Piastri storms to Belgian Sprint pole with spinning Hamilton left in 18th

F1 championship leader Oscar Piastri stormed to a dominant pole position for Saturday's Sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix, with chief title rival Lando Norris behind Max Verstappen in third.

After the frustration of his race-losing penalty to Norris at the British GP three weeks ago, Piastri has hit the ground running at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps and had already set the pace in Friday's sole practice session before claiming the weekend's first of two poles by a whopping 0.4s margin.

Verstappen, whose Red Bull team are at a race weekend without former team boss Christian Horner for the first time after 20 years, beat Norris to second with the sole fast laps of SQ3.

• Follow Belgian GP live blog and watch the best video
• Belgian GP: Schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports
• F1 2025 schedule | F1 championship standings
• Got Sky? Watch F1 races LIVE on your phone! 📱
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Charles Leclerc was fourth in the lead Ferrari while team-mate Lewis Hamilton made one of several shock early exits.

Hamilton will start Saturday's 15-lap dash from 18th after spinning in his Ferrari on his final lap of SQ1, while 2024 Spa victors Mercedes qualified 13th and 20th with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli respectively.

With Hamilton and both Mercedes' out early, the midfield runners made hay - with Haas particularly cashing in to take fifth with Esteban Ocon and seventh with Olivier Bearman.

Carlos Sainz was sixth for Williams.

More to follow...

Sky Sports F1's live Belgian GP schedule

Saturday July 26
8.10am: F3 Sprint
10am: Belgian GP Sprint (lights out at 11am)
12.20pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
12.40pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying (session starts at 3pm)
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 27
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered flag: Belgian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime.