11 and 25 thousandths. A sigh. Not even that. That was the difference between taking pole position in the Belgian GP sprint shootout or being third, where Carlos Sainz will start. In the middle, Oscar Piastri with a McLaren that never ceases to amaze with his performance.
With a track still wet and changing conditions, Verstappen was also the best. Without risking too much, as he later confessed, but pushing as hard as possible to be the last to set his best time. The Red Bull man will come out first in a sprint shootout for the second time this season.
At his side will be Oscar Piastri (McLaren), who could not help but drop a few insults when he learned that he was only separated by 11 thousandths of a pole. Carlos Sainz also shone in this session and managed to leave his teammate, Charles Leclerc, behind.
The Mercedes had to settle for the back places in Q3. A mistake by Russell conditioned both drivers, because despite the fact that Hamilton was behind with a good time, Russell decided not to get away from him and compete with his teammate. The result was that both were far from the best times.
It was also a cross for the Aston Martin, who clearly erred with the strategy in Q2 and their two cars were left out of Q3. The mistake was risking too much and not letting either of his two drivers go until the final part of the session. There they decided to take Lance Stroll out on the medium tires too early, as the track was still very wet. After a few curves Stroll crashed into the wall without consequences, but causing a red flag that ruined Fernando Alonso's lap, who will start fifteenth on his birthday.
