Hamilton on pole at Spa, Ocon 3rd on the grid!

Expected since the start of the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the showers came to sweep away the 7,004 km Ardennes route in the final portion of qualifying.

The showers were only fleeting and on a drying track, Hamilton grabs the 78th pole of his career, an improved absolute record, in intermediates while the Ferrari had dominated the proceedings head and shoulders in the dry until now.

After a wet and wild Q3, @LewisHamilton saved his best for last

Go onboard for the lap that gave him a FIFTH pole position at Spa – more than any other #F1 driver #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/oY5QHPYBeU

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2018

His great rival in the championship Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) limited the damage well by winning the 2nd time by more than seven tenths. In 3rd row, we find a formidable Esteban Ocon who achieved the best result of his career in qualifying. While rumors surrounding his future circulate in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock, the Norman responds on track.

The Frenchman comes to reward the work of his team, which officially became Racing Point Force India last Thursday and whose financial and legal torments have fueled the headlines all summer. Happiness is total for Lawrence's structure Stroll since Sergio Pérez finishes 4th to seal a 100% pink second row on Sunday.

Beautiful day for the French too since Romain Grosjean (Haas) delivers a very solid final lap, synonymous with 5th position. He is ahead of Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) who has been very energetic since the first laps.

The 2007 world champion is not the only one to have been trapped by timing and the weather. This is also the case for Red Bull de Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo who set a time too early and were unable to continue when the track improved. The Dutchman will start tomorrow from 7th position, one place ahead of his Australian teammate.

Kevin Magnussen concludes his effort in 9th place and precedes Valtteri Bottas. The Finn, penalized on the starting grid due to the introduction of new engine elements, did not try the devil in Q3 after having a big scare in Blanchimont.

While they had shown good spirits during the free sessions, the Saubers of Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson stop in Q2, just like the Toro Rosso-Honda Pierre Gasly et Brendon Hartley. Nico Hulkenberg, who has known since Friday that he will have to start from the pit lane, did not set a time during the intermediate phase of the qualifying session.

In difficulty since the start of the weekend, the McLaren de Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne accompany the Williams of Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin in the Q1 cart, the Belgian bringing up the rear during a national Grand Prix which turned into a nightmare. The other eliminated from the first phase of qualifying is a little surprise since it is Carlos Sainz.

The Belgian Grand Prix will launch on Sunday at 15:10 p.m. with the French in 3rd and 5th position on the grid. You will be able to follow the 13th round of the 2018 world championship with live commentary on CARhebdo.fr.

QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION: @LewisHamilton scores at 78th career pole at a rainy Spa #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/HhhEX34zPc

- Formula 1 (@ F1) August 25, 2018