Piastri sets dominant pole for Belgian GP sprint race
McLaren's Oscar Piastri produced a breathtaking performance to set pole position for the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix.The Australian, the world championship leader, was 0.477 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen and 0.618secs ahead of team-mate and title rival Lando Norris.Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth, but 0.768secs off the pace, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in the first session and will start 18th after a mistake on his first lap and a spin at the final corner on his second.Esteban Ocon's Haas took a surprise fifth place, split from his British team-mate Oliver Bearman by Williams' Carlos Sainz.Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.Piastri only just made it through to the final shoot-out for pole in 10th place after having his first lap in the second session ruled out for exceeding track limits at Raidillon.But he had looked the quickest driver all day and he delivered on his potential with impressive effect.Piastri said: "It was a good lap,. A little scare in Q2 with the lap deletion but the car has been mega all day. When the car's handling as well as it has been today, it's a real pleasure."Piastri goes into the sprint race at 11:00 UK time on Saturday with an eight-point championship lead over Norris.But he will be wary of the threat from Verstappen on the first lap with the long run through the Eau Rouge swerves and up the hill to Les Combes.
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