Mercedes equalled its worst-ever result in 350 Formula 1 qualifying sessions ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix sprint race, which George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start from 13th and 20th.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda was outqualified by Verstappen for the 12th time in as many qualifying sessions since he joined Red Bull, failing to reach Q3/SQ3 for the seventh time in a row; his deficit on the Dutchman was six tenths, and he ended up 12th. It is worth noting that he was not given the upgrades that Verstappen is running this weekend.

Sprint race start time with Oscar Piastri on pole as Lewis Hamilton flounders - Follow live F1 updates from Spa-Francorchamps with Piastri leaving Verstappen and Norris in his wake

Oscar Piastri has beaten Max Verstappen to pole position for the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull began its first Formula 1 race weekend since the firing of Christian Horner as team principal.

The famously rainy circuit’s dangerous nature even led to its removal from the F1 calendar in the 1970s, before it rejoined in a shortened format in 1983. Its safety suitability came under scrutiny again in 2023, when Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff died following an accident in a junior series race.

Yuki Tsunoda has opened up on a message he received from ousted Red Bull team principal Christian Horner ahead of the race at Spa.