Summary

  • Vettel wins after taking lead from Hamilton on first lap, Hamilton 2nd

  • Alonso crashes heavily after being launched into air

  • Alonso, Hulkenberg, Leclerc, Raikkonen, Ricciardo out

  1. Force India's fairytalepublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Spa

    There’s something about the Belgian Grand Prix and the Jordan/Midland/Spyker/Force India/Racing Point/whatever team. Jordan took their first win here 20 years ago. Giancarlo Fisichella nearly won for Force India in 2009, only losing out to Kimi Raikkonen’s hybrid-boosted Ferrari.

    And now, in the rain, a month after going into administration, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez start alongside each other on the second row. It’s a fairytale, really, and there has to be a strong chance of a podium. The Force Indias will not be easy to pass - Perez and Ocon were second and third fastest in the speed trap in qualifying, beaten only by Vettel’s Ferrari.

    Esteban OconImage source, Getty Images
  2. Risk of rain - 20%published at 13:30 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

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  3. Our prediction...published at 13:28 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    We are hearing your predictions and BBC Sport's F1 online chief Matt has just given me his prediction.

    He says: "I'm not the chief strategist of Ferrari, but Vettel has the slightly faster car and it is likely that he will try to overtake Hamilton on the first lap.

    "He is going to do it, most likely following Hamilton up Eau Rouge drafting past him on the Kemmel Straight finishing the move into the Les Combes. In 2014 that is where Rosberg collided with Hamilton so controversially in the battle for the championship."

    So, there you go, you heard it here first.

    MercedesImage source, Reuters
  4. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:21 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Your Spa memories / what will happen today?

    Laurence Buxton: Went to the '98 Spa race with my father and his mates. Saw the major first lap crash then saw Michael hit David C & the Jordans finish 1-2. We drove home past Eddie's trucks and waved their merchandise at them! Great times.

    James Brown: Race day! Great atmosphere and there's still well over an hour until the start. Cheering on Verstappen (after Hamilton of course!) with his legions of other fans.

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  5. Ricciardo's torrid weekendpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Spa

    In his first race since shaking up the driver market by his decision to switch from Red Bull to Renault next year, Daniel Ricciardo has had a torrid weekend. The best part of a second off team-mate Max Verstappen throughout most of practice, he pulled it back in qualifying to line up eighth, just behind the Dutchman, but there was no definitive read of their potential because the team messed up their fuel allocation, leaving both sitting in the pits at the end of qualifying. We've been slow all weekend and, at times, nearly a second off, and not really sure why," said Ricciardo.

    “That was weird and the laps I did were fine, I wasn't going off track or driving like an idiot. We just couldn't understand why. Even crossing the line, I'd see the lap time and I'm expecting to see something significantly better and I'm not, so I was a bit confused. We put the second set on and we went quicker but still we were even on [the] second set, we were maybe still four-tenths off Max, and the track got better. So something's been a bit off, but we haven’t really figured out why yet.”

    Red Bull’s overall pace was compromised by the power deficit of the Renault engine - which is worth about a second a lap around Spa. To compensate, they are running a very skinny rear wing, which then compromises pace in the corner-oriented middle sector. Monza next weekend they expect to be another tough race.

    Daniel RicciardoImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcf1published at 13:13 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

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    Full marks for creativity here Paul. You even get a soft landing when / if you fall out!

  7. Great atmospherepublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Belgian Grand prix fansImage source, Getty Images
    FansImage source, Getty Images
    Max Verstappen fansImage source, Getty Images
    FansImage source, Getty Images
  8. No laughing matter for Vettelpublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Spa

    The rain that hit final qualifying on Saturday caused problems for many - and none more than Ferrari and Red Bull, both of whom mishandled the session and had at least one car in the pits when it was driest at the end because they had not put enough fuel in the car.

    At Ferrari, there was also a comedy few moments when Sebastian Vettel returned to the pits on slicks when mechanics ran around not knowing what to do and then, as they went to wheel the car back into the pits, Vettel lost his cool on the radio, using four-letter words to warn the mechanics not to damage the floor. He also admitted he had mismanaged the battery charge so that “We had a wobble, obviously,” he said afterwards, describing it as a “scrappy” session.

    Sebastian VettelImage source, Getty Images
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Your Spa memories / what is going to happen today?

    So lots to talk about, and we have two lines of discussion for you.

    Firstly, tell us your memories of great Spa races of the past. Have you been? Got any pictures you can send us? Are you there now? Again, pictures, please.

    Also, what is going to happen today? Can Force India get themselves on to the podium? Can Red Bull challenge from the fourth row? How high can Bottas and Hulkenberg get themselves from the back row.

    How do you get in touch? Well, on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcf1 and we will stick your words of wisdom, or otherwise, in this page all afternoon.

    Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images
  10. Find out about one of the best F1 races everpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Spa. Normally one of the best races of the season. And this is one of the reasons why.

    If you're old enough, you may well remember this incredible race from 20 years ago.

    A 13-car pile-up, spectacular crashes, a furious pit-lane bust-up, horrendous weather from start to finish and a maiden win for one of the sport's underdogs.

    Find out why Spa 1998 remains one of the most remarkable F1 races ever with our feature here.

    SpaImage source, F1
    SpaImage source, .
    SpaImage source, F1
  11. 'A flat-out scrap'published at 12:55 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Spa

    Sunday morning dawned cold - and I mean cold; like 4C - but the rain of Saturday has blown away and been replaced by sunny skies and not-warm temperatures of about 15C. That means the race should be a flat-out scrap between title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

    Ferrari seem recently to have been doing their best to lose the championship despite having the fastest car. The German will be out to bury those impressions; Hamilton to enhance them. It could be a doozy.

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, Getty Images
  12. Provisional grid (take two)published at 12:55 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    So let's try that again. This is now how they are set to start.

    1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
    2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
    3. Esteban Ocon (Force India)
    4. Sergio Perez (Force India)
    5. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
    6. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
    7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    8. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
    9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
    10. Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
    11. Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
    12. Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
    13. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
    14. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
    15. Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
    16. Lance Stroll (Williams)
    17. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
    18. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
    19. Carlos Sainz (Renault)
    20. Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)

  13. Sainz and Vandoorne dumped to the backpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Remember that provisional grid we published earlier on. Now it has changed. Carlos Sainz and Stoffel Vandoorne have changed their engines so have been bumped to the back, with Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg moving forward a row.

    Andrew BensonImage source, .
  14. 'Spa is such an incredible circuit'published at 12:50 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    And a few more. Romain Grosjean (fifth), Sergio Perez (fourth) and Brendon Hartley (11th).

    Romain GrosjeanImage source, .
    Sergio PerezImage source, .
    Brendon HartleyImage source, .
  15. 'Lots of cars out of position'published at 12:49 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    What about Kevin Magnussen (ninth), Valtteri Bottas (19th) and Esteban Ocon (third)?

    Kevin MagnussenImage source, .
    Valtteri BottasImage source, .
    Esteban OconImage source, .
  16. 'Everyone was on the edge of their seats'published at 12:47 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Here are the thoughts of Lewis Hamilton (starts on pole), Max Verstappen (seventh) and Fernando Alonso (15th)

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, .
    Max VerstappenImage source, .
    Fernando AlonsoImage source, .
  17. Provisional grid...published at 12:44 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    We always want it to be mixed up and we have a very jumbled up grid today. This is how they are set to start.

    1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
    2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
    3. Esteban Ocon (Force India)
    4. Sergio Perez (Force India)
    5. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
    6. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
    7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    8. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
    9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
    10. Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
    11. Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
    12. Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
    13. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
    14. Carlos Sainz (Renault)
    15. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
    16. Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
    17. Lance Stroll (Williams)
    18. Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
    19. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
    20. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)

    SpaImage source, Getty Images
  18. How they qualifiedpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    QualifyingImage source, F1
  19. Hamilton on pole as Force India surprisepublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Spa

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, Getty Images

    Lewis Hamilton beat title rival Sebastian Vettel to a sensational pole position in a thrillingly chaotic Belgian Grand Prix qualifying in the rain.

    A rain shower as the cars began to prepare the first flying laps in the top 10 shoot-out caused havoc but Hamilton came out on top by 0.726 seconds with his final lap.

    The Force Indias of Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez locked out the second row after timing the conditions right - just days after the team were rescued from going out of business.

    Red Bull and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen lost out in the pits at the key moment.

  20. Postpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 26 August 2018

    So a quick recap of yesterday...