Watch your rear-view mirror, lads

LECLERC ON POLE, VERSTAPPEN 11TH DUE TO PENALTY... AND BRIT RUSSELL SAYS: I'LL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT TO WIN

- DANIEL MOXON

MAX VERSTAPPEN may be a lot further down the grid than usual, but his rivals are not ruling him out of another Belgian Grand Prix masterclass.

The Dutchman has won on the last three visits to Spa and his Red Bull team believe it is their best circuit of the season.

And Verstappen proved it by going more than half a second quicker than anyone else to completely dominate qualifying.

But he starts 11th, having taken a 10-place grid penalty for using too many engines this year.

He was 14th on the grid in 2022, though, and still came through the pack to win and also took victory from sixth on the grid last year.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton will start third but did not sound confident he will be able to keep the triple champion behind.

The 39-year-old said: "There's a slight chance we can maybe fight for the podium, but I think it's going to be really tough.