Championship leader Kimi Antonelli beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after a tense conclusion to qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps. <p>Antonelli dominated practice but Lando Norris was on provisional pole after the first Q3 runs only for Antonelli and Verstappen to topple the McLaren driver.</p><p>Verstappen benefitted from a big slipstream with the help of Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar, who starts at the back due to a power unit change, but missed out on pole to Antonelli by 0.317s.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13561703/belgian-gp-2026-dates-schedule-weather-uk-start-time-and-how-to-watch-or-stream-f1-race-at-spa-francorchamps-live-on-sky-sports">Belgian GP: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/standings">F1 2026 standings</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/schedule-results">F1 2026 calendar</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/12433/12466779/f1-news-rumours-and-gossip-formula-1-latest-updates-on-teams-driver-transfer-market-and-contracts">F1 Gossip Column</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ContentPromo" target="_blank"><strong>Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more</strong></a><strong>📱</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Get Sky Sports</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream with no contract on NOW</strong></a><strong>📺</strong></li></ul><p>Antonelli absorbed the pressure of being favourite with a strong final lap and has a big opportunity to extend his 25-point lead in the Drivers' Championship over George Russell, who qualified fourth and was half a second down on his team-mate.</p><p>Norris will start 13th because of a 10-grid place penalty for exceeding his control electronics allowance – an element of the power unit – so Russell will move up to third on the grid.</p><p>Ferrari will be disappointed as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start fourth and fifth, making it difficult for the Scuderia to continue their recent winning form.</p><p>Hamilton crashed heavily in final practice but Ferrari were able to change his suspension, floor and gearbox in time for qualifying with no impact on the car's performance.</p><p>British teenager Arvid Lindblad had his best qualifying in eighth as he continues his impressive rookie season, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri in seventh and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth.</p><widget id="3"></widget><p><em>More to follow…</em></p><h3><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13561703/belgian-gp-2026-dates-schedule-weather-uk-start-time-and-how-to-watch-or-stream-f1-race-at-spa-francorchamps-live-on-sky-sports">Sky Sports F1's Belgian GP schedule</a></h3> <widget id="2"></widget><p><strong>Sunday July 19</strong><br />7.30am: F3 Feature Race<br />9am: F2 Feature Race<br />10.45am: Porsche Supercup<br />12.30pm: Belgian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday<br /><strong>2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX</strong><br />4pm: Belgian GP reaction: Chequered Flag</p><p><em>*Also on Sky Sports Main Event</em></p><p><strong>Formula 1 is at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix with Sunday's race at 2pm (build-up from 12.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime</a></strong></p>
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