2024 F1 Belgian GP qualifying analysis by Peter Windsor

Red Bull's Max Verstappen dominated a wet Belgian GP qualifying session but will only start P11 following a ten-place grid penalty the team has received for an out-of-regulation engine change. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who qualified an excellent second, thus starts from the pole, alongside a resurgent Sergio Perez, who looked good all day in the second Red Bull. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton starts P3 after an equally-impressive performance, ahead of the two McLaren-Mercedes and Hamilton's team-mate, George Russell. In this video Peter looks in detail at the comparative speeds and styles of the top drivers as they negotiated the most dramatic of Spa's quick corners - the 175 mph, seventh-gear Pouhon curve - or Turn 10 as it is known in F1 vernacular.
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Nick: you're always with us

[@stevepiccinnin1157]

Peter just loves F1 and so makes it contagious to all of us!

[@peterlistig3861]

yee his enthusiasm is really infectious, love it! cant wait for the race ;>

[@Turbyo]

I was refreshing the page waiting on this upload

[@mke7605]

@Peter Windsor, Next to all the biased media, you’re very refreshing to listen to. Thank you.

[@carnalfrequency]

Max made the track look dry

[@AmericasChoice]

Did you watch the onboard of his Pole Lap? He was working that wheel like crazy...virtuoso.

[@BobbyDazzler888]

He made it look like a computer game

[@carnalfrequency]

@AmericasChoice Just rewatched and am amazed at how the back end never seems to step out - he rarely asks more from the car than it can handle

[@AmericasChoice]

@@carnalfrequency Brilliant driving. Peter Windsor stresses Max's ability to keep the car flat and balanced almost all the time, regardless of track or conditions.

[@colinhare4722]

Didn't he put a high down force rear wing on the car? If so will that not compromise his race if it is dry?

[@yellowrat77]

Your 1964 postscript was powerful. The drivers suits, so clean and professional puts so much emphasis on the man within, rather than the money train of sponsors looking to sap up that glory. Phil Hill looking like a mere mortal walking by Dan ... Great Stuff, Peak Humanity.

[@qwj68boots]

The Gold Old Days!

[@yourkarmaforsure]

Afterwards, Hill cried his eyes out

[@youmakeitreal]

Yeah!!! Love the story of how Jim won the 64 Belgium GP. Rare to have such situations in the modern day. 🙏🙏🙏

[@BlizAce]

Peter's analysis is always a joy to watch

[@eddymoretti3742]

Peter just wanted to say I love the art direction/ visual design of the thumbnails for your videos: love the colored frames, they are simple and standout on KZbin, and they’re little retro too. Great branding!

[@andyknuckles2903]

Yes. Only exception: Red frames should be avoided, since viewed videos get a red line in the bottom.

[@dgomes265]

Great qualifying, hopefully the race is as good

[@maxheadroom7687]

I’m glad Peter has found his love for Spa again!🤣 Best circuit in the whole calendar in my somewhat biased view…loved it when I was lucky enough to get there one year!👍🇦🇺🇬🇧🙏great to see Dan Gurney in your closing out!

[@innerspace56]

Peter. That quick story at the end about Dan Gurney and Jim Clark is why we keep coming back. More of that stuff, please.

[@AmericasChoice]

That 1964 Belgian GP was epic, Peter. Thank you for reminding us. Jim Clark said more than once he was more concerned about Dan Gurney than any other driver at that time.

[@justinl3008]

Pfffffffft

[@AmericasChoice]

@@justinl3008 Do you want to engage in a discussion about my comment? Or is "Pfffffffft the extent of your argument?

[@AmericasChoice]

@@justinl3008 Do you want to engage in a debate about my comment? Or is Pffffffft the extent of your argument?

[@MDE_never_dies]

@@justinl3008Sh*t arguement

[@alankillian4962]

I was very surprised there were no red flags.

[@bobolimasterflex]

especially with the window licker out there

[@GrumblingForesight]

Max’s entry and minimum speed around Pouhon is just incredible!

[@georgekendall2053]

Yet another amazing commentary Peter I wish you covered the races live haha you bring such life into the stats and understanding and it’s only through you I get a feel of how everyone drives and how amazing these feats are! Thanks you so so much

[@SoLoDoLo77.]

Spa must be the most electric track to drive in the world. Incredible

[@ronaldbunk9007]

Thank you for giving your unbiased opinions. There's a lack of that nowadays. Kind regards.

[@hugodiazgarcia1266]

I agree with Peter about Checo Pérez had en excellent qualifying session at Belgium GP, so has a good chance of beeing at the podium.

[@therealBocaStudios]

No, will swap Max by end of the race.

[@stephensegal5187]

The Minister of Defense only has to beat just 1 Ferrari in a vastly superior car off the line. I guess we will see.

[@rawallen9715]

@@stephensegal5187leclerc will turn that pole into a p3 by pouhon

[@Melbourne-s4x]

He was almost knocked out in Q2 Unbelievably lucky

[@stephensegal5187]

@@rawallen9715 HaHa! You are SO right!

[@hansbig7550]

Max the rainmaster.

[@andrewmelton2686]

He ran more wing, which Is why he couldn't overtake in the race 😂😂

[@ToffepeerTH]

I think Piastri, given a little more time is an absolute monster being unleashed, completely unhinged with wonderful feeling for a race car. I like Lando but he will soon find out Piastri getting the better of him. Max brilliant as always on Spa, I wonder if this higher downforce gamble will pay of but then again the tire deg with low downforce setup was terrible so I think they didn't really had a choice.

[@Dilstar22]

Max is pure class and shows he is the best F1 driver in the world 👍🏽

[@Thuddster]

My spidey-sense tells me that in FP, Lando has been (very) slightly biasing his setup for the dry, qualing on the knife edge of it looking for a dry race-day payoff.

[@Redlingstein]

Max also set up his car for race pace…especially for tyre management…less sliding then the McLarens thus better race pace…Max chose slightly more downforce FOR THAT REASON….to protect his tyres in the race

[@bensynewsshoedown4999]

Max with confidence from all of his rain laps in the sim. Max*Similian* Verstappen.

[@f.kieranfinney457]

My word those color photos are amazing! They look so alive.

[@Andrei2patrU]

I was waiting (im)patiently for this!

[@Sticktothemodels]

Wonderful photos. Amazing how time flies

[@altsnake6609]

Spot on Peter. Engine change should not affect the driver but the team. So points deduction for the team not for the driver. Rules have to be changed.

[@hamishfraser2481]

Another great summary, proper commentary. Thanks Mate, saving my time 👏

[@TMJ32]

That was utter destruction of the whole field by Max. 6 tenths?!

[@hansklok5572]

Yes

[@stephensegal5187]

AND, all of that 6 tenths came out of sector 2!

[@therealBocaStudios]

He had more grip, but won’t tomorrow

[@ma7mgte]

RB had to be running more wing than everyone else.

[@stephensegal5187]

@ma7mgte No because His top speed was way too high for that to be the case.

[@tylerjennings8242]

Max and Damon. Name two other people who absolutely wouldn’t want to stand next to each other for a picture in their given sport. I cringed the whole time they had to stand together for that picture haha.

[@peterhuitema5424]

Max NOT handing the marker to Damon.

[@tylerjennings8242]

@@peterhuitema5424 I didn’t realize he did that haha

[@cane_s7742]

Why they not want to stand next to each other? Im new

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Who decides that anyone would want Hills name on it beside Max 😢😢

[@PJnowski]

You just cant but love Peter`s analysis. Always so insightful and provides details in a way that makes you listen and pay attention.

[@davidb9059]

I also enjoy a Spa .

[@RobertMacCready]

Absolutely amazing and on point analysis. You are the very best at it. Thanks for the video.

[@stephensegal5187]

Peter is unquestionably The Best. The Walking Encyclopedia of Formula One.

[@semadragun]

Love hearing your analysis Peter, happy i found your channel thank you.

[@SA-uj4xq]

Mr Windsor pointed out the impact of each driver’s performance through Pouhon in particular. Today Mark Hughes pointed out the same thing when comparing the Ferrari driver’s during qualifying. Great minds... Two genuine legends of Motorsport Journalism. Thanks, Mr W!

[@Charles010]

Your reviews are so engaging Peter and wonderfully technical. Adds another dimension to this greatest of sports. Max was out of sorts at Hungary, frustration which forced errors, however, at Spa yesterday he again demonstrated why he is the modern day Senna. Just surreal speed and car control far and above anyone else. It's going to be a joy seeing him coming through the field but expect McLaren in the dry to be a challenge. Fully agree the driver should not be penalised for an engine change, but the team. Suggest a points penalty in the constructors championship. We are in for a glorious race today. Looking forward to your review thereafter. 😊

[@brinbrown9543]

Max:)

[@nigelcooper916]

Fantastic perspective and information yet again Peter. Thank you

[@psychotropicalresearch5653]

Peter, could you school the commentators for these races to do a little bit less frantic shouting and a bit more intelligent comment - it’s something that strongly discourages me from watching these races: lots of shouting, no information

[@aleckelly2706]

I also agree, Crofty shouts and there’s no need, he’s not Murray Walker and never will be. And whilst I’m here, also tell him we don’t need his calling out the lap time of “ 1 minute” just call the seconds and split seconds, also change the camera on the start please, being at track level is as good as useless to us at home

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

And Crofty. Has got to big headed. Thinks he is a star.. the amount of silly things he says the giggles like a child at himself 😢😢😢😢

[@Chris-gk3xb]

Fantastic insight as always. And i love the post script, recalling the greats like Gurney, Graham Hill, and Jimmy Clark. Those were some bad-asses, racing those unsafe little rockets.

[@syncmonism]

Eight different teams represented in the top 10, though it would be 7 if not for Verstappen's 10 place grid penalty.

[@Limburgtoepi]

Always the best analyse keep goong

[@LuckyCondorBird-di1wb]

Awesome analysis Peter thank you we enjoy watching you from SA

[@huynguyen-gl4sn]

I have to agree with Peter on the engine penalties here, it should be on the team to preserve the components or make strategic replacements as they see fit. Penalty points deducted into the team championships, the more components you take, the higher the point deduction.

[@bendmountainbiker]

Love the technical details. Simply awesome

[@Timocoh]

Thanks for the analyses 🙏

[@rayaguilar9085]

Where do you get this data? I've never seen brake traces for F1 cars published. They just show on or off. How do you get their min apex speed? Would love to see this myself.

[@rensvanderploeg1945]

Was waiting for you!

[@alpinisme07]

Amazing analysis by Peter. He really knows about F1-racing.

[@johncorboy2163]

Great slice of history,thanks Peter .

[@mosca3289]

Fantastic detail and data on the corner analysis.

[@mosca3289]

Love the reference to Keke in 78.

[@johanburger4454]

Hope u getting decent bux from this Peter, it's really decent content mate Highly highly appreciated!

[@simonholland241]

Thanks, Peter. Another amazing analysis...

[@jimjam3686]

Peter, do you read any of these? You're good, very very good. Much appreciation.

[@50gary]

Peter, thank-you so much for the photos, two of my all time favorites, the truly great Jimmy Clark and the great Dan Gurney. Clark once said of Gurney "he's the one I worry about". For me Jimmy Clark was alone at the very top of Mt. Olympius until Ayrton Senna came to be. I have a book (in Italian) "Due Miti A Confronto" that compares Jimmy Clark to Ayrton Senna.

[@r.p.vanloon6403]

By now we know how good Max, Charles and Lewis are under difficult conditions. But it was good to see that Sergio found his confidence back. That was a great quali from him. Hopefully he will deliver a great race too. He needs it, if he wants to hold on to his seat. Hope he does.

[@Elzie870]

Nice pics!

[@henriwolbrink]

Can't wait to see Max overtaking again. Last year he was hardly seen.

[@StormcastMarine]

I dunno if you noticed, but he sucks at that Dirtiest driver in F1

[@John-oo9xu]

Tune in on his onboard cam

[@PeterPost-w8m]

It won’t be that easy this year… In the dry and low temperatures even the Mercs are faster. McLaren will definitely end on P1 and P2…

[@barryfastcars25]

Engine penalties are a farce!!! There is no need for engine penalties whatsoever since the introduction of the cost cap. Let the teams run unlimited engines and parts as long as it is within the cost cap. I wish the 2026 rules were to simplify the cars so that they were cheaper to run. F1 certainly could have reduced costs and spending for the future regulations to facilitate the addition of another team. 100 Million cost cap and a 20 Grand Prix season seems very reasonable to me.

[@jaapongeveer6203]

It won't matter as Max will cut thru the field and still end up on the podium!

[@Eriksen-wp3tv]

Bruh

[@darthsnarf]

I think I have to agree.

[@erwinfischer]

I agree they could even set prices. So its not cheaper for certain teams.

[@florisbackx1744]

Interesting to see the data of the corner, but I always though that real difference is made on the exit. Could you sometimes do an analysis of mid corner speed, how soon the drivers can get on the throttle and how that translates later in the straight after the corner?

[@bobkeul7682]

All the pure hate Max got from bias British Sky last week...., did you guys noticed as well SkySports commentators didnt say anything on this performance (a stunning 0.600 difference!!) AND++ they didnt show his lap!! So embarrassing. This is so special, but hey.. lets interview Leclerc. What a hate and bias bunch of crap, they should be banned from broadcasting this international. A disgrace to the sport.

[@ThmsDouglas]

Yup! 100% without a doubt and there's no calling it anything other than bias, they hate Max they really do.

[@andrewmelton2686]

Max ran a bigger wing in quali which is why he couldn't overtake in the race 😂😂😂

[@NexuJin]

Can't wait to see Max slicing through the field during the race.

[@chenglamchin446]

Peter, WHAT IS a 60-place Grid Penalty ? FIA rules are making a mockery of the F1 races

[@touringband]

lol, it’s not rocket science. Each surplus component used outside of the allowed quota will incur the driver grid position penalties. Tsunoda replaced a heap of components with the penalties totaling 60 grid positions. Simply put he’ll start at the back. It’s the same for all teams and enforces manufacturers to build engines that last.

[@davidlynch9049]

​@@touringbandYes, yes, we understand the penalty, but like the OP, it's ridiculous.

[@wvangool]

I personally feel that you should only be allowed to incur a maximum amount of grid place penalties per race (like 20) and that any extra potential grid place penalties should overflow to the following race or translate to time penalties during the race, so that teams cannot use one race to simply add an unlimited amount of extra parts without consequence.

[@peyopeev8909]

It's because if another driver is penalized with let's say 25 grid spots he ends up ahead than the one with 60, don't get drawn too much into semantics, it's last spot starting position in any way it's phrasd ​@@wvangool

[@brinta2868]

@@davidlynch9049 Lol, you're calling the OP himself ridiculous.

[@darthsnarf]

Checo finally delivers after a long start to his season, great to see, red bull will need 2 drivers if they want to win the constructors

[@John-oo9xu]

Peter, you should be given a analyses job net to Palmer. Great insides as usual thank you

[@geniferteal4178]

The Jim Clark story at the end really shows how they all planned approximately the same amount of fuel well, except the one whose pump broke. something must have ran the race longer than they thought.

[@okayjohannes]

Set up by you of some great past race. Photos. Music. Could watch a video like that for hours

[@randar1969]

When the track is wet and no one can utilize max speed as that would just cause a crash hence even faster acceleration becomes an hazard due to aqua planing it comes down on stability of the car , and also a more heavy focus on driver skill. That's why you see sometimes different names during wet races doing better as normally..

[@scrup13s]

Thanks for the great analysis. Question, whats the name of the beautiful outro song?

[@zishanafsar]

Max masterclass incoming tomorrow. 🦁

[@Bobby11]

I dont think so. I think quali was more about how much setup each team was willing to make towards the race vs quali. And I suspect Mclaren more focused on the race.

[@Mcorpmike]

only if it's wet.

[@bepje18158]

​@@Bobby11Only when it's dry

[@yomamasohot6411]

Historically, it's RB that doesn't care about Quali and focuses more on the race. There is no way Mclaren going to be like RB better than RB​@@Bobby11

[@corystansbury]

​@@Bobby11 Not a chance that RB would heavily bias setup towards qualifying in a race where they are taking a grid penalty.

[@Lonelyplanet3]

Removed all podcast on F1 and subscribed to short corners

[@caterhamkiwi]

Pouhon absolutely the best corner on the circuit. Takes real commitment.

[@fabiomccaree9218]

thank u Peter!

[@JeanneJames]

Great '64 story; l was 4. But aware of all of these drivers, and others, from enthusiastic family.

[@gailreadings9937]

Thank you....explanation and interesting. Zimbabwe africa

[@BruceLee-ky7qz]

Superb from Alonso to drag that tractor to P9. Would be great to see what he can do with a race winning car.

[@Nkkdxn45j]

I think to say 'penalise the team not the driver for engine changes' is wrong, simply because the team and driver are one entity, you cannot separate them. The driver's performance depends on the car and engine, and they depend on the team. It is all one competitive unit.

[@gavincassidy3276]

Brilliant as usual

[@asterixdogmatix1073]

And the race forecast is for dry conditions?

[@touringband]

Yes

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

This was epic as it unfolded...

[@Aschwinvanderelst]

They should just deduct constructor points instead of giving a driver penalty...

[@mnztr1]

I like the commentary, but how about who was on a a new set of tiress vs used? I know Checo was on used tires. Whats the delta? I know Charles had a new set as well.

[@TheNorville2]

Was the RB not set up for the wet?. tomorrow we will be able to see.

[@LibertyG0385]

It's set up for overtaking. It will be faster with DRS enabled.

[@DrivingMatterMedia]

Easiest way to penalise the team is just a deduction in constructors championship points. Take 10 points away for each engine change..

[@fintonmainz7845]

I wonder which cars are set up more for the wet.

[@efoneofour]

If there were no limits on the number of engines, a rich team could put a new engine in the car at every race and would gain a power advantage from that. In my opinion the new engine might have given Max an advantage today. Had Perez got a new engine today he would probably also be ahead of Leclerc. I agree though that a ten positions penalty is way too harsh.

[@LibertyG0385]

Perez just needed fresh tyres to beat Leclerc. Leclerc beat Perez because he ran a new set while Perez was running a used one. The engine was likely ineffective in wet conditions.

[@efoneofour]

@@LibertyG0385 I am still struggling to understand what happened today with both Red Bulls. I mean Max is more than half a second quicker than Leclerc and Perez out of nowhere finds himself close to the top after a string of poor performances. There must be something with the Red Bull in the rain, perhaps the engine mapping is smoother than the other engines and gave them better traction in the wet, or something like that.

[@rupeshrao592]

This tells about max , he is the max a driver can push . Everyone else out thr had similar driving style except him .

[@Zandoerlenaar]

the quali gap was still insane between Perez and Verstappen. Like the 2nd largest in the field.....

[@ajalaabdulazeez]

Nice opening words

[@JM_daDoc]

If you really want to compare downforce levels and handling check the speeds through Fagnes (turn 11+12)

[@Flxz0r]

Maxterclass.

[@jacksonbermingham2168]

McLaren did a shocking call for q3 they sent there drives out way to early and didn't call them in for Tyres when there was 4 minutes left, Ricciardo got screwed left out on track on a cool down lap when everyone going a second faster with 2 minutes to go. i suspect norris and piastri to come through

[@lcdubs7847]

Just curious what the suggestion is for penalizing the team without penalizing the driver.

[@gp92510]

Fab job Peter....

[@koenvanderrijt5244]

Would points deduction for the team championship for taking extra parts work? I can see the obvious issues there but maybe?

[@TheSjbadger]

if cars russels car and hamilton car were identical , shouldnt they be both same weight ? or is it intended that russels car be lighter and back fired !!!?

[@Cameron-Cc]

Fantastic work sir, as always. 🍻

[@antbrk986]

Its highly unlikely but given last weeks' McLaren opera, what would happen if Perez was P1 and Max was P2 in the last lap? Would RB tell Perez to move over?

[@yomamasohot6411]

Yes because he is the no. 2 driver

[@51bikerboy]

Not in this case.If Checo is P1 and Max P2 Max will still extend his lead over the competitors

[@karl8805]

That qualy just proves how far ahead max is of the field. As soon as its dry hes in the 3rd best car. Equal cars(due to wet) 0.6 clear..

[@braven7426]

No. His car was just set up with more downforce which helped in the wet

[@braven7426]

Then how do you explain Perez so far up in qualifying?