Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (C) waves after clocking second fastest lap flanked by fastest lap winner Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (L) after the qualifying session of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Spa on July 28, 2023. Photo: AFP
Double world champion Verstappen incurred a five-grid penalty for a change of gearbox on his Red Bull demoting him to sixth for Sunday's race.
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez will start alongside Leclerc on the front row for the 12th race of the Formula One season.
Verstappen, who leads the championship by 110 points, won at Spa-Francorchamps last year from 14th on the grid.
"Last year we had lots of penalties and I still won the race so that will be the aim again," said the Belgian-born Dutch driver.
Leclerc, eight-tenths of a second slower than Verstappen, said: "Not a bad qualifying for us, especially in those conditions. Let's see how it goes."
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari occupy the second row ahead of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Saturday features the third sprint race of the F1 season after Azerbaijan and Austria, with qualifying for the standalone race scheduled for Saturday morning at the majestic Ardennes circuit.
Verstappen's penalty does not apply to the sprint.
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