Belgian Grand Prix final practice and qualifying live

Summary

Hamilton on pole, Vettel 2nd, Force Indias 3rd and 4th
Ferrari fastest in Q1 & Q2
McLarens and Sainz out in Q1, Saubers out in Q2

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

Postpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Still cold, still cloudy, but still no rain as of yet.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Postpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
This is a graphic of the track. Who can get themselves in pole position for the 44-lap race tomorrow?
Image source, .
Listen livepublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
We have live commentary from our 5 live team of Jack Nicholls, Jennie Gow and Jolyon Palmer. The only way you can listen to it is by pressing the play button at the top of this page now.
Weather watch...published at 13:53 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
get involved
Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:49 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Jeremiah Kariuki: Another Mercedes driver gets a reprimand! May be good, may be bad for Bottas. A time penalty will still have done not much a difference given he is only competing with Nico Hulkenberg on who starts last!
Postpublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
A good chance for the Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo to show Red Bull what they will be missing next season.
Image source, .
'Growing risk of a shower'published at 13:39 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
A weather update from BBC Weather's Ian Fergusson. Some rain late on to spice things up, potentially. That sun-bathing weather has not lasted long then.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Bottas escapes time or further grid penaltypublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Spa
Reprimand for Bottas for the Vandoorne incident in final practice.
Stewards say Bottas said it was his fault - hadn't seen Vandoorne "despite checking his mirrors and having heard a warning message from his team". Incident "not intentional or reckless".
Not quite sure how, having been warned about another driver's proximity but not seeing him, moving over so he spins off at 200mph is not reckless. But there you go.
Image source, Reuters
get involved
Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:33 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
What will happen in qualifying?
Kayleigh‍: Let’s go Vettel, Hamilton, Raikkonen top three. Alonso into Q2, Vandoorne to be something embarrassing like P19.
Can Perez impress in Spa qualifying again?published at 13:31 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Sergio Perez has qualified in the top four twice here (2012, 2015) but not had the best of times in qualifying recently.
Image source, .
A new era for Force Indiapublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Image source, Getty Images
This will be the first qualifying since the former Force India team was granted a new entry to Formula 1 following their rescue from administration earlier this month.
The team is now known as Racing Point Force India under its new management, after a takeover by a consortium led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
The team continue with drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, although Stroll's son Lance, who this year drives for Williams, is expected to join them at the latest by the start of next season.
As a result of their takeover, the team loses all of the points they had picked up in the constructors' championship, although Perez and Ocon keep their tallies.
get involved
Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:22 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
What is going to happen in qualifying?
Go on then, a quick chat. What is going to happen in qualifying?
You know the drill (hopefully). Tweet us using the hashtag #bbcf1 and we will stick your predictions in this page...
The season so far...published at 13:21 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
I have to admit I'm very much looking forward to this qualifying session. Sebastian Vettel was fastest in practice sessions one and three, but is currently 24 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
A Vettel pole with Hamilton alongside him on the front row would be a very tasty scenario for tomorrow.
get involved
Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:17 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Joanna Harran‏: Up at Kimmel Straight and sunbathing Fernando style. Who would have thought it was possible at Spa.
We were hoping for some rain in qualifying, but now it is sunbathing weather.
Schumacher's Spa successpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
No Formula 1 driver has won more races at Spa than Michael Schumacher's six.
Image source, .
My dad is my idol - Mick Schumacherpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Speaking of Michael Schumacher, earlier this week, Formula 3 driver Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, spoke to BBC Sport.
Watch the video as he says the seven-time F1 world champion Michael, has had a "huge influence" on his life and is his "idol".
Media caption,
Mick Schumacher - My dad is my idol
Hamilton's Schumacher tributepublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Lewis Hamilton has just posted a message on Twitter, and it is an emotional tribute to seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who continues to be treated after a serious skiing accident in 2013.
Image source, Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton welcomes title pressurepublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
Image source, AFP
Lewis Hamilton says he welcomes the pressure of his intense title fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, with the Mercedes driver 24 points ahead of the German.
There are nine races of the season left as Hamilton aims for his fifth title.
"I can't tell you how Sebastian feels with the pressure. I can only tell you the pressure on me. It's as great as it can be. But I wouldn't want it any other way," he said.
"As humans, pressure leads us to try to do extraordinary things, to evolve, to push the envelope, to be better in all areas."
Postpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
And at the bottom... Just getting out of Q1 would probably just be classed as a success for the struggling Williams pair.
Image source, .
How they stand...published at 12:58 British Summer Time 25 August 2018
This is how it stands at the moment. This is a massively important qualifying session coming up.
Image source, .