Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

A bit more on the Alonso-Williams rumour.

US network NBC asked deputy team principal Claire Williams about Fernando Alonso at the British Grand Prix. This is what she said: “I would be very flattered if Fernando Alonso came and knocked on our door, of course. He’s one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history, that the sport has ever seen. He’s a phenomenal talent. What a great coup for any team to get Fernando. But as I said, we’ve got to focus on this year and maybe worry about drivers later in the year.”

Image source, Getty Images

She added: “He would be a proper Williams driver. He’d probably look good in Williams Martini overalls as well, right? We’ll see.”

Marcus Ericsson managed just an installation lap early doors and has been in the Sauber garage ever since because of a technical issue with his car. The team hope to have him out soon, however.

So at the end of those qualifying simulation runs, the top 10 looks like this:

1) Raikkonen 1:43.916

2) Vettel +0.197

3) Hamilton +0.198

4) Verstappen +1.118

5) Bottas +1.314

6) Ricciardo +1.370

7) Palmer

8) Alonso

9) Hulkenberg

10) Sainz

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Valtteri Bottas only manages to go fifth quickest with 1:45.230, 1.3 seconds slower than Kimi Raikkonen.

And Sebastian Vettel squeezes ahead of Lewis Hamilton into P2, going just 0.001s quicker than the Mercedes. My word it's tight between the top three.

What can Lewis Hamilton do? Not enough to beat Kimi Raikkonen. His flying lap on the ultra-softs is two tenths of a second slower than the Finn.

Image source, Getty Images

Qualifying could well be closer than Friday suggested...

Rapid!

Kimi Raikkonen takes a whole second out of Max Verstappen's best time to go quickest of all with a 1:43.916 - the fastest time ever seen here.

The Red Bulls are the first to get in a flying lap on the fastest compound of tyre.

Daniel Ricciardo goes P1 with a 1:45.286 but Max Verstappen knocks two tenths off that to claim top spot.

Image source, Getty Images

We're back up and running after Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso is removed from the track. The drivers return to the track with ultra-softs on. Here come the quick laps.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Wighton: Alonso should moves to IndyCar. No point being in F1, if a driver of his ability is in uncompetitive car

John McErnery: take up darts or bowls.

Yellow flagpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 26 August 2017

10:37 BST 26 August 2017

Yellow flag. Daniil Kvyat has pulled over at the top of Raidillion. He climbs out of his Toro Rosso and as marshals come to collect the car a bit fire kicks out of the back of it. It's swiftly dealt with with a fire extinguisher.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

There's a couple of spots of rain here in pitlane. It was just a couple but there is a dark cloud above.

1. Raikkonen 1:45.422

2. Vettel +0.036

3. Hamilton +0.058

4. Ricciardo +0.437

5. Verstappen

6. Bottas

7. Palmer

8. Alonso

9. Hulkenberg

10. Sainz

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

Image source, Getty Images

While we’re discussing driver market rumours, here's another one. The are increasing noises that Sebastian Vettel has agreed a new contract with Ferrari.

The word is that it is for one year only - the German wanted to be potentially free at the end of 2018, when Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes contract also runs out. Although it is likely to have options for beyond that.

There is no official confirmation yet, but Germany’s Sport Bild are now reporting it as fact, and saying it is for “at least another year”.

Fernando Alonso has overcome his issues to put in the seventh fastest time with a 1:46.889.

Halfway through final practice and Sebastian Vettel completes his first timed lap on the super-softs, slotting in third but immediately improves with a 1:45.458 to climb to second.

Image source, Getty Images

Ahead of him on the timesheet is his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who lowers the benchmark with a 1:45.422.

Rhys: Just leave [McLaren].

David Milner: If he isn't with Merc, Ferrari or RB, Alonso isn't winning races next year, except by chance. Stay with McLaren

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

Image source, Reuters

Daniel Ricciardo did not appear to have the best of days on Friday - the Australian had some technical issues and he was nearly 0.8secs slower than team-mate Max Verstappen in second practice. But there was an explanation for the lack of pace - Red Bull were trialling a low-downforce set-up, trading pace in the middle sector for making up some of the Renault engine’s deficit on the straights.

It can work well at Spa - Jenson Button used that ploy to devastating effect in his dominant victory here in 2012, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton, on the higher downforce set-up, was so discombobulated by Button’s pace that he tweeted a photo of set-up sheets as an attempt to explain it. But it did not work for Ricciardo.

“In the dry it was a difficult one, we tried to be a bit aggressive today with the set-up. We tried a good top-speed set-up but we lost too much time in the corners, the second time in particular. We didn't gain enough in the corner to what we gained on the straights. It was good to try but we couldn't do much more with what we have. First and third sector were awesome, we were purple, but the middle sector I am probably in an F3 car. We tried. I would have liked it to have worked but it didn’t.”

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