The Spa-Francorchamps circuit delivered few surprises, once again confirming that McLaren is currently out of reach for its rivals. Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari continues its work following the Sprint race to unlock further performance from its newly introduced suspension system. Here is a detailed technical analysis of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session.
British driver Lando Norris stole the spotlight in qualifying, taking a superb pole position after what had initially seemed to be a weekend leaning in favour of his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. The Red Bull Racing team managed to bring both its cars into Q3, but reigning World Champion Max Verstappen made a costly error during his second flying lap. That mistake allowed Charles Leclerc to overtake him on the timesheets by just three hundredths of a second.
At Ferrari, engineers and technicians were hard at work trying to extract more potential from the updated technical package, which remains in an experimental and fine-tuning phase. The absence of parc fermé conditions after the Sprint session gave all teams the opportunity to make setup changes ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix—particularly relevant due to the increasing likelihood of wet weather impacting the race.
Max Verstappen may have paid the price for his strategic setup choice. The Dutch driver opted for a high-downforce rear wing configuration, aiming for stability in the corners but sacrificing top speed on Spa’s long straights. This decision was somewhat surprising given his dominant victory in the Sprint race, which had showcased the RB21’s superior straight-line pace.
On the other hand, Ferrari focused on improving aerodynamic efficiency. The Italian team successfully increased the SF-25’s top speed and also improved its cornering capabilities compared to the Sprint Qualifying session. This allowed the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc to clock the best time in Sector 1, demonstrating solid speed on the straights and better balance through high-speed turns.
McLaren, by contrast, adopted a conservative approach. With the MCL39 already proving extremely well-balanced and quick in previous races, the team based in Woking appeared not to make any significant setup changes overnight.
McLaren Unstoppable Through Corners, but Weak on Straights
An analysis of the telemetry data from the qualifying session leaves little doubt: the McLaren MCL39 is untouchable through the sweeping, high-speed corners of the Belgian circuit. However, it is not completely without weaknesses. The car’s high-downforce configuration results in a loss of top-end speed, which could leave it exposed on long straights.
The error made by Max Verstappen at Turn 1 proved particularly costly. Without that mistake, the Red Bull Racing driver likely would have secured third place, as the RB21 overall appeared to perform slightly better than Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. Following the error, Verstappen pushed hard in an attempt to recover lost time and succeeded in clawing back nearly three-tenths of a second—but it still was not enough to beat the Monegasque driver, and he had to settle for starting behind Charles Leclerc by just 0.03 seconds.
One particularly noteworthy detail from the qualifying laps was that Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri were the only two drivers who took the Pouhon corner flat out. In contrast, both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc eased off the throttle significantly through that section. This highlights the continued impressive potential of the Red Bull RB21 chassis—potential that only a driver of Verstappen’s finesse and sensitivity can fully exploit.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, McLaren’s superior cornering performance should help the team manage tyre degradation more effectively, which could prove decisive. That said, as shown during the Sprint session where Verstappen ran a lower-downforce setup, teams that opt for less drag may enjoy better race pace on the straights—something Ferrari may look to capitalise on.
Weather remains a big unknown for Sunday’s main event. A wet race could introduce unpredictability into the outcome and shuffle the order. However, barring any major surprises or race incidents, the fight for victory seems likely to remain an internal affair at McLaren. The British team currently holds a significant advantage, boasting a remarkably competitive car that excels in both dry and wet conditions.
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