Ferrari targets podium as Antonelli secures Spa pole, Russell cites straight-line deficit

Kimi Antonelli earned his sixth pole of the season at Spa-Francorchamps, edging out Max Verstappen after a strong weekend in practice. The 19-year-old said the circuit changed "a lot" and that he improved "lap by lap" to secure the front-row start.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc qualified second, joining Mercedes’ George Russell on the front row. Leclerc, who lost time after lifting for a yellow flag, said a podium would be a "good result" for the team, while teammate Lewis Hamilton, starting fifth, thanked the crew for repairing his car following a practice crash and noted that Spa’s first and final sectors pose the biggest challenge for Ferrari.

Mercedes acknowledged that Russell remains slower on the straights despite progress in the corners, describing the issue as a "serious" straight-line performance deficit linked to the power unit. Russell said he felt "a bit better" after seeing that most of the loss came from the power-unit, but expressed frustration with the half-second gap on the straight.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen credited a tow from teammate Isack Hadjar for helping him secure second on the grid, estimating a 0.3-second gain. Hadjar, starting from the back of the grid due to a power-unit penalty, said the assistance was "the right thing to do."

Lando Norris, who received a grid penalty after a new battery installation, remained optimistic about overtaking opportunities, stating that the race’s length and layout should allow him to "put on a good show."

In a personnel move, Mercedes driver scout Gwen Lagrue is set to join Red Bull’s driver development programme, replacing Helmut Marko, though details of his release from Mercedes have not been disclosed.