Oscar Piastri secured a dominant pole position for Saturday's sprint race in Belgium as Lewis Hamilton qualified only 18th. McLaren 's Piastri, who holds an eight-point lead over championship rival Lando Norris at the midway stage of the season, saw off Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at Spa-Francorchamps to take top spot.

Lewis Hamilton made a shock SQ1 exit at the Belgian Grand Prix as the F1 champion prepares for a tough sprint race on Saturday at Spa. The 40-year old made an early error at the wheel of his Ferrari, where a snap of oversteer at Turn 14 cost him half a second and was unable to set a competitive time.