Rivals sure Sebastian Vettel won't get away in Belgian Grand Prix

As Vettel bids to secure his first victory since the European GP in June, his main opposition believe that their true potential was not revealed in qualifying - and that a long DRS zone and intriguing tyre strategy could turn this afternoon's event into a thriller.

Lewis Hamilton, who starts alongside Vettel on the front row of the grid, said: "I think whatever happens, I am just going to race as hard as I can.

"I have come here this weekend quite solid and I think we have the pace here this weekend to challenge everyone."

Jenson Button, who won last time out in Hungary but starts 13th after a qualifying strategy blunder, said: "It is a bit of a shock being down in 13th, especially after being quickest in Q1.

"The car has been working great all weekend. I have been happy with the car and, as a team we did a great job, working with engineers really work. I am probably the most confident I've been all year with the situation, so that is why it is a bit of a shock.

"It was a miscommunication. It shouldn't happen, but it did. We have to move forward now. From 13th the win is very difficult, but that is exactly what I am out to do, to win. I don't care about anything else."

Although there has been limited dry running so far this weekend, Button thinks McLaren has found a good set-up and will be sorted in terms of gear ratios.

"I did about three laps in the dry on Friday and the car seemed to be running very well," he said. "Speaking for myself, we haven't set the car up for wet conditions.

"The car seems to work very well in every condition out there, and the ratios are very difficult. But I think we have got the best compromise not using DRS, which we won't be unless we are overtaking. Hopefully I will be using it a lot, either way - with DRS or without, I think we will be good for ratios."

Hamilton added that he believed the nature of the DRS zone, which should make it very effective as it is a high-speed area of the track, would ensure overtaking will be fairly straightforward.

"I am certain there will be overtaking and there is only a certain amount of times that a driver can move to defend, so it will be quite easy to overtake," he said. "It will be a bit like Turkey. If someone is close enough, it will be quite easy to use the DRS, and they will be long gone past by the time they get to Turn 4."

The other intriguing aspect of the Belgian GP is the tyre situation, with drivers having had very limited running in the dry - which means strategies are going to be very hard to predict.

Ferrari technical chief Pat Fry thinks all teams are stepping into the unknown - especially because he has already seen evidence of tyres blistering after qualifying.

"I don't think anyone has done enough dry running to know at all what the strategy is going to be," he explained. "It was interesting yesterday seeing everyone's tyres, and again in parc ferme, some cars are blistering their front tyres already - on light fuel and a damp track. So I think everyone is going to be in guessing a little bit. Let's wait and see."