Leclerc fifth, Hamilton sixth in Belgian GP qualifying; Norris penalty promotes both to fourth and fifth on grid
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth and sixth for the Belgian Grand Prix, but both gain one place due to a grid penalty for Lando Norris.
- 4th
- 5th
- 22°C
- 39°C
What Happened
Scuderia Ferrari HP completed qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps with Charles Leclerc fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth. The team's mechanics repaired Hamilton's SF-26 after his crash in final practice, allowing him to take part in qualifying. Both drivers advanced through all three segments on new Soft tyres.
Leclerc 1'46"278, Hamilton 1'46"124 — both improved on second run
Leclerc 1'45"397, Hamilton 1'45"543 — both advanced to Q3
First runs: Leclerc 1'44"893, Hamilton 1'45"062; second runs: Hamilton 1'44"895, Leclerc lifted due to yellow flag — final positions 5th and 6th
1'44"893
Set on first Q3 run; unable to improve on second attempt due to yellow flag at pit entry
1'44"895
Improved on second Q3 run to secure sixth place initially, promoted to fifth
Despite qualifying fifth and sixth, Leclerc and Hamilton will start fourth and fifth respectively because Lando Norris received a ten-place grid penalty. The air temperature during qualifying was 22°C and the track temperature 39°C. Hamilton's earlier crash at Stavelot in final practice was repaired by the Ferrari mechanics in time for qualifying.
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Earlier on 18 July 2026, Lewis Hamilton crashed at Stavelot during the third free practice session, damaging his SF-26, but Ferrari mechanics repaired the car in time for qualifying. Hamilton had placed fifth in that session, with Leclerc sixth. The team entered qualifying after a mixed practice day on 17 July, where Hamilton was fourth and Leclerc 11th after a track limits penalty.
- Ferrari Finishes Fifth and Sixth in Belgian GP Final Practice; Hamilton Hits Barriers
- Hamilton fourth, Leclerc 11th in Belgian GP second practice as track limits bite
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The result gives Ferrari a strong starting position for the race, with both cars in the top five. Hamilton's recovery is notable after crashing in final practice, while Leclerc aims to build on his Silverstone win.
Terms in This Story
- Soft tyres
- The softest compound available in Formula 1, offering high grip but less durability.
- Stavelot
- A high-speed corner at Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
- Grid penalty
- A penalty that drops a driver down the starting grid, often for causing a collision or exceeding engine limits.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.