• Latest
  • Trending
Hamilton eases to pole, Ricciardo stars for Renault

Hamilton eases to pole, Ricciardo stars for Renault

August 30, 2020
Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

March 2, 2021
Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

March 2, 2021
Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

March 2, 2021
MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

March 1, 2021
Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

March 1, 2021
MotoFest 2021 postponed

MotoFest 2021 postponed

March 1, 2021
Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

March 1, 2021
Formula E release CCTV footage of Evans, Lynn aeroplane crash

Formula E release CCTV footage of Evans, Lynn aeroplane crash

March 1, 2021
“We’ve got to keep chipping away”: Van Gisbergen reflects on victory streak and big title lead

“We’ve got to keep chipping away”: Van Gisbergen reflects on victory streak and big title lead

February 28, 2021
Watch: Shane van Gisbergen makes perfect start, claims second Mount Panorama win

Watch: Shane van Gisbergen makes perfect start, claims second Mount Panorama win

February 28, 2021
Watch: Shane van Gisbergen claims pole after dramatic Bathurst 500 shootout

Watch: Shane van Gisbergen claims pole after dramatic Bathurst 500 shootout

February 28, 2021
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Hamilton eases to pole, Ricciardo stars for Renault

by Zane Shackleton
August 30, 2020
in Formula 1, International, News
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

Lewis Hamilton was in another dimension in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix with a dazzling final lap smashing the Spa-Francorchamps lap record and thumping teammate Valtteri Bottas by over half-a-second to claim his 93rd career pole.

Red Bull had hoped the pace suggested by Max Verstappen in the second free practice would translate into a competitive outing in qualifying around a circuit everyone expected to be dominated by the Silver Arrows.

But despite being one of only three drivers to ease through Q2 on the medium tyre, setting them up for the ideal race strategy tomorrow, Verstappen was unable to topple either Mercedes who locked out the front row for the first time at Spa since 2015.

“I didn’t make any mistakes on all of the laps,” said pole-sitter Hamilton, “but the Q3 run one lap was ace and I was thinking there’s probably no way I’m going to beat that.

“But Turn 1’s probably been a weakness for me for the last few years and I just got stronger and stronger through there. I saw that I was up out of Turn 1 and then I just kept eking away throughout the lap, so that was a very, very good lap, so I’m happy with that.”

Bottas will start a career-high second at the Belgian venue but a scrappy Q3 meant he only marginally edged out Verstappen on his final lap by 0.015s.

A brilliant lap by Daniel Ricciardo meant he was able to split the two Red Bulls in his R.S.20 and will start on the second row. The Australian was the lead driver behind the Mercedes duo after the first Q3 runs, but a late improvement by Verstappen demoted the Renault to the inside of the second row.

Behind, Alex Albon was unable to improve on his final timed lap but still ended up and impressive fifth ahead of Esteban Ocon who excelled for Renault to secure the team’s best qualifying performance since the Italian Grand  Prix last year.

Carlos Sainz had an untidy final lap but still ended up above the two Racing Points who failed to demonstrate their promising pace from free practice with Sergio Perez beating out teammate Lance Stroll to finish 8th and 9th, while Lando Norris completed the top ten.

Ferrari only barely squeezed themselves out of an embarrassing double Q1 exit with Charles Leclerc the last driver floating on the fringe of elimination in 15th.

It set the tone for a disastrous Q2 where the Monegasque posted the 13th fastest time with Sebastian Vettel one place behind in 14th. Only the Williams of George Russell who made it to Q2 for the fifth time this season finished behind the Scuderia in their worst team performance since the start of the turbo hybrid era at the 2014 British Grand Prix.

The Belgian Grand Prix often produces one of the most exciting races of the year and gets underway from 1.10 am August 31.

PosDriverTimeGap Q3
1L. Hamilton1:41.252
2V. Bottas1:41.7630.511
3M. Verstappen1:41.7780.526
4D. Ricciardo1:42.0610.809
5A. Albon1:42.2641.012
6E. Ocon1:42.3961.144
7C. Sainz1:42.4381.186
8S. Perez1:42.5321.280
9L. Stroll1:42.6031.351
10L. Norris1:42.6571.405
11D. Kvyat1:42.730
12P. Gasly1:42.745
13C. Leclerc1:42.996
14S. Vettel1:43.261
15G. Russell1:43.468
16K. Raikkonen1:43.743
17R. Grosjean1:43.838
18A. Giovinazzi1:43.950
19N. Latifi1:44.138
20K. Magnussen1:44.314

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

MotoFest 2021 postponed

Bringing you the latest motorsport news in New Zealand and around the world

Managing editor and publisher:
Mark Petch mark@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Matthew Hansen matt@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Alex Schultz alex@velocitynews.co.nz

Motor Racing Editor:
Zane Shackleton zane@velocitynews.co.nz

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.