Belgian GP final practice and qualifying

By: Geoff Creighton

Summary


	Hamilton beats Vettel to pole by seven tenths
	Ocon and Perez third and fourth for Force India, Grosjean fifth
	Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Magnussen final cars to set Q3 times
	Eliminated in Q2: Gasly, Hartley, Leclerc, Ericsson, Hulkenberg
	Eliminated in Q1: Sainz, Alonso, Sirotkin, Stroll, Vandoorne
	Check out odds for the weekend with Pitstop Betting

Status: Stopped

12:48 Driver, Team
Hamilton, Mercedes
Vettel, Ferrari
Ocon, Force India
Perez, Force India
Grosjean, Haas
Raikkonen, Ferrari
Verstappen, Red Bull
Ricciardo, Red Bull
Magnussen, Haas

17:19 That's it for Autosport Live today, we'll see you back here tomorrow for the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix. Make sure you check out Autosport and Motorsport.com for all the post-qualifying breaking news emerging from the paddock this afternoon.

17:17 Here's the full qualifying report on how Hamilton beat Vettel to pole at Spa.

Belgian GP: Hamilton beats F1 title rival Vettel to pole in wet Q3

Lewis Hamilton beat Formula 1 world championship rival Sebastian Vettel to pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix in wet conditions

17:13 "We are starting fresh and happy with that result - third was not expected today," he adds.

17:13 "It's fantastic," says Ocon, who is still being loudly cheered by the crowd. "Awesome to be in P3 after such a difficult time we've had with the team."

17:10 "I think we had the pace today for pole, but we'll never find out," Vettel adds with a wry smile.

17:10 "I think we didn't time it great," says a downbeat Vettel. "In these conditions it can be anything, you might as well take second from where we are."

17:07 "I don't think Ferrari definitely had it [without the rain], we were very close in Q2," Hamilton continues. "I was hopeful I could make that slight difference."

17:06 "That was one of the toughest qualifying sessions that I can remember," says Hamilton. "It seems to get harder and harder all year long."

17:05 Ocon is greeted by a roar from the Spa crowd - that's his equal-best qualifying performance in F1.

17:04 Vettel is taking his time to emerge from his Ferrari, he doesn't look happy.

17:03 Hamilton climbs from his car and waves to the crowd.

17:03 Bottas did not set a time in Q3.

17:03 So here's the final top 10: Hamilton, Vettel, Ocon, Perez, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Bottas.

17:02 "That was excruciating, awesome lap, really nailed it on that last sector," a relieved Pete Bonnington says to Hamilton.

17:02 In all the late excitement, the Red Bulls were shuffled down to seventh and eighth.

17:01 Hamilton takes a fifth pole at Spa.

17:01 And Vettel can't stop Hamilton - he's second, 0.726s slower on a 1m58.905s.

17:01 Ocon takes third.

17:01 Perez slotted into third place.

17:00 Hamilton goes fastest - a 1m58.179s.

17:00 Q3's chequered flag is out.

17:00 Raikkonen is out of the car! His Ferrari is parked in the garage.

16:59

You'd think it was raining or something. Photo credit: Motorsport Images

16:59 Raikkonen is out of the car.

16:59 Vettel improves P1 to a 2m01.188s.

16:59 Hamilton sets a purple sector one on his final flying lap.

16:58 Just one minute of Q3 to go.

16:58

16:57 Only Ocon and Bottas are yet to set a time.

16:57

16:57 Vettel goes quickest - 2m02.446s.

16:57 Ricciardo takes third from Hamilton - 0.2s behind P1.

16:56 Hamilton third - 0.3s behind Raikkonen.

16:56 Magnussen goes fourth.

16:56 Just Raikkonen, Verstappen and Ricciardo have set times so far.

16:55 Raikkonen really struggles to get the car through the final two corners, twitching through the corner, but it wasn't enough to keep Verstappen on top.

He then locks up at La Source to start the next lap.

16:55 Raikkonen goes quickest - 2m02.671s.

16:55 Now Verstappen takes first place with a 2m02.849s.

16:55 Ricciardo crosses the line, he takes P1 with a 2m04.986s.