Amid a Host of Confusing Penalties, What Is the Final Starting Grid of the Belgian GP?
Follow Us
It’ll be lights out and away they will go. Formula 1 is finally back after the lengthy yet eventful summer break. The race is yet to come, but we are past the Belgian GP qualifying. The qualifying session has produced an interesting and different starting grid compared to the first half of the season.
For the unaware, the starting grid will not look exactly like the grid positions from the qualifying session for one reason, i.e. a total of six drivers are taking grid penalties for new power units.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
They are Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Mick Schumacher, and Zhou Guanyu.
While Verstappen topped the qualifying, Leclerc, Norris, and Ocon made it to Q3. However, none of the aforementioned drivers will be in the top ten. The quartet, along with Schumacher and Guanyu, will start the Belgian GP from the back of the grid. Keeping that in mind, let’s have a look at the starting grid for the upcoming race.
We will see a Ferrari and Red Bull occupying the top two spots yet again. However, this time it is the F1-75 of Carlos Sainz and RB18 of Sergio Perez locking the front row.
Behind the two leading men, occupying the second row, are old teammates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell will start in P5, alongside Williams’ Alex Albon in P6.
Sebastian Vettel Left Dodging Police Bikes Because of Aston Martin Successor Fernando Alonso
Occupying the P7 grid position is McLaren’s outgoing driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is followed by Pierre Gasly at P8. Taking up the last two positions in the top 10 are Aston Martin teammates Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel, respectively.
The complete starting grid for the F1 Belgian GP
Coming down from the de facto top ten, let’s look at the rest of the grid with grid penalties in mind for the upcoming race. Occupying the first spot outside the top ten is the Canadian Nicholas Latifi followed by Kevin Magnussen at P12. Yuki Tsunoda and Valtteri Bottas take up the 13th and 14th spots despite finishing last and second last, respectively.
Now for the penalty takers. Verstappen, who topped the Belgian GP qualifying, will start at P15. Leclerc will be behind his championship rival at P16.
Trending
Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat
April 24, 2024 11:15 AM EDT
What Is Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino? Significance of Ferrari’s Historic Change to a Blue Livery for Miami GP
April 24, 2024 04:52 PM EDT
“[Charles] Leclerc Doesn’t Care About Ferrari”: F1 Insider’s Brutal Blow to Fred Vasseur & Co. Has Racing Community Lashing Out
April 24, 2024 05:00 PM EDT
F1 Rumor: Adrian Newey to Join Ferrari, Leaving Red Bull Amid Christian Horner-Helmut Marko Fiasco
April 25, 2024 05:55 PM EDT
F1 Rumor: Christian Horner and Wife Geri to Publicly Reveal All Details on Leaked Chat Scandal
April 22, 2024 04:10 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Following Leclerc’s Ferrari will be Ocon at P17 and Norris at P18. Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher will take up the last two berths to complete the starting grid.
The 2022 Belgian GP starting grid looks somewhat like this:
1. Carlos Sainz
2. Sergio Perez
3. Fernando Alonso
5. George Russell
7. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Lance Stroll
10. Sebastian Vettel
11. Nicholas Latifi
12. Kevin Magnussen
13. Valtteri Bottas
14. Max Verstappen
15. Charles Leclerc
16. Esteban Ocon
17. Lando Norris
18. Zhou Guanyu
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
19. Mick Schumacher
20. Yuki Tsunoda
UPDATE:
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Reportedly, Yuki Tsunoda will be the seventh driver to take a PU-related grid penalty. The Japanese driver will start the race from the pit lane. Tsunoda was P13, which effectively pushes Bottas, Verstappen, Leclerc, Ocon, Norris, Guanyu, and Schumacher one place up on the starting grid.
WATCH THIS STORY: Will There be a Russian F1 Grand Prix in 2022
Edited by:
Reubyn Coutinho