The iconic Spa-Francorchamps was doused by heavy showers prior to qualifying yesterday (July 27), and passing showers kept the circuit wet throughout.
Verstappen was in a class of one in the treacherous conditions around the high-speed track. Consistently fastest and looking most comfortable, the Dutchman gapped the field by a dominant 0.595 seconds in Q3, putting top spot beyond doubt.
But a 10-place grid penalty for adding a new internal combustion engine into his pool of power unit parts - in lieu of his failed power unit from the Canadian Grand Prix last month - meant he was never destined to take pole position.
Top spot was therefore perfect damage limitation, with the reigning champion set to battle from 11th on today’s grid.
“It was a nice qualifying,” Verstappen said. “The car was working quite well in the wet. I could just do my laps and try to do clean lap times in the wet, which is always quite tricky.
“I don’t know how quick we’re going to be [tomorrow]. I hope we can be in the mix to try and move forward.”
For the second year in a row Leclerc inherits pole from a penalised Verstappen at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Ferrari driver was surprised to emerge from qualifying as the Dutchman’s closest rival, having look adrift throughout qualifying, but the Monegasque suggested the rain had flattered his car.
“I definitely did not expect that this weekend,” he said. “With the tricky conditions we could do something above our expectations.
“It’s a good day for the team. Now we need to focus on tomorrow and see what will happen when the rain is gone.”
A resurgent Sergio Perez survived a Q2 scare to squeak into the top-10 shootout, where he set the third-quickest time 0.606 seconds slower than Verstappen but only 0.011 seconds slower than Leclerc.
Pérez likewise started from second alongside Leclerc at this circuit last year and noted that being the following car out of the first-turn hairpin was almost always an advantage thanks to the long straight that follows, usually facilitating an overtake.
“I think P2 is probably the best position you can wish for in Spa,” he said. “I was the same with Charles last year, so I’m going to be trying tomorrow to do the same.
“I’ve got a good feeling for tomorrow, so we’ll see.”
Verstappen’s penalty promotes Lewis Hamilton to third alongside Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri and George Russell will move up to fifth and sixth ahead of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso.
Esteban Ocon was last in Q3 but will start ninth ahead of Thailand’s Alex Albon.
Verstappen will start 11th ahead of Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll.
Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen will line up 16th and 17th in a disappointing result for Haas.
Yuki Tsunoda qualified 18th but will drop to the back of the grid with an engine change penalty, moving Logan Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu up to 18th and 19th on the grid respectively.
Zhou will face a post-session investigation for impeding Verstappen through the flat-out left-handed Blanchimont at the end of the lap.