Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start from the front for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix despite Max Verstappen taking an impressive pole position at Spa in heavy rain.
Verstappen performed well throughout qualifying, but the Dutchman received a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change, meaning he would start from 11th on the grid.
His demotion moved Leclerc up top, with Sergio Perez in second, one spot ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris started fourth in the McLaren.
Verstappen was canceled for running his fifth combustion engine of the season here, one more than the four he was allowed to run.
Follow live updates from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 26/44)
2.4 seconds pause – Hamilton leads Leclerc in sixth place by 3 seconds!
Oscar Piastri now leads the Grand Prix!
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:53
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc pits (Lap 26/44)
Ferrari took the gamble first!
After a slow stop of 3.4 seconds, Leclerc dropped from second to seventh.
So, will Hamilton respond immediately?
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:52
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton on team radio (Lap 25/44)
Hamilton: “The tires are still good.”
He extended his lead over Leclerc to 2.4 seconds. Mercedes look very likely to win here – but it's all about the next stage of the pit stop!
Meanwhile, Norris was just outside Verstappen's DRS range, but Red Bull was now two seconds behind Russell!
Top ten: Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Perez, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Albon, Ricciardo
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:50
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez pits (Lap 22/44)
Instead of following team orders, Red Bull decided to pit Perez and allow Verstappen to overtake – the second pit stop seemed a little too early!
Meanwhile, Norris has caught up with Verstappen and is within DRS range! This can get intense!
At the front, Hamilton is 1.6 seconds ahead of Leclerc and, dare I say, very comfortable now.
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:46
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz pits (Lap 21/44)
Sainz eventually comes on and switches from hard to midfield – can he keep them going until the end?
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton regained the lead over Charles Leclerc.
Looking further ahead, George Russell has surpassed Sergio Perez and finished fourth!
Top ten: Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Perez, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Albon, Ricciardo
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:43
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton chases Carlos Sainz
Was Ferrari keeping Sainz out of the race to stop Hamilton as he caught up with the leader?
Sainz was told: “Plan B for the media.”
Hamilton is just 4.3 seconds behind Sainz, with Leclerc 1.4 seconds behind.
Meanwhile, Russell was doing well between the Red Bulls, while Verstappen was frustrated in seventh!
Top ten: Sainz (non-stop), Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Perez, Russell, Verstappen, Norris, Albon, Ricciardo
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:40
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lando Norris pits (Lap 16/44)
Norris pitted in 2.3 seconds and, despite having a few laps left on his tires, was five seconds behind Verstappen in ninth place.
Carlos Sainz in front squeezed the car back onto the track on the gravel road in sector one, but lost three seconds.
Sainz leads Hamilton by six seconds, with Leclerc trailing the Briton by 1.3 seconds.
As for Verstappen in seventh, his engineer told him to “try” Russell in sixth.
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:35
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc pits (Lap 14/44)
The pits were busy now, with Leclerc dropping to fifth on the pit stop and Carlos Sainz now leading Lando Norris – neither man stopping.
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, on those hard tyres, has now moved up the order over Sergio Perez.
Top ten: Sainz (non-stop), Norris (non-stop), Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Perez, Russell, Verstappen, Magnussen, Tsunoda
Sainz and Norris now miss out on this wild race as they trail Verstappen in eighth place. Now they will focus on the later stages of the race to get the best stopping position
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:30
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 12/44)
Never mind Norris, the leaders will react to Verstappen!
With Leclerc absent, Hamilton dropped to sixth, while Perez and Piastri also pitted!
Piastri was right behind Russell at the pit exit, but McLaren overtook the Mercedes on the Kemer Straight!
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:27
F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pits (Lap 11/44)
Verstappen hopes to weaken Norris here! Red Bull stops for 2.7 seconds.
George Russell also pitted, finishing 12th with a time of 2.3 seconds.
So, will Lando pit immediately after this lap?
Kieran JacksonJuly 28, 2024 14:24
