Lando Norris’ ‘psychological’ blow to Oscar Piastri before scoring Belgian Grand Prix pole ‘pleased’ Damon Hill

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Lando Norris beat his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.085 seconds for pole position at the 2025 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, yielding his fourth pole so far this season.

The momentum swung back and forth between the papaya pals during qualifying at Spa this Saturday, as Norris set the pace in Q1 before Piastri replied in Q2. But the latter did not have a reply in Q3, as the former achieved pole with a 1:40.562 thanks to his provisional lap time.

Piastri dominated for pole in Sprint Qualifying at Spa this Friday, as the 24-year-old recorded a 1:40.510 in SQ3. The Melbourne native’s time beat Red Bull racer Max Verstappen in P2 by 0.477s and Norris in P3 by 0.618s, and would have gifted him pole for the proper Belgian GP.

Instead, Piastri fell just shy with a 1:40.647 in a straight shootout between the McLaren men on Saturday, with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc pipping Verstappen for P3 with a time 0.338s slower than Norris’ pole-winning time. Williams’ Alex Albon took P5 but was 0.639s off pole.

Lando Norris ‘pleased’ Damon Hill by taking provisional pole for the 2025 Belgian GP

Verstappen had posted the first flying lap time in Q3 with a 1:41.078, yet the Red Bull pilot’s effort was not a hurdle for the McLaren men. Piastri dashed the Dutchman’s time by 0.327s with a 1:40.751, but Norris immediately displaced his papaya pal by 0.189s with a 1:40.562.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Norris scoring provisional pole for the Belgian GP, which also became pole, ‘pleased’ Damon Hill at Spa, too. The 1996 F1 champion believes his fellow Briton enjoying an advantage over Piastri following their first Q3 times gave Norris a ‘psychological’ edge against the Australian.

Hill said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 (26/07, 15:53): “I’m very pleased that he’s done that. This is a psychological plus one to Lando Norris.

“He can sit in the garage, go and get prepared for the next run, the final run, with the comfort of knowing, at least at the moment, he is the quickest guy.”

Oscar Piastri will try to mimic how Max Verstappen beat him to win the F1 Sprint at Spa

Norris will now hope he can convert pole position into his maiden Belgian GP win on Sunday at what is the Bristol-born McLaren ace’s second home race. The 25-year-old’s mum, Cisca Wauman, is Belgian. Norris converted pole to win in Australia, Monaco and Austria this year.

Only nine points also separate the McLaren men atop the F1 drivers’ championship ahead of the Belgian GP in Piastri’s favour with 241 over Norris’ 232. The latter would climb above the former if Norris wins and outscores Piastri by nine points on countback of second places.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

But Piastri will also try to do to Norris what Verstappen did to him in the F1 Sprint at Spa this Saturday. Verstappen beat Piastri to win the Sprint at the Belgian GP after overtaking him on Lap 1 of 15 at Les Combes having utilised the slipstream out of Raidillon and went on to win.

Rain remains a potential threat on the forecast, though, which may yet shake up the order in Sunday’s Belgian GP. The change in conditions could also help Norris convert pole if Piastri is not able to stay close through Eau Rouge and Raidillon, like Verstappen could in the Sprint.

Verstappen was not a threat during qualifying for the Belgian GP, though, as fresh tyres were not enough to overcome his provisional deficit on used tyres to Norris. The Red Bull ace only setting personal bests in sectors two and three also allowed Leclerc to take third on the grid.