Andrea Kimi Antonelli snatches pole from Max Verstappen in red-flagged Belgian GP qualifying

Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed his sixth pole of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday.

What happened?

Antonelli beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds in a red-flagged qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. The Italian’s final Q3 lap sealed Mercedes’ unbeaten streak in 2026 qualifying, despite Verstappen’s late push.

How did Antonelli do it?

Antonelli topped two of the three practice sessions at Spa before dominating Q3. Verstappen briefly closed the gap with a tow from teammate Isack Hadjar, but Antonelli reclaimed pole with a late surge. The margin was the largest of the 2026 season so far.

Why it matters for Andrea Kimi Antonelli

The pole keeps Antonelli’s 2026 qualifying record flawless and extends his championship lead to 25 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell. Starting third on Sunday, Russell will line up ahead of Lando Norris, who serves a 10-place grid penalty for a fourth battery swap.

What comes next?

The Belgian Grand Prix starts at 14:00 UK time on Sunday. Antonelli will aim to convert pole into his sixth win of 2026. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth and sixth, each gaining a grid spot due to Norris’s penalty.