Summary

  • Rosberg wins, Ricciardo 2nd, Hamilton 3rd from back of grid

  • Race delayed after Magnussen crashes heavily at Eau Rouge

  • Verstappen and Ferraris crash at first corner

  • Sainz, Button, Wehrlein, Magnussen, Ericsson out

Live Reporting

Chris Osborne

  1. Safety car

    We have a virtual safety car - which will be music to Hamilton's ears.

    The race is neutralised - no overtaking. Which means the gap will close between the cars.

  3. And now Carlos Sainz's tyre dissolves, he twirls all over the track and ends up in the grass.

  4. Alonso goes up 11 places to 11th!

  5. 'Ferraris out of the picture'

    Allan McNish
    BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

    A big winner out of this is Daniel Ricciardo. The two Ferraris are effectively out of the picture straight away. For Max Verstappen he has got front wing damage.

  6. Hamilton gained six places in all that - up to 15th.

  7. Bedlam!

    Max Verstappen loses two places to the Ferraris.

    He tries to get it back and makes contact with Raikkonen who makes contact with Vettel. 

    Raikkonen looks like he has a puncture and Vettel's collision puts him last. Verstappen has wing damage and is pitting.

    Belgian GPGetty Images

  8. Allan McNish
    BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

    It is too close to call. Ferrari have lifted their game. We have an aggressive guy on the front row in Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg has to take the victory in his battle with Lewis Hamilton for the world championship title.

  9. Go! Go! Go!

    And they're off!

  10. Two things to look out for in the first few seconds of this race.

    Can Max Verstappen take advantage of being on super-soft tyres and take the lead from Nico Rosberg off the line.

    Can Lewis Hamilton make up some immediate places?

    It's almost time to find out...

  11. Tyre update

  12. 'We will be in contention'

    Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo has been talking to BBC Radio 5 live. He says: "With Lewis at the back that opens up one possibility but with Max, myself and the two Ferraris it should be interesting.

    "If we can replicate our pace we will be in contention for the win or a podium today."

  13. Fans set off orange flares in support of Max Verstappen

    What can he do going into that first turn?

    Max VerstappenRex Features

  14. Back of the grid

    And with grid penalties for Gutierrez (five), Ericsson (10), Hamilton (55) and Alonso (60), here's how the back of the grid looks.

    13 Palmer                   14 Sainz15 Wehrlein                   16 Nasr17 Ocon                   18 Gutierrez19 Kvyat                   20 Ericsson21 Hamilton                   22 Alonso

  15. Front of the grid

    Here's the front half of the grid:

    1 Rosberg                        2 Verstappen3 Raikkonen                        4 Vettel5 Ricciardo                        6 Perez7 Hulkenberg                        8 Bottas9 Button                        10 Massa11 Grosjean                        12 Magnussen

  16. And we're off on the formation lap in the glorious Belgian sunshine.

    Let's take a look at the grid.

  17. Allan McNish
    BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

    Max Verstappen has been fast all weekend and fast all season since he got into the Red Bull.

    Mercedes have struggled to get off the line and that is when Verstappen needs to get off well. He has less to lose than world championship contender Nico Rosberg.

  18. Get Involved - Your Spa pics

    #bbcf1

  19. BBC Radio 5 Live

    Tune your radio into BBC Radio 5 live or click the play button at the top of this page to listen to live commentary right now.