Verstappen is fastest but Sainz takes Belgian pole

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen lapped in a league of his own in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday (Aug 27) but Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took pole position after penalties reshuffled the grid.

The Dutchman set a time of one minute 43.665 seconds around the 7km track to end up 0.632 seconds quicker than Spaniard Sainz.

The Red Bull driver will start 15th on Sunday’s grid, however, after being hit with engine and gearbox-related penalties.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Verstappen's closest championship rival, set the fourth quickest time but dropped to 16th due to similar penalties.

"With the pace that we have in the car ... I want to be at least on the podium," said Verstappen, who leads Leclerc by 80 points with nine races remaining.

The 24-year-old Dutchman won the previous race in Hungary from 10th on the grid and rivals said another Verstappen victory was entirely possible.

"With the pace he’s got he’ll probably still win the race," said Mercedes' George Russell.

"And then Charles will probably come through as well."

PROPER WIN

Verstappen won at Spa last year - a three-lap, rain-hit, safety car procession - and goes into Sunday’s race gunning for a proper win in the country of his birth.

Sainz, on pole for the second time in his career, will be aiming for a second win but was also wary of Verstappen’s speed and the threat of Red Bull's Sergio Perez who starts alongside on the front row.

"Happy to be starting on pole, not so happy with the gap to Max and Red Bull," said Sainz. "Still a bit puzzled to see this big gap, it makes me wonder what's going to happen in the race."

Fernando Alonso will line up third for Alpine after setting the sixth-fastest time.

The double world champion said