Max Verstappen leads the grid for the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.
Row 1 | 1. Max Verstappen 1’59.765 Red Bull | |
2. George Russell 2’00.086 Williams | ||
Row 2 | 3. Lewis Hamilton 2’00.099 Mercedes | |
4. Daniel Ricciardo 2’00.864 McLaren | ||
Row 3 | 5. Sebastian Vettel 2’00.935 Aston Martin | |
6. Pierre Gasly 2’01.164 AlphaTauri | ||
Row 4 | 7. Sergio Perez 2’02.112 Red Bull | |
8. Esteban Ocon 2’03.513 Alpine | ||
Row 5 | 9. Charles Leclerc 1’57.721 Ferrari | |
10. Nicholas Latifi 1’58.056 Williams | ||
Row 6 | 11. Carlos Sainz Jnr 1’58.137 Ferrari | |
12. Fernando Alonso 1’58.205 Alpine | ||
Row 7 | 13. Valtteri Bottas 2’02.502 Mercedes | |
14. Antonio Giovinazzi 2’02.306 Alfa Romeo | ||
Row 8 | 15. Lando Norris No time McLaren | |
16. Yuki Tsunoda 2’02.413 AlphaTauri | ||
Row 9 | 17. Mick Schumacher 2’03.973 Haas | |
18. Nikita Mazepin 2’04.939 Haas | ||
Row 10 | 19. Lance Stroll 1’58.231 Aston Martin | |
20. Kimi Raikkonen 2’04.452 Alfa Romeo |
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Penalties
Valtteri Bottas – Five-place grid penalty for causing a collision in the Hungarian Grand Prix
Lance Stroll – Five-place grid penalty for causing a collision in the Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris – Five-place grid penalty for gearbox change
Kimi Raikkonen – Pit lane start after rear wing assembly specification change
2021 Belgian Grand Prix
- Spa spectators who saw no racing offered prize draw for 2022 tickets
- Ocon congratulated by past French F1 aces after breakthrough win
- ‘Wrong to award points for a couple of laps behind the Safety Car’ – Horner
- Hamilton offers “exclusive gift” to fans who attended Belgian GP wash-out
- Change rules to give points for qualifying if race can’t happen – Seidl
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
28th August 2021, 15:59
Mercedes 2-3
Srdjan Mandic (@srga91)
28th August 2021, 16:06
With Bottas starting 6 (or probably 5, because Lando should start from the pitlane) places behind Perez?! I hardly think so. More like a 1-3 for RB.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
28th August 2021, 16:10
he’s talking about Russel being a Mercedes academy driver, and also Williams being powered by Merc engines.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
28th August 2021, 16:11
And very, very unlikely to make Hamilton pay for it
Srdjan Mandic (@srga91)
28th August 2021, 16:17
Oh, sorry! I didn’t think about that and thought you were talking about tomorrow xD
Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
28th August 2021, 16:10
Pretty sure they meant quali results and not the race results
someone or something
28th August 2021, 16:11
He’s referring to Russell, who’s been publicly told by Wolff to treat the Mercedes drivers as team mates (after Imola), and has since been quoted as agreeing with that and basically apologising for racing Bottas.
The pressure is very much on him not to race Hamilton too hard, or otherwise prove he’s capable of playing the team game for Hamilton, since that’s the key quality Mercedes are after in their number 2 driver.
Also, 1-3 for Red Bull? Hamilton is 3rd. You should take a closer look at the grid …
BasCB (@bascb)
28th August 2021, 16:18
Bottas has his 5 spot grid drop he earned from winning at bowling in Hungary last time @srga91
someone or something
28th August 2021, 16:22
@bascb
I have to admit that Stroll qualifying 20th and Bottas 13th makes me rather happy. They end up paying a fair price, that’s all I can ask for.
f12007v (@f1fan-2000)
28th August 2021, 16:00
Wow imagine russel in that mercedes or red bull. 10 seconds faster than anyone.
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
28th August 2021, 18:13
30 seconds, easliy.
petebaldwin (@)
28th August 2021, 16:00
Congratulations George! What a mega lap! Only 3 tenths off Verstappen who is in a massively quicker car and is widely regarded as an incredible driver in the wet.
Srdjan Mandic (@srga91)
28th August 2021, 16:08
And a mistake in the final corner! He could’ve even grabbed pole! Unbelievable!
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
28th August 2021, 18:16
With respect, erikje, it comes across that you have a very limited understanding of F1, seemingly based on having a personal issue with Hamilton which causes you to lose any common sense.
Green Flag (@greenflag)
28th August 2021, 18:55
Erikje attacks Hamilton every opportunity she gets. She must have a thousand photos of Max on her bedroom wall.
MG1982 (@mg1982)
29th August 2021, 8:21
Neah, the shock is that he beat HAM… not that he was “only” 0.3sec behind VER. HAM is regarded as a better driver than VER in wet conditions (the best of the current generation for sure), plus Mercedes is just as fast as RBR, so…………
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
28th August 2021, 16:00
P2 for Russell, also known as Toto what the heck are you waiting for?
Manto
28th August 2021, 16:01
Can’t imagine what russel can do in mercedes if he beats Hamilton with that car in track conditions where it’s 100% driver skill
Emma (@emma)
28th August 2021, 16:58
100% driver skill? Nothing to do with the state of tyres vs fuel load, timing and even luck. By your standards, Lando has zero skills?
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
28th August 2021, 16:01
Glad to see Lando all right. It was a scary crash. He was a pole contender.
But Toto, give Russel a seat already man!
Good job from Ricciardo and Vettel
Again disappointing from Perez and wet weather disaster Bottas
Jere (@jerejj)
28th August 2021, 16:02
Nicely mixed-up grid.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
28th August 2021, 16:03
I was wide eyed watching Russell set purple sectors and my mouth was open in shock when Hamilton failed to beat him. Crazy to think Verstappen needed to dig pretty deep to beat a WILLIAMS!? The 2nd slowest car on the grid, qualifying 2nd on the grid. Mental.
Though I feel mostly sorry for Norris because if it wasn’t for that crash I think pole was arguably his.
AJ (@asleepatthewheel)
28th August 2021, 16:15
Williams left their sole run for the end on a fresh set of warmed up inters. Hamilton, Verstappen, and Bottas 2 consecutive runs on the same set, so the final quali lap was actually on 4 lap old tires. The real eye catching point here is Verstappen coming from 9 tenths down to 3 tenths ahead even after Hamilton improved.
someone or something
28th August 2021, 16:25
You’re seriously talking down Russell’s shock performance as due to a simple trick that anyone could’ve copied (which I doubt had anywhere near the impact to explain his pace), in order to talk up Verstappen’s performance? Were you @asleepatthekeyboard?
AJ (@asleepatthewheel)
1st September 2021, 4:26
Firstly, I am a Hamilton-Mercedes fan, but I try and keep my comments unbiased. I don’t see how I talked up Max’s performance by stating he improved by over 1.2 seconds, which he actually did.
Secondly, Williams had nothing to lose if their ‘trick’ failed and they ended up P10 at worst in that session. However, Max and Lewis had to set a banker lap first as a P10 may have been fatal for their championship hopes. No one knew how the conditions would develop at that point of time.
Thirdly, you contradict yourself by saying “you doubt the ‘trick’ had anywhere near the impact to explain Geroge’s pace” after you just saw him outqualify a Merc, 7 other capable cars, and almost beat RB to pole. After all these years of people moaning about Pirelli, you are still ignorant of the fact that tyre management and tyre temperatures are the key to success in current gen cars.
Lastly, please use your grey matter before commenting on this forum. If you can’t, then don’t; we won’t miss your views.
someone or something
4th September 2021, 1:14
By saying “the real eye catching point here is Verstappen [improving]”. Verstappen finding some time and beating Hamilton is somehow more eye-catching than a Williams qualifying on the front row and beating Hamilton? Seriously?
That is only a contradiction if you want it to be one. I have eyes to see that George Russell qualified extremely well. You insist that this is due to that ‘trick’ that they used. I don’t. I don’t see it explaining anything. What did the trick consist in? Going out on the track with warm, fresh inters? So, basically the exact thing Verstappen and Hamilton did, just a few minutes earlier?
Now tell me how that’s supposed to gain Russell so much time that he almost ends up taking pole.
I have no idea how you came to the conclusion that I don’t know the importance of tyre temperatures. I can’t spell out every single fact I know, just to make sure someone doesn’t assume I don’t.
But in this case, you’re simply committing a logical fallacy. Yeah, Russell may have had warmer tyres during his final (and only) flying lap than Verstappen and Hamilton did. However, it’s not just the final lap that counts, but every single one in the session. So what’s the matter with Hamilton’s and Verstappen’s first lap, on fresh, warm tyres? Why weren’t they clearly faster than George ‘One-Trick Pony’ Russell, with virtually identical performance parameters?
No one really knows why. But the thing is, Williams’ ‘trick’ had little to nothing to do with it. There is no such thing as quantum entanglement for qualifying laps, so the fact that Hamilton and Verstappen did a cooldown lap and then a second flying attempt, on possibly somewhat cooler tyres, has no bearing on their pace in the first attempt. Your theory also fails to explain why Verstappen and Hamilton were able to go so much faster in their second attempt. I thought their tyres were getting so cold. But they weren’t in their first attempt, so what’s going on?
I’ll tell you: Your theory is rubbish, that’s what’s going on.
Bold words in light of the fact that you don’t seem to grasp that what you’re saying is incoherent.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
28th August 2021, 16:28
The bigger question is why Mercedes were unable to keep a fresh set of warmed up inters for the final run
erikje
28th August 2021, 17:44
Lewis personally flat spotted a set of inters. They used all available sets and have no fresh set for the race..
Search
28th August 2021, 16:29
Plus, on TV here they mentioned that Russell was driving with far more downforce than all others, which is a huge gamble considering the uncertainty about the conditions tomorrow.
someone or something
28th August 2021, 17:12
@ Search
I think your TV’s commentary team needs to sit down and do some reading, because the speed trap figures completely contradict what they’re saying. Russell was consistently among the fastest through the various speed traps on the circuit, particularly on the Kemmel straight. He was 2nd fastest in the official “top speed” speed trap (308.5 kph, just 0.4 behind Ricciardo), as well as 3rd fastest at the end of Sector 1 (315.7 kph – Bottas in 1st with 320.3 seems to be an outlier, probably slipstream).
He does less well in the slower-speed speed traps (Sector 2 and finish line), where he was 5th at 187.2 kph and 8th at 219.7 kph respectively, indicating that he was indeed gaining more speed the longer the straight was. In other words: Less downforce than the rest, not more …
JohnH (@johnrkh)
28th August 2021, 16:04
Killer qually for Russell feel bad for Norris he was really showing how it was done. Good to see Ricciardo up there even if it was through attrition. I think Russel has just sent a message to the other to drivers, he’s going to be a force.
Simon (@simon999)
28th August 2021, 16:08
That should be the final nail in the coffin for Bottas. Even if they don’t announce it for a while, I’m sure the Mercedes pit wall will have exchanged messages equivalent to “decision made”.
Sviat
28th August 2021, 16:10
Ocon trashes Alonso again. Raikkonen is also nowhere. Lewis losing to Russell… no wonder Lewis wants Bottas to stay.
Davethechicken
28th August 2021, 16:12
Russell and Norris showed today their true class.
Max needs to close out this championship as it might be his last shot at one!
Give lando or George his car to see what their talent could do!
IfImnotverymuchmistaken
28th August 2021, 16:12
Unbelieveable lap from Russel, great job. Hopefully the start is wet, because in the dry the Williams will fall back to it’s natural position.
Glad Norris is ok, hopefully they are able to rebuild the car in time. I think Norris could’ve gotten pole, but now I just hope he starts the race.
The weather will determine the winner tomorrow.
dan
28th August 2021, 16:13
Merc never once looked like getting pole all weekend in the wet it was only Hamilton doing a great first lap. Look at Max and Lewis both like 2.3 secs clear of there teammate. George was unreal but to say he suddenly beats Lewis week in week out which as never happend in his carear would say alot. Latifi is better than Alonso if that is the case
MG1982 (@mg1982)
29th August 2021, 8:26
If Merc never looked like getting pole, Williams looked like a pole car?!?! Let’s stop making ridiculous excuses.
Srdjan Mandic (@srga91)
28th August 2021, 16:13
Amazing job by Russell! What a lap under these difficult conditions!
Now Mercedes have no other choice. They simply have to sign…..Bottas again ;)
F1 frog (@f1frog)
28th August 2021, 16:13
Simply sensational from George Russell. I would say that is the biggest qualifying upset since Giancarlo Fisichella took pole here for Force India in 2009, and just beats Nico Hulkenberg’s Interlagos pole in 2010.
macaque (@macaque)
28th August 2021, 16:25
For me it doesn’t beat Hulk’s Interlagos pole. I would also add Stroll’s pole in Turkey to the list…
Rooting for George to have a great result tomorrow, maybe P5 or even a podium? Let’s see!
someone or something
28th August 2021, 16:38
Stroll’s Turkey pole seriously lacks the main ingredient of Hulk’s pole and Russell’s P2 today: A car that wasn’t obviously the best car in these conditions.
Back in Interlagos 2010, Hulk not only shocked the usual front-runners, but also his team mate Barrichello, who didn’t really have a reputation for being slow, much less in wet conditions.
Today, Russell not only performed on the same level as drivers who usually outqualify him by 2 seconds, but he also put a lot of time between himself and his team mate Latifi (who, contrary to Barrichello, will probably never make it into anyone’s top 10 list, which further emphasises why Hülkenberg’s performance still stands out).
Compared to that, Stroll’s pole position is far less spectacular. The Racing Point (?, whatever they were called back then) was clearly the fastest car under those conditions. Pérez was even faster than Stroll, but got unlucky with traffic before spinning his final attempt away. But even so, with just a single flying lap on an evolving track, Pérez qualified miles ahead of anyone that wasn’t driving a Red Bull: 2.2 seconds to 5th-placed Ricciardo, 3.2 seconds to Hamilton in the fastest Mercedes (!).
F1 frog (@f1frog)
28th August 2021, 16:46
For me, Giancarlo Fisichella’s pole definitely was the biggest upset as Force India had zero points before that point in both 2009 and the season before, were bottom in the championship, and it was a dry qualifying session. Also, he converted it into second in the race; we will wait and see what Russell does tomorrow. George Russell today and Nico Hulkenberg in 2010 are at a very similar level, but as Williams has overall been ninth quickest this season and they are eighth in the points, whereas it was sixth in the points in 2010 and sixth/seventh quickest car. I would say Nico Hulkenberg’s lap was more impressive (probably the most impressive qualifying lap I have ever seen in Formula 1) as he took pole by an entire second and, as you say, Barrichello is a much quicker in the wet than Latifi. But in terms of the biggest upset, Russell’s lap just edges it. I agree that Stroll’s lap wasn’t on the same level because the Racing Point was the third quickest car last season. Another potential candidate could be Pastor Maldonado in Spain 2012, particularly as he won the race, but I believe that the Williams that year was actually a lot faster than the eighth in the points suggests, and the driver lineup let them down massively.
macaque (@macaque)
28th August 2021, 19:42
To be honest this goes to show what one (me) remembers (or not) of previous seasons, and how one can look at things from different (subjective) perspectives.
Yes, Stroll did have the controversial Racing Point, so it wasn’t such a big surprise – but very unexpected as one doesn’t expect all that much of Stroll anyway. With George, I feel like we “know” he can win races and championships.
With Maldonado’s win, as far as I remember, Williams had a very fast car all weekend. And Pastor did a good job controlling the race from the front, and was the 5th different winner in the first 5 races of the season. Somehow that wasn’t such a shock result – even though no one had high expectations of Maldonado either.
Michael
29th August 2021, 10:30
My housemate and landlord at the time put money on a Force India to take pole position at that race based on their low downforce pace. I hadn’t seen any sign of it before (there hadn’t really been any low downforce races or tests) but Sutil backed it up with great pace at Monza after Fisi left for Ferrari.
Dave
28th August 2021, 16:31
Turkey 2020…roles reversed.
Dane
28th August 2021, 17:59
If Toto is still undecided about that 2nd Mercedes seat then Russell just made the decision a lot easier today.
Scotty (@rockonscotty)
28th August 2021, 19:11
Hey, all you stat guys! When is the last time we had 6 different constructors heading up the grid?