Kimi Antonelli secured pole position at Spa. © APA/afp / JOHN THYS

Pole position at Spa: Antonelli in a league of his own

World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured pole position in Formula 1 qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.

July 18, 2026

From: apa

The 19-year-old secured the fastest qualifying time of 1:44,361 for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing 0,317 seconds ahead of four-time world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Reigning champion Lando Norris initially qualified third, but received a grid penalty and will start from 13th position. George Russell in the second Mercedes therefore qualified third.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver secured pole position for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix (3:00 PM CEST/live on ServusTV and Sky) with a time of 1:44,361. Max Verstappen (+0,317 seconds) in the Red Bull will also start on the front row, while world champion Lando Norris (+0,440) qualified third in the McLaren, ahead of George Russell (+0,508) in the second Mercedes.

Ferrari disappointed

However, Norris will be penalized ten places due to an engine penalty, meaning Russell will start third. For Antonelli, it was his sixth pole position of the season and also the perfect birthday present for his father, Marco Antonelli. "Tomorrow is the day, and Max will be starting next to me. I hope I can get a good start," said the young Mercedes driver from Italy.

Max Verstappen finished in second place. © APA/afp / JOHN THYS

Verstappen, meanwhile, benefited from the slipstream of his teammate Isack Hadjar, who will start from the back of the grid due to a penalty. "Without him, I might have finished fifth or sixth. We're happy to be on the front row and how we executed that as a team," said Verstappen, the Dutchman born in Belgium. The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc (+0,532), the recent winner at Silverstone, and Lewis Hamilton (+0,534) had to settle for fifth and sixth places.