Leclerc to start P1 in Belgian GP, Verstappen fastest but penalized

Charles Leclerc crossed the line second in Friday's qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps but secured pole position for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix due to a penalty to Max Verstappen.

The Ferrari driver will start alongside Red Bull's Sergio Perez at the front of the grid.

This marks Leclerc's second pole position of the season, also going fastest in Azerbaijan qualifying - the fourth race of the year.

Verstappen went fastest overall but will start sixth, with the championship leader serving a five-place grid penalty for taking a new gearbox. The Dutch driver narrowly escaped disaster during the second qualifying session, going 10th fastest and barely making it into the final as the track dried. This is the second consecutive race in which Verstappen won't start from the front after doing so five straight times.

Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz will start in the second row in fourth alongside seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Qualifying is one day earlier than typical race weekends as Spa is also set to host a sprint shootout and sprint race on Saturday. Belgium is hosting the third of six sprint formats this season after Azerbaijan and Austria. The next one is in October in Qatar.

Magnussen was also hit with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Leclerc during qualifying. Originally qualifying 13th, Magnussen will start Sunday's race from 16th.