Share

Hamilton on pole - again

Spa - Lewis Hamilton left it to the last second to beat Sebastian Vettel's time and secure his fourth straight pole position of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday.

In a frantic finish under heavy rain at Spa, the lead changed hands in a flurry of activity as first Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber and Vettel all beat each other's times, only for Hamilton to go fastest for the fifth time this season.

Hamilton let out a long scream of delight on crossing the line. The British driver won the previous GP in Hungary last month and needs another win in Spa to keep the pressure on championship leader Vettel.

Mercedes has won three of the past five races.

Webber qualified third ahead of Rosberg.

Qualifying times from the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps on Saturday:

Session 3

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 2:01.012, 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull-Renault 2:01.200, 3. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull-Renault 2:01.325, 4. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 2:02.251, 5. Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India-Mercedes 2:02.332, 6. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes 2:03.075, 7. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus-Renault 2:03.081, 8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus-Renault 2:03.390, 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 2:03.482, 10. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 2:04.059

Session 2

1. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus-Renault 1min 48.296sec (Q), 2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1:48.309 (Q), 3. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:48.552 (Q), 4. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull-Renault 1:48.641 (Q), 5. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes 1:48.641 (Q), 6. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull-Renault 1:48.646 (Q), 7. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus-Renault 1:48.649 (Q), 8. Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India-Mercedes 1:48.925 (Q), 9. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:49.020 (Q), 10. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:49.067 (Q)

Did not qualify for third session

11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber-Ferrari 1:49.088, 12. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India-Mercedes 1:49.103, 13. Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren-Mercedes 1:49.304, 14. Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham-Renault 1:52.036, 15. Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia-Cosworth 1:52.563, 16. Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia-Cosworth 1:52.762

Session 1

1. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 2:00.190 (Q), 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 2:00.368 (Q), 3. Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham-Renault 2:00.564 (Q), 4. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 2:01.099 (Q), 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus-Renault 2:01.151 (Q), 6. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes 2:01.301 (Q), 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 2:01.462 (Q), 8. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull-Renault 2:01.597 (Q), 9. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber-Ferrari 2:01.712 (Q), 10. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull-Renault 2:01.863 (Q), 11. Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia-Cosworth 2:02.110 (Q), 12. Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India-Mercedes 2:02.338 (Q), 13. Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren-Mercedes 2:02.425 (Q), 14. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus-Renault 2:02.476 (Q), 15. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India-Mercedes 2:02.749 (Q), 16. Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia-Cosworth 2:02.948 (Q)

Did not qualify for second session

17. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams-Renault 2:03.072, 18. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2:03.300, 19. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2:03.317, 20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams-Renault 2:03.432, 21. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber-Ferrari 2:04.324, 22. Charles Pic (FRA) Caterham-Renault 2:07.384

Grid for Sunday's Formula One Belgian Grand Prix following qualifying on Saturday:

1st row

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)

2nd row

Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)

3rd row

Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)

4th row

Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault)
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)

5th row

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)

6th row

Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Sauber-Ferrari)
Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India-Mercedes)

7th row

Sergio Perez (MEX/McLaren-Mercedes)
Giedo van der Garde (NED/Caterham-Renault)

8th row

Jules Bianchi (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)
Max Chilton (GBR/Marussia-Cosworth)

9th row

Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)

10th row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams-Renault)

11th row

Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
Charles Pic (FRA/Caterham-Renault)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1831 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1802 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1095 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 465 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 192 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 258 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE