F1 Belgian GP live commentary and updates - qualifying

Just a few more minutes to go now before qualifying - keep your eyes peeled, as we may see a few more bigger rear wings around the grid. 

Can Piastri go two-for-two with poles this weekend, or will someone else find more pace? Let's find out.

Winging it? Expected Spa weather prompts changes

Max Verstappen's car is currently being pictured in the garage with a much larger rear wing versus that he'd used in the sprint sessions. 

As rain is expected on Sunday, this is generally sensible - and it should help a bit with tyre degradation overall to mitigate sliding. 

But if it doesn't rain? It might hurt a bit.

15 minutes to go!

Qualifying is coming up very shortly. The question is: do people actually want pole, given the power of the slipstream at the Kemmel Straight?

Well, you might if it rains on Sunday. Nothing is guaranteed, and you'll probably want the best place available on the grid.

Bearman's holiday karting lap record falls

Haas' Ollie Bearman went to Sweden after the British Grand Prix and, after admittedly quite a lot of effort, beat the lap record at a rental karting place in Varberg.

But it didn't take long for previous record-holder, Elton Zevenwacht, to reclaim what was once his. Oleg Karpov found out more:

Formula 1

The karting record Bearman grabbed has already been reclaimed

Elton Zevenwacht, who held the record for a local kart track in the small Swedish town of Varberg until F1 driver Oliver Bearman showed up there during his vacation, didn’t shy away from the challenge – and already set the new benchmark

Parc ferme open after sprint - new(er) floor for Tsunoda

With rain expected on Sunday, teams may well take the opportunity to dial in a bit more downforce for qualifying to ensure they're best placed for the race.

Since the rule reopening parc ferme was introduced last year following sprint races, teams have the chance to make those changes, and to change any other parts that may well be more suitable.

For example, Yuki Tsunoda - who has run several specifications behind Max Verstappen - now gets a new(er) floor. Helmut Marko told our man Ronald Vording that the floor is now "nearly" the same spec as that on Verstappen's car.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Gasly started sprint race after returning to garage

A water leak forced Alpine to take Pierre Gasly's car out of eighth place on the grid, ensuring the Frenchman was unable to take advantage of a potential points-scoring result. 

However, Gasly was sent on track two laps down on the field to gather some valuable data. Presumably, he'll be fine to qualify as normal.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Sprint race recap

Spoiler alert - if you've not watched it and you plan to, look away now.

Seriously, look away.

Okay, are they gone?

Good. So, Max Verstappen wrested the lead from Oscar Piastri on the first lap and put in a strong defensive drive to keep the Australian behind throughout the 15-lap event. Verstappen's low-drag package offered a huge boost on the straights, especially with the tow from Piastri at the start.

Lando Norris finished third after getting draft-passed by Charles Leclerc on the opening lap, but he reclaimed the place a few laps later.

Sprint race results - 15 laps

Main Information Additional Data Additional Data Driver Info Driver Info

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Main Information Additional Data 1  -  2
Cla	Driver	#		Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Pits	Points	Retirement	Chassis	Engine
1	M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing	1		15	-				8		Red Bull	Red Bull
2	O. Piastri McLaren	81		15	+0.753 0.753	0.753			7		McLaren	Mercedes
3	L. Norris McLaren	4		15	+1.414 1.414	0.661			6		McLaren	Mercedes
4	C. Leclerc Ferrari	16		15	+10.176 10.176	8.762			5		Ferrari	Ferrari
5	E. Ocon Haas F1 Team	31		15	+13.789 13.789	3.613			4		Haas	Ferrari
6	C. Sainz Williams	55		15	+14.964 14.964	1.175			3		Williams	Mercedes
7	O. Bearman Haas F1 Team	87		15	+18.610 18.610	3.646			2		Haas	Ferrari
8	I. Hadjar RB	6		15	+19.119 19.119	0.509			1		RB	Honda
9	G. Bortoleto Sauber	5		15	+22.183 22.183	3.064					Sauber	Ferrari
10	L. Lawson RB	30		15	+22.897 22.897	0.714					RB	Honda
11	Y. Tsunoda Red Bull Racing	22		15	+24.551 24.551	1.654					Red Bull	Red Bull
12	G. Russell Mercedes	63		15	+25.969 25.969	1.418					Mercedes	Mercedes
13	L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing	18		15	+26.595 26.595	0.626					Aston Martin	Mercedes
14	F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing	14		15	+29.046 29.046	2.451					Aston Martin	Mercedes
15	L. Hamilton Ferrari	44		15	+30.175 30.175	1.129					Ferrari	Ferrari
16	A. Albon Williams	23		15	+30.941 30.941	0.766					Williams	Mercedes
17	A. Antonelli Mercedes	12		15	+31.981 31.981	1.040					Mercedes	Mercedes
18	N. Hulkenberg Sauber	27		15	+32.867 32.867	0.886					Sauber	Ferrari
19	F. Colapinto Alpine	43		15	+38.072 38.072	5.205					Alpine	Renault
dnf	P. Gasly Alpine	10		12				1		Retirement	Alpine	Renault
View full results

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Belgian GP qualifying: T-minus 1 hour(ish)

Welcome back - or if you missed the sprint race, welcome! We're spooling up in preparation for F1 qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, which will begin at 4pm local time (or 3pm UK time).

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images