It's already looking like a lonely afternoon for Max Verstappen. Normally there would be thousands and thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans cheering him on, now, sadly, the stands are empty.

He is third, nearly four seconds off Valtteri Bottas in second and already five seconds clear of Daniel Ricciardo in fourth.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

Hamilton has time in the pocket if he needs it. He is managing the race right now. If he can keep the tyres in, keep Bottas more than a second behind then he is controlling it and that is what is going on here.

Image source, Getty Images

Lando Norris, at Les Combes, goes ahead of Charles Leclerc and that means Leclerc is now back out of the points again. Norris qualified 10th and is back there now.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

So often we see Bottas just able to keep pace and then ultimately drift back later on. Hamilton is very good at controlling these races.

Image source, Getty Images

There were 12 cars ahead of Sebastian Vettel at the start. There are still 12 in front of Vettel.

Charles Leclerc: "I'm struggling so much on the straights."

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

Leclerc is clinging onto one point now.

I thought the start of the race might have been better for Ferrari but their straight line speed deficit is giving Leclerc no chance.

Leclerc had jumped up to eighth but his lack of pace in a straight line is meaning a tricky afternoon for him and he's now dropped back to 10th after being done by Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez.

Chris Clee: Well done Bottas... Already out of DRS range. Max is even further back. Any point in watching the rest of this now.

Pete Ainsworth: It's pretty clear now that Bottas is not racing Hamilton. At Silverstone and now at Spa, he had a run at him but backed off and allowed Hamilton to escape. We'll go through a phase of them swapping fastest laps to make it look like they're racing, but it'll be HAM 1, BOT 2.

PhilSlocombe: Hoping for a close fight between Lewis and Valtteri with Valtteri winning to close up the championship. In reality, I think it will be anther win for Lewis with Valtteri 2nd.

Keep the faith, Chris.

Pierre Gasly: "He (Perez) tried to squeeze me like hell."

The top three (Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen) are on the mediums, then comes Ricciardo, Ocon, Albon and Stroll all on the softs, Gasly in eighth is on the hards, with Leclerc, Perez and Norris (eight, ninth and 10th) on the softs.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

Leclerc is using the soft tyres. It gives you more grip at the start of the race and he has used it very well to gain five positions.

Esteban Ocon has got himself ahead of Alexander Albon for fifth and that is the only change in the top six.

Dan Patterson: Bottas is such a bottler. Always concedes to Hamilton.

Scott: Nice of Mclaren to give Sainz a taste of life at Ferrari next season.

Becky: That sounded like an ok start.

Great start for Haas as Kevin Magnussen jumps to 15th. Charles Leclerc is another advancer early on. He started 13th (well, Carlos Sainz was not there) and he's already up to eight.

The rescue mission for Ferrari has started well.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

Valtteri Bottas just made it so easy for Lewis Hamilton once again! It is status quo. The top four remains unchanged.

Our top four is the same as it started. A chance missed for Valtteri Bottas. Verstappen had an attack, as did Ricciardo but we're as we were.

Good start from Hamilton into Eau Rouge, Verstappen goes wide trying to overtake, Ricciardo looks to attack as well.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

Charles Leclerc is going on the soft tyre so split strategy at Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel is on medium.