It was a run utterly dominated by the red cars. From a fan perspective, it was something that the season so desperately needed, in a bid to make the contest at the very front spicier than before. And then came the moment where one saw something hitherto unseen in the 12 qualifying runs held this year.
A Ferrari 1-2 out at the front.
Ever since the start of the first run on Saturday for the 2019 Belgian GP qualifying, Mercedes had but one concern out at Spa. It was to find a way to control the two Ferraris, mounting a massive challenge on pure speed.
And finally, in Q3, Charles Leclerc led the proceedings at the 2019 Belgian GP qualifying, as he ensured that Ferrari nailed the session on pure speed in putting the car number 16 right on top in a session where the Silver Arrows were found wanting somewhat.
In securing the third pole position of his young Formula 1 career, Charles Leclerc, demolished his teammate by nearly seven-tenths of a second and immediately created the first impression that Sunday may be a daunting drive from a Mercedes perspective.
Ensuring that he followed his younger teammate as best as he possibly could, Sebastian Vettel bettered his pace in the eventual run after finding himself challenged by arch-rival Lewis Hamilton in the penultimate flying lap.
It was enough to ensure a solid Ferrari 1-2 at 2019 Belgian GP qualifying
This left Hamilton, followed by teammate Valtteri Bottas, who just turned 30, to make up for the third and fourth slots, respectively, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen making up the fifth place on the grid while his teammate, owing to engine upgrades is due to begin from the rear end of the field.
But on a day that was no stranger to any drama, least of all concerning itself with Ferrari blitzing the 2019 Belgian GP qualifying on pure pace, Lewis Hamilton, it ought to be said, would consider himself fortunate, having crashed earlier only to see his mechanics turning out his car as if nothing had ever happened.
Admitting that the final practice was terrible to him, Hamilton heaped tons of praise to his mechanics in hailing their timely effort.
Struggle for rest of the midfielders while Kimi, Daniel, and Nico impress
There were also significant gains for several midfielders with the likes of Daniel Ricciardo*, constantly improving in his Renault, who’ll begin sixth, followed by Hulkenberg*, who drove his final qualifying for Renault at Spa, Kimi Raikkonen, the only car running in contention for a grid spot among the top ten on eighth, finally followed by Perez, who comfortably beat the Haas of Kevin Magnussen (tenth) for a ninth.
But while the frontrunners functioned on pure pace, Leclerc having set the early pace right from the start of the practice runs, it wasn’t such a fruitful run for the likes of Antonio Giovinazzi, copping up a mechanical malfunction right before the start of Q3 that saw him sidelined.
There wasn’t anything spectacular from Daniil Kvyat, who alongside both McLarens of Sainz and Norris failed to make it to Q3.
But on Sunday, it could be said, everything might boil down to the two Ferraris.
Mercedes will hope for nothing better than Lewis getting the better of Vettel, slightly under pressure vis-a-vis Leclerc’s pace while Ferrari would keep their fingers crossed for a controlled, error-free drive from their young gun.
But whether all of that falls into place for the Prancing Horse will be down to how it all unfolds when the five red lights turn green at the fastest track on the calendar.
Note- as both Renault’s have drawn a penalty, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen will begin from sixth.