Belgian Grand Prix: Qualifying Recap

The opening day of track running began with Free Practice 1 – the only practice session of the Sprint weekend. Magnussen and Hulkenberg utilized the Pirelli Cinturato Green intermediate tire to start but promptly returned to the garage during their exploratory lap due to increasing downpours over the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. A short stint on the Blue extreme wet tire saw the duo register their only timed lap of FP1, Magnussen setting a 2:09.229 for P8 and Hulkenberg a time of 2:10.042 for P10, completing seven and eight laps respectively. 

Qualifying was delayed by 10 minutes to clear standing water around the track, but once underway and with the sun shining for the first time this weekend, both drivers began the opening session on a used set of intermediates. After two timed laps, Magnussen registered a best effort 2:02.738, Hulkenberg a 2:03.166. Hulkenberg encountered a hydraulic issue, and despite the best efforts of the team to get him back out on track, the clock timed out during the German’s out lap, ending his participation in qualifying, classifying P20. 

Q2 began with Magnussen on another new set of intermediate tires, banking a time of 1:57.413. A dry line appeared on track, and the Dane opted for a fresh set of Red softs for his second and final run. Although able to improve with a fastest lap of 1:54.160, it wasn’t enough for the top 10, Magnussen finishing the session P13.

Up front, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing scored pole position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, but the Dutchman will start from P6 due to a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his gearbox allowance. Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came second, and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez third. 

Saturday’s schedule begins with the Sprint Shootout determining the grid for the Sprint later the same day. 

Kevin Magnussen:

“I went off at Turn 9 and hit the wall, damaging the car and then I completed my fastest lap after that, but I had a fair bit of damage on the car. I feel like there was maybe some more in it, but I think everyone feels like that in those conditions, there’s always something you leave out there in terms of lap time. P13 for Sunday, I think that’s okay and we’ll take it from there. Rainy conditions are where you can make it or break it, there’s everything to play for and that’s what we like. It could very well be similar conditions tomorrow for the Sprint, the weather here in Spa is always interesting, so let’s see what happens.”

Nico Hulkenberg:

“We had a hydraulic issue on the car which happened during the first run, and we tried to fix it but couldn’t get around again to set another lap time. At the end of the session, the track was drying and getting quicker so that means we were left in P20.”

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal:

“It was a messy day today. A difficult FP1 with rain coming and going, we weren’t really able to learn a lot. In qualifying, Nico had a hydraulic problem which cut his qualifying short, and Kevin on his best opportunity went off at Turn 9, then obviously the second time around, his tires were not in the best state anymore. Not the best of our qualifying efforts but this weekend has two opportunities to get points, so we try again tomorrow to do a better job than today.”

Today's Data

Event: Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix – Friday July 28
Location: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Layout: 7.004-kilometer (4.352-mile), 19-turn circuit 
Weather: Rain (FP1) / Partly Cloudy (Qualifying)
Air Temps: 20.2 degrees Celsius (68.36 degrees Fahrenheit)
Track Temps: 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit)
Team Result: Kevin Magnussen qualified 13th (MAG to start 16th after grid-penalty applied), Nico Hulkenberg qualified 20th

Free Practice 1 (FP1) Rundown:

Magnussen: 8th overall (2:09.229), 7 laps completed
Hulkenberg: 10th overall (2:10.042), 8 laps completed
Fastest: Carlos Sainz of Scuderia Ferrari (2:03.207)

Q1 Qualifying: 18-mins with all 20 Drivers – Top 15 Advance to Q2

Magnussen: 15th overall (2:00.020) – Advanced to Q2
Hulkenberg: 20th overall (2:03.166) 
Fastest: Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari (1:58.300)

Q2 Qualifying: 15-mins – Top 10 Advance to Q3

Magnussen: 13th overall (1:54.160)  - 
Fastest: Oscar Piastri of McLaren (1:51.534) 

Q3 Qualifying: 12-mins – Top 10 Drivers

Pole Winner: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (1:46.168)