Verstappen was fastest in Friday qualifying by over 0.8 seconds but will take a five-place grid penalty for changing his gearbox so will lineup sixth on the grid.
Ferrari’s Leclerc will be joined on the front row by the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, with Sir Lewis Hamilton third, though he has been called to the stewards for potentially dangerously rejoining the track.
The other British drivers, Lando Norris and George Russell will start seventh and eigth for the main race at Spa Francorchamps, with the third Sprint event of the season to take place on Saturday.
After torrential rain had disrupted practice there were fears that qualifying could get called off, with championship standings to determine the grid should that have come to pass.
Thankfully the rain eased off and by the end of the session all cars were running on dry tyres with DRS enabled.
‘Not a bad qualifying for us, especially in those conditions it’s always tricky to put everything together. I’m happy but there is still quite a bit of work to do to catch the Red Bulls,’ Leclerc said.
‘I put a lot of work in those conditions as I wasn’t comfortable a few races ago and it seems to have paid off.
‘We went a bit too early for that last lap, pole was definitely not for us today and Max was too quick. We could have been a bit closer but we have a great starting position for Sunday.
‘Q2 was really tricky. I had Kevin [Magnussen] who hit the wall and then continued in front of me. I didn’t put a lap in early and then you have all the pressure on that last lap.’
Max Verstappen will still be the favourite to take the win despite the penalty, such is his form and the pace of the RB19, and the Dutchman is confident he can do it especially after winning last year’s race from 14th on the grid.
‘It was very tight. The conditions were tricky and the track was drying quickly,’ the runaway championship leader said.
‘On my final lap in Q2 I didn’t have the confidence to push more and I was very lucky to be in P10. In Q3 you have two tyre sets and can push a bit more, risk more and that’s what we did on that final lap.
‘It was all about feeling confident and risking everything in that final run to get more lap time. We know the car was quick and even in these tricky conditions luckily we showed it again.
‘I know I have to drop back on Sunday with the penalty I have, so it was the best I could do today.’
MORE : Lando Norris finally apologises for breaking Max Verstappen’s trophy
MORE : Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
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