F1 Belgian GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race

The track temperature has ticked over 42C for the start, as Leclerc eases the pack up to bring everyone together before he reaches the grid. Here we go...

Ricciardo was very unhappy with RB's strategy for him in Hungary and he is a massive outlier for the start. What do they know that nobody else does? They might be gambling for an early safety car and the chance of an early cheap pitstop. 

Tyres: Zhou and Sainz start on hards, only Ricciardo starts on softs and the rest start on mediums.

With the pre-race pleasantries complete, the drivers head to their cars and to get strapped in for the start. One final blast before the summer break.

Anthem time! The Belgian national anthem is performed by Alyah Lukunku who appeared on the country's version of The Voice. A very relaxed rendition and very different to last year's bonkers version. 5/10.

All seems relatively calm on the starting grid with just under 20 minutes to go until lights out. Not so much celeb-spotting and hassling on the Spa grid compared to other races.

If you've been away all weekend and wonder why there are two 2023 Alfa Romeos on the grid, never fear, that's the Alpines with a special Deadpool and Wolverine red and black livery.

The straightforward learning from the tyre options is Leclerc has maximum flexibility later in the race, but the others have a much more prescribed plan - unless they start on the softs and opt to pit early. If it is a race that is tougher on tyres than expected, it could push both Red Bulls into a corner with just one set of hards each.

Mercedes state it was excess oil coming from the back of Hamilton's car and nothing to worry about. He's completed his laps to the grid with no further fuss, so panic over.

Let's talk strategy. As highlighted earlier (12:00) this is likely to be a two-stopper due to the hot temperatures and more abrasive track surface. Nobody is fancying the soft tyres to be much use, so they will chew through mediums and hards. Here's what the frontrunners have at their disposal:

Leclerc: Two mediums, two hards
Perez, Verstappen: Two mediums, one hards
Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Norris, Piastri: One mediums, two hards

Fluid has been spotted leaking out of the rear of Hamilton's Mercedes as he exited pitlane and did a practice start - not just a few drops either.

Verstappen is currently enduring his longest winless streak in F1 in the ground effect era and since 2021, when he ended a three-race run without a win at that Abu Dhabi finale. We're not expecting that level or drama and controversy today, but you'd be brave to bet against him at Spa.