Max Verstappen was the fastest driver in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix but he won’t start round 14 of the 2024 Formula 1 season from pole position.
That’s because for a third year in a row at Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen has a grid penalty – this time for exceeding the maximum number of internal combustion engines allowed in a season.
It means he will start from 11th rather than first and Charles Leclerc, who was second quickest in qualifying, will instead be on pole ahead of Sergio Perez.
Perez is facing a make-or-break weekend with his Red Bull future beyond Spa in doubt.
He’ll start ahead of Lewis Hamilton and the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Sixth on the grid is George Russell. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is seventh ahead of Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon who round out the top 10.
Yuki Tsunoda has a back-of-the-grid penalty for also exceeding the maximum number of engine components. He qualified 18th but is due to start last.
Starting ahead of Tsunoda is Zhou Guanyu, who qualified 20th but received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen in Q1.
However, given Tsunoda’s penalty promotes him back up a spot, he will start from 19th.
As ever, there is still the potential for some teams to sacrifice their drivers’ starting positions if they wish to make wholesale changes to the car before the race. This will mandate a pitlane start instead.
