Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) took pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix in Formula 1 ahead of the surprising George Russell (Williams), during qualifying which was delayed and then interrupted due to heavy rain on Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), world championship leader with eight points ahead of Verstappen before this 12th round of the year, achieved the 3rd fastest time ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren).
This is the ninth pole position, the sixth this season, for Verstappen, determined to overtake Hamilton, who is aiming for a 100th Grand Prix victory on Sunday at 3 p.m. (1 p.m. GMT).
Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) will be in 3rd row after this qualifying session, the start of which was given twelve minutes late due to the rainy conditions.
The session was then interrupted at the start of the third part reserved for the ten best times (Q3), after a downpour which again made the track dangerous.
Under these conditions, the 21-year-old Briton Lando Norris lost control of his car in the uphill corner of the Raidillon.
After a violent impact against the security walls, his car broke up.
The pilot was able to get out, unharmed but holding his elbow.
He then joined the circuit medical center as the car and debris were cleared from the track.
The session was able to resume some forty minutes later.
On a track that never had time to dry for a moment, George Russell, with a Williams accustomed to the back of the grid, almost created a surprise.
The 23-year-old Briton, who could be a Mercedes driver next year alongside Hamilton, was on virtual pole for a few seconds, before being passed three tenths of a second by Verstappen at the last moment.
Briton Lando Norris' McLaren crashed during qualifying for the Belgian F1 GP, August 28, 2021 at Spa-Francorchamps KENZO TRIBOUILLARD AFP
This is the best result in qualifying for Russell.
If he had already managed a 2nd place, in 2020, it was driving a Mercedes, replacing Lewis Hamilton who had withdrawn, contaminated by Covid-19.
This time it was with a limited Williams, when her best qualifying result this season was an 8th position.
© 2021 AFP