go with Q3!

End of Q2

Verstappen has just had a big argument over his radio after he was nearly dragged into the elimination zone. The Dutchman insists he should have done two push laps at the end; let's just say his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, did not agree. Anyway, he's into Q3, so no harm done for now.

End of Q2

Stroll and Hamilton drag themselves out of the bottom five on their final flyers, as does Russell. Yuki Tsunoda and Oscar Piastri produce stunning laps to swap the lead, showing the way the track is now drying out quickly, but Tsunoda is quickly overhauled and is out! Verstappen just makes it through in 10th — boy, that was close for the world champion.

Eliminated

Yuki Tsunoda
Pierre Gasly
Kevin Magnussen
Valtteri Bottas
Esteban Ocon

❌ OUT IN Q2 ❌

Tsunoda
Gasly 📸
Magnussen
Bottas
Ocon #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/dRdKlto8MZ

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Q2 — 3 mins to go: Ocon's front wing is dragging along the tarmac on one side. He just lost grip  and ended up clipping the wall a bit too forcefully. That might be the end of his session.

Q2 — 7 mins to go: Just as I say that, some drivers are now risking the slicks! Verstappen is one of those on softs, and he's leading the field. Race control is now looking at an incident where Hamilton rejoined the track and may have impeded his teammate. You wouldn't think Russell will push that particular issue.

Q2 — 10 mins to go: Hamilton and Russell are setting the pace here... or they were! Bottas and Magnussen have just gone under 1:57, followed by Piastri. There's no question that we're getting to intermediate conditions now.

Q2 is underway!

No rain on the radar at the moment, Mercedes tell Hamilton over the radio.

End of Q1

Charles Leclerc is fastest in the opening session with 1:58:300, ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who was in the elimination zone until his final lap. Nico Hulkenberg had a hydraulics problem leaving the pits and wasn't able to record a fast lap, so he's out, as is Daniel Ricciardo, who had a strong lap time deleted due to exceeding track limits! 

Eliminated:

Alex Albon
Zhou Guanyu
Logan Sargeant
Daniel Ricciardo
Nico Hulkenberg

Q1 — 4 mins to go: Verstappen ducks under 1:58 to go quickest, ahead of Carlos Sainz. There will also be no further action taken over that possible incident with Albon (which seems the right decision).

Q1 — 7 mins to go: Lando Norris just took a rather bumpy detour into the gravel trap and has some possible front wing damage, although he's still out there — actually, no, he's boxed to let the mechanics have a look.

Norris runs off into the gravel!

He manages to steer his way back onto the track#BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/zBMVo6vE17

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Q1 — 10 mins to go: Max Verstappen is out on track and race control is already looking at a possible incident between the champion and Alex Albon. It seems Verstappen may have impeded Albon, although it looked debatable. Oscar Piastri currently leads the standings, a fraction ahead of Russell.

Q1 — 15 mins to go: There's a lot of surface water still on the track, so this is all about getting into the latter sessions when the circuit will hopefully be dry enough for some fast laps. George Russell clocks a 2:02:360, although he was hampered by traffic right at the end of the lap. Teammate Lewis Hamilton goes a fraction faster.

Q1 is underway!

Build-up: We have a queue of cars waiting to leave the pits, including Lewis Hamilton, who's got an issue with his right wing mirror. More importantly, the sun is out! We're moments away from Q1.

Build-up: Race control has delayed the start of qualifying by 10 minutes, but as things stand, it WILL be going ahead. If that should change, and if we end up unable to complete any sessions at all, F1 organisers have already said that Sunday's starting grid will be determined by the current drivers' standings (although Verstappen, as we've said, will have to take a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his gearbox allowance).

Build-up: The Formula 2 qualifying session did take place this afternoon, but it was curtailed by some pretty torrential rain. However, with around 10 minutes to go before F1's Q1, the rain has stopped and there is even a break in the clouds. Hopefully, we'll get at least some laps concluded.

Build-up: Logan Sargeant's helmet cam gives you a glimpse as to what conditions were like during practice earlier today — and the risk to the drivers. As things stand, though, we are going ahead with today's qualifying.

Sargeant slides into the barriers in FP1 😖

Wet conditions made for a tough first practice session at Spa ☔️#BelgianGP #F1

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Build-up: Whatever happens this weekend, there'll be a change at Alpine come F1's return after the midseason break. 

BREAKING: Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane to depart Alpine following the Belgian Grand Prix#F1 pic.twitter.com/idRxwoAK93

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2023

Build-up: The big question right now, of course, is whether this session will even go ahead. The weather caused huge disruption to today's practice session and there isn't any guarantee right now that qualifying will even take place.

Build-up: Welcome to coverage of today's qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. We're in for a packed couple of days given we have another Sprint to come tomorrow, so stick with us for the latest updates.

F1 2023 schedule: What time is Belgian Sprint Shootout?

F1 2023 schedule: What time is the Belgian Sprint race?

F1 2023 schedule: What time is the Belgian Grand Prix?

MORE: F1 standings 2023: Updated driver and constructor points, results and schedule for every Formula One race

What channel is F1 on this weekend?

F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2023 TV channel

F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2023 live stream