Reactions of the top three drivers after nail-biting qualifying at Spa

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen set the benchmark in the qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix, but with a ten-place grid penalty for the Dutchman, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start the Spa F1 round from pole position. F1Technical's lead journalist Balázs Szabó reports on the nail-biting qualifying session.

For the second year running, reigning world champion, Max Verstappen was the fastest driver in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, only for a penalty for an engine change moving Leclerc onto pole. The Dutchman was understandably delighted with his series of excellent qualifying laps in challenging conditions.

"It was a nice qualifying, luckily the weather was okay, raining a little bit but we could still do a decent qualifying. The car was working quite well in the wet so I could just do my laps.

"Tomorrow is a different day, warmer, no rain. It's all about tyre degradation - I don't know how quick we'll be, but I hope we can be in the mix. The race can be lost in Turn 1 so I just need to see what happens and go from there."

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had expected to fight for fifth place with the Mercedes drivers in qualifying, but the challenging conditions enabled the Monegasque to put in a sensational effort to set the second quickest lap in qualifying. The ten-place grid penalty for Verstappen will see the six-time F1 race winner start the Spa F1 round from pole position.

"I definitely did not expect that this weekend, with the tricky conditions to do something above our expectations. We need to focus on tomorrow and what will happen when the rain is gone.

"Without the rain, P5 was the position we were fighting for with the Mercedes - the rain helped us, but I'm not going to complain. I'm really happy. It's not the easiest first place to keep on the first lap but I'll see, every start is different."

Following a string of disappointing qualifying sessions, Red Bull's Sergio Perez just made the cut into the last qualifying segment. The Mexican looked quick on the first hot lap which ultimately saw him set the third-quickest lap which will convert into a second starting position on the grid tomorrow.

"Very tricky out there. It was good to finally put it together. Unfortunately we didn't have any new tyres in Q3. P2 is the best position you can wish for at Spa.

"Like I've always said, every weekend is a new opportunity to do better. I think tomorrow degradation will be tricky, and graining - there are a lot of unknowns but I have a good feeling," noted Perez.