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Formula 1 Belgian GP

F1 Belgian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Sprint Quali & Race

Saturday's action from the 12th round of the 2023 Formula 1 season

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

F1's final sprint race before the summer break will take place on Saturday after qualifying for the grand prix itself took place on Friday. 

Max Verstappen was hampered by a five-place grid penalty for Sunday after changing his gearbox but that penalty will not apply for the sprint. 

The Dutch driver currently leads the standings by 110 points from team-mate Sergio Perez and comes into this weekend off the back of seven consecutive victories.

Sprint qualifying will get underway at 11:00am BST at Spa-Francorchamps, with the sprint race starting at 3:30pm BST.

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Albon is third but here comes Verstappen, setting a purple sector two.
Stopwatch
As was the case on Friday, Piastri is shining across a single lap, going top from Leclerc with a 2m01.311s.
Magnussen elects not to complete his effort and pulls into the pits. Not too sure as to why right now.
Russell is three seconds slower with Bottas slotting between the Mercedes pair.
Stopwatch
The first time then - a 2m02.297s from Hamilton.
The first timed laps are nearing completion with Hamilton - as the first driver on track - going purple in all sectors.
Given the delay to sprint qualifying beginning, the FIA has confirmed the sprint race itself will now be delayed by five minutes. 

"The gap between the start of sprint shootout and sprint is fixed at 4h30 so the updated Sprint start time would be 17:05."
We have 12 minutes of action before we lose the slowest five drivers - a shortened but familiar qualifying format.
Lights green
SQ1 is GO! Lewis Hamilton is the first driver to leave the pitlane.
Three minutes before we get going.
Intermediate tyres have been fitted to all the cars that have left the garages.
With six minutes to go before we begin, the two Mercedes and two Alfa Romeo cars have ventured to the end of the pitlane. While typing, the Haas cars have joined them.
Watching the track condition indicator is a hugely entertaining experience, with the binary wet/dry metre flicking almost minute by minute. Currently, no rain is shown as falling.
But cricketing memories aside, at least the action will get going again soon.
When the track looks like slicks aren't far away from being needed, announcing a start time 16 minutes in the future is similar to taking lunch when conditions would allow sport to continue.
We have a time! Sprint qualifying will begin at 1235 local time, 1135 BST.
SQ1 should have just finished - but we are yet to see any action. It doesn't look to be far off, however, with drivers getting into their cars.
However, the FIA timing page three - for those interested in that kind of thing - has indicated rain is now falling again.
The safety car is about to go for a tour of the track and, fingers crossed, we should have an answer on when we can get going.
The rain is no longer falling and we are just waiting for the announcement that sprint qualifying can get underway.
Quote
Should the sprint qualifying session not be run, the FIA has confirmed: "If we cannot run Sprint Shootout, then we will use the qualifying classification from yesterday to set the Sprint Grid.
"Grid penalties from qualifying will apply only for the Grand Prix. This would all be pending decision from stewards so is subject to change."
Leclerc will start Sunday's race from pole position after Verstappen was relegated due to his gearbox penalty. Alex Kalinauckas looks at how the Ferrari man has improved his fortunes.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/how-leclerc-went-from-spain-q1-exit-to-spa-pole-in-similar-condition/10501603/
Norris is clearly not expecting to get underway any time soon, with the McLaren driver sitting, chatting with his mechanics in the garage.
The good news, for those hoping for some action, is that the weather front looks like it should clear the area at around 1215 local time, 1115 BST.
Alpine has been a team in a seemingly constant period of change in recent times. The departures of Szafnaurer, Permane and Fry were announced this weekend and Jonathan Noble has cast his eye across the situation.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/a-team-in-chaos-or-part-of-a-masterplan-whats-going-on-at-alpine-f1/10501582/
The rain is reportedly easing in the pitlane but, given how Spa often sees different weather on different parts of the layout, this cannot be taken as a universal forecast.
As expected given the conditions, sprint qualifying has been delayed with no expected time to get things underway indicated.
As you may have seen this morning, F3 provided some very interesting action, with confusion as to whether points will or will not be awarded given that at no point were two consecutive laps completed without a safety car intervention. 

https://www.autosport.com/fia-f3/news/f3-spa-no-points-for-collets-sprint-win-amid-safety-car-disruption/10501569/
Rain
As has often been the case this weekend, rain is falling on the circuit. Whether SPQ will be delayed remains to be seen.
Max Verstappen was the fastest man on Friday but will start Sunday's race from sixth after changing his gearbox for the weekend. But he is free from sanction today, so is able to start from the front - should he qualify there!
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of sprint qualifying from the Belgian Grand Prix.

By: Autosport Staff

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