Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start from pole position after Max Verstappen took a five-place grid penalty for fitting a fifth gearbox of the season to his Red Bull.
The Dutchman had 'won qualifying' by setting the fastest time, a feat that he repeated on Saturday in the sprint shootout, and later converted into a sprint race victory.
A Red Bull victory today would see the team become the first to score 12 consecutive race wins in a single season.
Verstappen pumps in a fastest lap of 1m52.130s to begin his hunt of Leclerc in second. Perez's lead is at 2.4s, but knowing Verstappen is getting closer will worry him.
Replays of the start show Piastri trying to squeeze up the inside of Sainz, who locked up, and there's not enough space for the Australian so he is pushed into the wall by the Ferrari.
Verstappen has cleared the early danger and is up to fourth at the end of lap one. Perez leads by 1.2s from Leclerc, then comes Hamilton, Verstappen and Sainz who is carrying damage from the first corner clash with Piastri.
Bad news for the Australian fans at the start as Ricciardo appears to have been caught up with Piastri and has dropped to P19, with Hulkenberg - who started from the pit lane - ahead.
Leclerc gets away well from pole but he can do nothing to hold back Perez who powers by on the Kemmel straight to lead! Further back at La Source Piastri has been squeezed into the wall and is dropping down the order.
National anthem time! Antoine Delie performs a prog-rock rendition of the Belgian anthem while wearing a massive national flag as a cape. Very Eurovision-y.
The grid is keeping a close eye on the sky given the wet stuff is never too far away at Spa. If, and it is a big if, it stays dry throughout, here's what Pirelli predicts will be the key race strategies:
While at Alpine, this weekend has become a farewell race for Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane after the pair were told their services are no longer required.
The other grid revisions to note are Magnussen has dropped three places and will start 16th having blocked Leclerc during Friday's qualifying session. Oh, and a certain Verstappen chap has dropped five spots for a gearbox change and starts sixth.
The good news for Haas is Hulkenberg was due to start the Belgian GP from the pitlane anyway due to breaking parc ferme rules - the German was already set to start last so the impact was minimal - so they can investigate the issue in the garage.
The drivers are already making their way to the grid ahead of the race start in just under 40 minutes. But there is worrying scenes down at Haas, as Hulkenberg reports an engine problem on his reconnaissance lap.
