Liam Lawson starts ninth in Belgian GP after rivals hit by penalties

Liam Lawson will start ninth in the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix after rivals were hit by grid penalties, matching his qualifying position from last year’s race. The Racing Bulls driver narrowly missed Q3 but secured a top-10 start, with teammate Arvid Lindblad ahead in seventh.

How did Lawson perform in qualifying?

Lawson’s opening lap in Q1 was a 1m 46.501s, placing him ninth and safely through to Q2. He improved in Q2 with a 1m 46.120s, just 0.038s shy of advancing to Q3. Despite missing out, Lawson’s consistency saw him start ninth, equaling his 2025 qualifying result.

What penalties affected the grid?

Lando Norris dropped 10 places for changing control electronics, while Isack Hadjar fell to the back after multiple engine changes. These penalties reshuffled the grid, benefiting Lawson and Lindblad, who starts seventh after Racing Bulls’ car upgrade.

Who leads the pack at Spa?

Kimi Antonelli claimed pole for Mercedes with a 1m 44.361s lap, his sixth of the season. Max Verstappen starts second for Red Bull, while George Russell and Charles Leclerc complete the second row. The Belgian GP begins at 1am NZT on Monday, with a 40% chance of rain.

What’s next for Lawson and Racing Bulls?

Lawson and Lindblad aim for a fifth consecutive double points finish. Lawson leads their qualifying duel 6-4 this season. With unpredictable weather forecast, the duo will target strong finishes in Spa’s challenging conditions.