Box Box Box breaks down the Formula 1 season with clear, focused analysis. Hosts Scott and Mohan cover each race weekend, unpacking strategies, standout performances, and the key stories shaping the grid.
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From early pace to the battle for pole, Mohan unpacks all the action from practice and qualifying in Belgium.
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Good morning, racing fans. This is Mohan here with the usual update ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Franco Chan. And despite all the discussion about potentially disruptive weather this weekend, it hasn't really materialized during the competitive running so far. There were some showers between Friday's sessions, but all three practice sessions and qualifying were held on a dry track. What we have seen is Max Verstappen starting the weekend fastest, Kimi Antonelli taking control through the remaining practice sessions, a sizable qualifying accident for Lewis Hamilton, and some very deliberate Red Bull teamwork that helped Verstappen secure a place on the front row for the main race. There are also several power unit penalties to factor into the starting grid. Lando Norris and Lance Stroll each have 10 place penalties, while Isaac Hajjar's additional engine, turbo and exhaust components amounted to 30 grid places, effectively sending him to the back of the pack. In practice, Verstappen set the early pace in FP1 with a 1 minute 47.070, finishing just under a tenth and a half ahead of Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc 3rd and Hajjar an impressive fourth. Oscar Piastri was fifth, Antonelli 6th, and Norris only 7th. Although the usual differences in fuel loads and run programs made it difficult to draw any firm conclusions. Antonelli then moved to the front in FP2, leading Norris by 1900ths and was tapped by just under half a second. Piastri's session was already heavily disrupted because McLaren were repairing a hydraulic problem discovered after FP1, meaning that he did not leave the garage for almost 19 minutes into the hour. Antonelli remained fastest in FP3 with a 1 minute 45.990, but the leading group were extremely close. Norris was only 0.139 seconds behind. PS3 was seventh, around 8 tenths away, as McLaren continued working to recover the running lost on Friday morning. The session then ended under a red flag after Hamilton lost cross control in the closing moments, scaled across the gravel and backed into the tire barrier. The impact destroyed much of the rear wing and rear spension, leaving Ferrari with a major repair job before qualifying. The mechanics, however, managed to rebuild the car in time, but it was far from ideal preparation for Hamilton as the field moved directly into fight for pole position. In Q1, Norris set the pace with a 1 minute 45.865 narrowly ahead of Verstappen, while Hajar continued his impressive weekend by going third fastest. Hamilton initially appeared to be struggling for tire temperature in his firstly prepared Ferrari, and he mentioned this on the radio to his mechanics. But he improved on this run later and safely progressed along with Leclerc. With 22 cars in the field, six drivers were eliminated rather than the usual five. With Albon, Ocon, both Cadillac drivers and both Aston Martin drivers being eliminated in Q1. In Q2, Antonelli made a much stronger statement, going fastest with a 1 minute 45.142, finishing just over a quarter and a second ahead of Leclerc. Norris was third, followed by Hamilton and then Verstappen. PS3 progressed in seventh and Russell only in eighth. Hedjah made it to Q3 despite knowing that his power unit penalties had already ruined his starting position. And Bortoletto produced an excellent lap to claim the final place in the top 10 shootout. Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Sainz, and Bierman were all eliminated in that session. Then there was a delay before Q3 after Hulkenberg stopped with a hydraulic leak, leaving his car stranded and requiring the Marshals to recover it before the final session could begin. Q3 became particularly interesting because Red Bull decided to use Haja almost entirely as a support car for Verstappen. With Hajjar already destined for the back of the grid, there was little value in chasing his own qualifying position. So he was sent out ahead of Verstappen to provide a slipstream through the final sector and along the long run towards the bus stop. On the first attempts, Norris moved into provisional pole with a 1 minute 44.801 just ahead of Antonelli and Verstappen. The session was then red flagged when Piastri ran wide at stavelot and kicked a significant amount of gravel onto the racing line, forcing the Marshals to have to clear the circuit. When qualifying resumed, Red Bull repeated the strategy. Haji again positioned himself ahead of Verstappen and delivered a carefully timed toe. Verstappen improved his time to 1 minute 44.678 and then later admitted in the post-qualifying interview that the assistance was probably the difference between him starting on the front row and qualifying somewhere around 6th position. Antonelli ultimately proved too quick for everyone, producing a superb 1 minute 44.361, taking pole by 0.317 seconds. Verstappen second, Norris qualified third, and Russell fourth, followed by Leclerc, Hamilton and Piastri. Norris's 10 place penalty drops him to 13 on the starting grid, while Hajjar will start 21st despite playing such an important role in Verstappen's qualifying result. So that actually means on on the actual race day, Russell will start at third given that he will get pushed up the grid for based on Hajjar's penalty. So that's there we stand ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Anthony has been the fastest driver since FP2 and starts from pole. But Verstappen will line up alongside him after benefiting enormously from Hajjar's toll. Russell and the two Ferraris are positioned directly behind them. Piastri starts 6th and Norris's faces a much more difficult afternoon than from 13th after his great penalty. The forecast weather may have not made much of an appearance so far, but at SPA it can never be completely dismissed. And even a brief shower could change the entire shape of the race. Thanks for listening to this update from the Belgian Grand Prix. Enjoy the race, and we'll be back afterwards to break down everything that happens in the race. Thank you.
