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Max Verstappen at Spa
Photo:
JOHN THYS v AFP
Under normal circumstances, Max Verstappen would start the Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps from first place on the grid.
The world champion dominated qualifying on the popular traditional track, he was more than half a second ahead of Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari.
However, due to an unauthorized engine change, Verstappen slipped down to 15th place on the grid – and Sainz started from pole position.
In addition to Verstappen, his World Cup competitor Charles Leclerc also opted for new engine parts.
The Monegasse finished fourth in qualifying, but will start from 16th place behind Verstappen. The two top drivers will probably roll up the field from behind and still aim for a place on the podium.
Next to Sainz on the front row will be Verstappen's teammate Sergio Pèrez, behind them are the veterans Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton on the second row.
Schumacher beats Vettel
A total of six drivers were penalized for installing new engine parts - or deliberately chose the Belgian Grand Prix for the parts exchange.
Spa is considered a track that is good for overtaking.
In addition to Leclerc and Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Mick Schumacher, Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris and Zhou Guanyu moved to the end of the field.
Schumacher fought his way into the second round of qualifying, but as the driver with the weakest result from the penalized sextet, the Haas driver started from last place.
For Sebastian Vettel it was not enough for the second qualifying section on his farewell tour.
Vettel was beaten by 0.002 seconds by Schumacher, because of the many penalties the four-time world champion moves up the grid.
Vettel starts the race from tenth place.
kra