SM
Brighton vs. Southampton: 16 hrs 3 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Max Verstappen pips George Russell to pole at rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix

:Headline: Max Verstappen pips George Russell to pole at rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix:
Lewis Hamilton had to settle for third on the grid.
Sports Mole

Max Verstappen took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix as George Russell secured a shock second on the grid.

Following a frenetic rain-hit qualifying which was delayed by 45 minutes after Lando Norris was involved in a terrifying 185mph crash, Williams driver Russell delivered a sensational lap only to be beaten by Verstappen in the closing moments.

Verstappen finished 0.321 seconds clear of Russell at Spa-Francorchamps, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton forced to settle for third ahead of McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas finished eighth but will start in 13th as he serves a grid penalty for his role in the opening-lap chaos at Hungary earlier this month.

"I don't know what to say," said Russell. "We are standing here on the front row. The guys did an amazing job. I had so much confidence, so on to tomorrow now.

"I had nothing to lose. We had to go for it. I am absolutely buzzing, but the big one is tomorrow and to score some points. If the lead is there for the taking, I will go for it."

Hamilton, who leads Verstappen by eight points in the championship, said: "It has been a very difficult day for everyone.

"If it is like this tomorrow it is going to be tricky. We tried to strike the best balance possible and maybe it is not the best today, but it might work for tomorrow."

The concluding action took place after Norris, 21, lost control of his McLaren through the fearsome Eau Rouge in the wet conditions, slamming into the wall and pirouetting four-and-a-half times before coming to a standstill.

Norris wrote off the back of his McLaren in the accident, with the front-right wheel also torn away from his car.

The television pictures immediately cut away from the crash and to Norris' McLaren garage where his visibly concerned colleagues stood with hands on their heads.

But mercifully, a clearly winded Norris reported to his race engineer, Will Joseph, that he was unharmed, with the running red-flagged.

He emerged unassisted from his wrecked cockpit, albeit holding his lower left arm as he was taken away in the medical car and underwent checks at the on-track medical centre.

Norris was among the frontrunners to secure pole position after finishing fastest in both Q1 and Q2.

But his accident came just moments after four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel demanded over his Aston Martin radio that the rain-hit Q3 session be stopped because the track was not fit to drive.

Vettel was the next driver behind Norris on track.

"What the f*** did I say?" he yelled over the radio when he was informed of the accident. "What did I say? Red flag. It is unnecessary. Is he OK?"

Vettel pulled alongside Norris' wreckage, giving his fellow driver the thumbs up to check on his condition before driving away.

French Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert was killed at the same corner two years ago, while two drivers were hospitalised following a six-car pile-up in Friday's W Series qualifying session at Eau Rouge.

body check tags ::

amp_article__461314 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-28 15:49:18:
html db last update - 2021-08-28 15:49:18 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Lando Norris

Click here for more stories about McLaren

Share this article now:
LN
Read Next:
Lando Norris suffers major crash in wet conditions in Belgium
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Lando Norris Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Lando Norris suffers major crash in wet conditions in Belgium
Lift-off for Amorim: Hojlund hits brace in Man United win over Bodo/Glimt
Yamal, Araujo, Torres latest: Barcelona injury list for Las Palmas clash

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Lift-off for Amorim: Hojlund hits brace in Man United win over Bodo/Glimt

1

LF

Christopher Nkunku breaks Chelsea European goalscoring record vs. Heidenheim

2

CN

Preview: Nacional vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PN

Preview: Al Ettifaq vs. Al Ittihad - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PA

Team News: Who is in Amorim's Man United XI vs. Bodo/Glimt?

5

TN

Preview: Dortmund vs. Bayern - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PD

Chelsea continue flawless Conference League campaign with tough win over Heidenheim

7

CC

Preview: West Ham vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PW

Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PC

Preview: Brentford vs. Leicester - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PB


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .