KIMI Antonelli tightened Mercedes' iron grip on Formula 1 qualifying after charging to a sixth pole position in 10 races this season, this time for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old championship leader clocked a blistering lap of 1:44.361 around the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit to beat Max Verstappen by 0.317 seconds, the biggest margin for pole so far this season.
READ: Leclerc's struggles now in rearview mirror after British GP win
Lando Norris was third, another 0.123 seconds adrift, as Mercedes extended its remarkable streak of taking pole in every Grand Prix this year.
"It's great to be on pole. It was not a very straightforward session. The track changed a lot, but we were able to improve lap by lap. The last lap was good. It was a nice lap. It was very clean, so very happy," said Antonelli.
While Norris qualified third, the reigning world champion will not start there as McLaren elected to install a fourth power electronics unit on his car, exceeding the maximum allocation of three for the season and triggering a 10-place grid penalty.
That promotes George Russell, second in the championship, from fourth to third on Sunday's starting grid.
Qualifying had been relatively straightforward until the decisive Q3 shootout was briefly interrupted by a red flag after Oscar Piastri dipped a wheel into the gravel at Stavelot, scattering stones across the racing line and forcing marshals to clear the circuit before the final runs resumed.
Once the green light returned, Antonelli pieced together a flawless final lap that none of his rivals could threaten.
The pole also gives Antonelli the perfect opportunity to snap a rare dry spell by his lofty standards.
After reeling off five straight victories earlier this season, the young Mercedes driver has now gone three races without standing on the top step of the podium, though he continues to lead the drivers' championship entering Round 10.
Grid shakeup in Belgium
Behind Russell in the qualifying order were Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fifth and sixth, followed by Piastri in seventh, Arvid Lindblad in eighth, Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth and Isack Hadjar in 10th.
That order will also change before lights out as Hadjar, who sacrificed part of his qualifying effort to help provide Verstappen a tow, is set to tumble from the top 10 after taking a 20-place grid penalty for multiple power unit changes.
With Norris and Hadjar both dropping down the order, Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly, who qualified 11th and 12th, are poised to inherit places inside the top 10 for Sunday's Grand Prix.
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