Belgian GP: Nico Rosberg takes pole position at Spa

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg will start today’s Belgian Grand Prix from pole-position, after only just setting the fastest time at the end of a hard-fought qualifying session

Francorchamps (Belgium): Nico Rosberg will start today’s Belgian Grand Prix from pole-position, after only just setting the fastest time at the end of a hard-fought qualifying session.

Mercedes F1 driver Nico Rosberg celebrates after winning pole position at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Spain on Saturday during the qualifying session for today’s Belgian Grand Prix. PIC/AFP

The Mercedes driver set a benchmark time of one minute 46.744 seconds, only 0.149 seconds quicker than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who will line-up alongside the German in his first-ever front row start.

Kimi third
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, a four-time winner at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, will start third, having also set a time within touching distance of pole. “It really wasn’t so easy coming into qualifying,” said Rosberg.

“We had a difficult weekend up to now. We were seriously off the pace on one-lap. We got the job done in the end,” Rosberg, seventh in the final practice session, told reporters.

Rosberg’s path to his sixth pole of the season and third in a row was smoothed by a 55-place grid penalty for team-mate Lewis Hamilton for exceeding his permitted allocation of engine components. The Briton, set to start last, only completed a handful of laps at an easy pace and failed to make it past even the opening phase of the hour-long session.

Mercedes’ 48th pole
Nevertheless, Rosberg’s efforts were enough to give Mercedes their 48th pole from 51 races, with the German squad having started all but one race this year from the front.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was fourth, the German furious at his Ferrari’s lack of traction through the final chicane, which cost him dearly.

Daniel Ricciardo was unable to match Red Bull team-mate Verstappen and will start fifth.

Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg qualified two Force India’s in the top ten with sixth and seventh, respectively, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the Williams, McLaren’s Jenson Button and Felipe Massa in the second Williams who rounded out the top ten.

Hamilton heads into the weekend gunning to become only the third driver ever to take 50 career wins. He has won six of the last seven races, four of those in succession, and leads Rosberg by 19 points in the standings.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!