Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix could be just as much about the sky as the track.
With thunder and lightning expected over the iconic Ardennes forest, teams and drivers are bracing for unpredictable conditions — and Lando Norris is already calling it: “Get ready for chaos.”
Storm Clouds Loom Over Spa-Francorchamps
The forecast heading into race day couldn’t be more uncertain.
Local weather predictions are all over the place — some say heavy rain could fall between noon and 6pm, others suggest it might miss the circuit entirely.
And if Spa has taught us anything, it’s that the weather here can shift in a heartbeat.
The last time rain dominated the weekend at this track, the 2021 race barely lasted three laps before being called off.
So it’s no surprise the paddock is watching the skies almost as closely as the timesheets.
Norris Delivers a Statement in His Mother’s Homeland
Despite the forecast, Lando Norris had something to celebrate on Saturday.
In front of his Dutch mother Cisca, Norris claimed his first-ever pole position in Belgium — a proud moment in a country close to his heart.
Even though his third-place finish in the earlier sprint race wasn’t ideal, this pole is a real confidence boost for the McLaren driver.
His team-mate Oscar Piastri finished second in that sprint, extending his lead over Norris in their internal title fight to nine points.
But come Sunday’s main race, it’s Norris — not Piastri — starting from the front, with just 0.085 seconds between them in qualifying.
That’s a papaya-coloured front row for McLaren.
Wet Weather Wins Give Lando the Edge
Interestingly, Norris has been the one to beat in wet conditions this season.
He won both rain-affected races in Australia and Silverstone, though he admits he’d prefer a dry run this time around.
“I’d rather it be dry, honestly,” he said. “But I don’t think it will be.
It could rain on the whole track or just half. It could be total chaos.”
Verstappen Complains, Leclerc Happy, and Hamilton Hits Another Low
Behind the McLaren duo, Charles Leclerc qualified third, while Max Verstappen — typically a rain master — could only manage fourth.
The Red Bull star wasn’t happy with his updated car and made his frustrations clear.
Lewis Hamilton, however, endured another nightmare weekend.
After already spinning out at the end of sprint qualifying on Friday, he had his Q1 lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Raidillon.
That dropped him from a decent seventh to 16th — a painful blow.
“I apologise to the team. It’s just not good enough,” Hamilton admitted.
“Being out in both Q1s this weekend is a very, very poor performance by me.”
It’s a tough period for the seven-time world champion, and questions about his mindset are beginning to surface, especially with mistakes piling up that the younger Lewis would have avoided.
George Russell Outperforms Teammates as Rookie Antonelli Struggles
Mercedes found some solace in George Russell’s performance.
He’ll start sixth on Sunday — solid compared to rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who could only manage 18th.
It’s been a bumpy learning curve for the Italian teenager, who won’t even turn 19 until next month.
Still, expectations are high for Antonelli, and this long, punishing season is testing him in every way.
Ollie Bearman Left Frustrated After Q2 Interference
Another young Brit, Ollie Bearman, showed promise but felt his Q2 lap was compromised.
He claimed Yuki Tsunoda got in his way during the out-lap.
Bearman still managed 12th for Haas — not bad for the 20-year-old from Essex, but it could’ve been more.
Aston Martin Hit Rock Bottom
It was a weekend to forget for Aston Martin.
Both cars were planted firmly at the back, with Lance Stroll dead last and Fernando Alonso only slightly ahead in 19th.
For a team that just signed design wizard Adrian Newey — reportedly on a £25 million-a-year deal — this is not the kind of progress anyone expected.
If Newey’s drawing board had feelings, it’d be begging for a break.