Piastri rues 'disappointing' error as Norris takes pole

The pair are gearing up for another classic wet weather battle after the dominating qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps.

Norris set the fastest time early on in the final session on Saturday to grab pole position for Sunday's race. Piastri could not quite beat it on his final run, finishing 0.085 seconds behind his British teammate.

Piastri has a nine-point lead at the top of the world championship standings but is under increasingly intense pressure from in-form Norris, who is aiming for his third straight grand prix race victory.

Piastri had been quickest in Friday practice and sprint qualifying but found Norris had stepped things up the following day.

Piastri said: "The second lap was coming together really well and I just made a little mistake in (turn) 14. It is fine margins out there.

"Not a bad place to be starting, but there was more in it so that is disappointing."

Norris said: "The car has been been flying all weekend, Oscar has been doing a good job all weekend, so we're pushing each other a lot.

"It's tough because you see where your strengths and weaknesses are easily and you learn from each other quickly. It's a good but tough battle that we have at the minute."

Rain is forecast for Sunday, raising the prospect of another wet-weather shoot-out between the two McLarens after Norris came out on top in a thriller at his home race at Silverstone last time out.

Norris said it could be a "Silverstone-esque" race, hinting at difficult driving conditions and possible chaos if parts of the circuit, the longest on the F1 calendar, get a drenching while other sections remain dry.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third fastest and Dutchman Max Verstappen, who won the sprint race a few hours before qualifying, passing Piastri on the straight of the first lap, was fourth in the Red Bull. 

Alex Albon was fifth quickest in the Williams ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton's disappointing weekend continued with 16th place in qualifying after his best lap time was ruled out because he'd strayed off track. The day before, the Ferrari driver was 18th in qualifying for the sprint race following a spin.

Piastri took seven points and Norris six from the sprint, meaning the Australian extended his overall lead from eight to nine points over his team-mate heading into Sunday. But Norris's race pole - and the weather - could change all that.

With agencies

Australian Associated Press