Summary

  • Hamilton equals Schumacher's pole position record of 68

  • Sunday's race coverage from 11:00 BST

  • Vettel signs new Ferrari contract until 2020

  • Hamilton bidding to equal Schumacher's all-time pole record

  • Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. TEN MINUTE WARNING

    Final practice gets under way in 10 minutes. As always, you can listen to commentary online via this page.

    ..

  2. Get involved #bbcf1

    Where next?

    What do you think Fernando Alonso should do next season? You get the feeling this is a pivotal time for the Spaniard. Time is no longer on his side and he can no longer afford a wrong move if he still desires another title. Also, who would you like to see end up where in 2018?

    Let us know via #bbcf1

  3. Alonso to Williams?

    Andrew Benson
    Chief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

    So, here's a thing. I was discussing the ongoing McLaren/Honda/Renault/ToroRosso engine saga with a very senior figure on Friday and the conversation ended with them suggesting that it was quite likely that in the end everything would stay the same as now. So, I asked, what happens to Fernando Alonso (who has lost faith in Honda, as Honda themselves admitted on Thursday) “He’s going to Williams, isn't he?” the person said as they walked away. “That’s what I heard.”

    That brought me up short, you could say. So, the question is, is Alonso going to Williams? Well, it’s very unlikely but not completely impossible. Williams have sounded him out, but only in the way teams sounds out all drivers to see where they are ahead of deliberations about their driver line-up, which have not happened yet. So it is massively premature, to say the least.

    The bottom line is that Alonso is expensive and wants a winning car. And Williams don’t have a huge budget or a quick car. However, they are ambitious and are struggling at the moment, and part of the reason is a driver line-up that is clearly not going to get the best out of the machinery. The reality is that Felipe Massa was on average 0.5secs off Alonso when they were Ferrari team-mates and Lance Stroll is usually about that sort of margin off Massa. So it’s not hard to see the benefit a driver of Alonso’s calibre.

    .Getty Images

    Whether Williams feel they are ready for that sort of pressure is a different question. And with Stroll’s billionaire father Lawrence an influential figure in the team as a result of the reputed $20m he is providing this year, the question arises of whether having Alonso as his team-mate would be a good thing for Stroll Jr. He’d certainly learn a lot but what being alongside a gold standard who’s on the limit on every lap would do for his confidence is another matter.

    That’s the Williams side of it. As for Alonso, you have to ask whether it would be a good move. Honda is struggling, and showing no signs of significant improvement. But while it it’s quite possible McLaren will end up sticking with them, a switch to Renault is still a possibility. And a McLaren with a Renault in it would be quicker than a Williams, based on this year’s performance. A McLaren with a Honda in it is already sometimes quicker than a Williams. He’d be swapping a good car with a poor engine for a mediocre car with a good engine. Much of a muchness, in other words. And with less possibility to do things like race in the Indy 500.

  4. Grey and misty in Spa

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  5. Hamilton in determined mood

    Andrew Benson
    Chief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

    Lewis HamiltonEPA

    Lewis Hamilton has come back from the summer break with a renewed determination to deliver his best over the final nine races of the season - something he has not always managed to do over the first 11. And so far it seems to be going to plan.

    Fastest in the second session on Friday; and a de facto fastest in the first has set him up as the man to beat this weekend, as he was always expected to be on a track that seems to suit Mercedes.

    “It is good to come back from the break and hit the ground running,” he said after practice, “and we have to work hard and diligently (on Friday night) to make sure we translate that to qualifying.”

  6. .Getty Images

    Hello! Welcome along to our coverage of qualifying day for the Belgian Grand Prix.

    Yes, Lewis Hamilton has the chance to move level with a legend today by securing the 68th pole position of his career, but that record is probably not at the forefront of the Briton's mind.

    Instead it is his pursuit of a fourth world title and, more imminently, cutting into Sebastian Vettel's 14-point lead at the top of the drivers' championship.

  7. .Getty Images

    Four thousand and 59 days.

    That is how long Michael Schumacher's record of 68 career pole positions has stood unchallenged.

    Today, however, Schumacher could finally have Lewis Hamilton for company.

    .Getty Images