2020 F1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying report: Lewis's extra level

With a pole lap 0.5sec quicker his team-mate's and a car set up for rain, look behind Lewis Hamilton for action in the race after 2020 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, says Tony Dodgins — there should be plenty

Lewis Hamilton drives through Eau roughe during qualofying for the 2020 F1 Belgian Grand prix

Hamilton secured pole by half a second

Florent Gooden / DPPI

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The Racing Points start eighth and ninth, Sergio Perez 0.07sec quicker than Lance Stroll, with Lando Norris completing the top 10.

Behind it, and ahead of the Ferraris, Daniil Kvyat outqualified Alpha Tauri team-mate Gasly for the first time in 2020, albeit by a hundredth of a second.

The battle behind Mercedes has been incredibly close all season and, at Spa, reached new heights. Consider that in Q1, less than four-tenths separated fourth quickest Gasly from Leclerc, 15th. In Q2, there was six hundredths between fourth- placed Verstappen and eighth-placed Ocon. And in Q3, six-tenths separated fourth-placed Ricciardo from tenth-placed Norris. Which, when you’ve taken the kind of backward step that Ferrari has, is all a bit embarrassing.

With its new Concorde Agreement signed, F1 looks to be in rude health. It’s just a shame about those W11s out front… It’s hard to see past Hamilton tomorrow although, given where we are and its unique microclimate, he may have some banana skins to negotiate. Then again, when has that bothered him?

Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after qualifying on pole for the 2020 f1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps

Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after his pole lap

Francois Lenoir/AFP via Getty Images

 

2020 F1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying results

Position Driver Team Time
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1min 41.252sec
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1min 41.763sec
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1min 41.778sec
4 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1min 42.061sec
5 Alex Albon Red Bull 1min 42.264sec
6 Esteban Ocon Renault 1min 42.396sec
7 Carlos Sainz McLaren 1min 42.438sec
8 Sergio Perez Racing Point 1min 42.532sec
9 Lance Stroll Racing Point 1min 42.603sec
10 Lando Norris McLaren 1min 42.657sec
Q2 times
11 Daniil Kvyat AlphaTauri 1min 42.730sec
12 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri 1min 42.745sec
13 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1min 42.996sec
14 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1min 43.261sec
15 George Russell Williams 1min 43.468sec
Q1 times
16 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo 1min 43.743sec
17 Romain Grosjean Haas 1min 43.838sec
18 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1min 43.950sec
19 Nicholas Latifi Williams 1min 44.138sec
20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1min 44.314sec