FORMULA 1

YES ANOTHER FRONT ROW ANOTHER RECORD

LCH holds a 37-point championship lead over Max, beat team-mate Valtteri Bottas to top spot with a new track record at Spa-Francorchamps.

The world champion saw off Bottas’ challenge around the iconic 4.3-mile venue in the Ardennes by a mighty half-a-second. Verstappen lines up in third ahead of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo.

“That one was for Chadwick [Boseman],” said Hamilton, in reference to the Hollywood star who died on Saturday. “Rest in peace, mate.”

After Sebastian Vettel finished rooted to the foot of the timings in final practice, Ferrari had been staring at one of the most humiliating afternoons in the Italian team’s long history.

However, very much against the odds, both scarlet cars survived the embarrassment of being knocked out in Q1.

Instead, Leclerc, who won from pole here last year, will start 13th – one spot ahead of team-mate Vettel in what is proving to be a season to forget for the Scuderia.

“F— there’s not much more I can do,” said a despondent Leclerc on the radio.

LCH:

“It is a really important pole because I woke up to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away,” said Hamilton.

“It has been such a heavy year for all of us, and that news just broke me so it was not easy to get back into focus with that in my heart.

“But I wanted to drive to perfection for what he has done for our people.”