Leclerc to start Belgian GP from first after inheriting pole from penalized Verstappen
Associated PressSPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Charles Leclerc will start the Belgian Grand Prix from pole position after clocking the second best time in qualifying behind Max Verstappen, who faces a 10-place grid penalty for the race. But the Formula One leader will start Sunday’s race from 11th because of the penalty after Red Bull exceeded the allowed number of power units when they put a new engine into his car. “I think that without this rain probably P5 was the position we were fighting for, but I can’t complain.” The eight cars from Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari all made it into the final segment of qualifying of the top 10 cars. “Like I’ve always said, every weekend is a new opportunity to do better.” Yuki Tsunoda of RB will start from the back of the grid after also exceeding his number of new engines and the addition of other new parts.