2013 Belgian Grand Prix The Belgian Grand Prix

The pitlane is now closed. Any driver that hasn't set off on a reconnaissance lap will have to start today's race from the end of the pitlane, once the rest of the field has taken the lights.

Here's how the grid will line-up today: Pos Driver Team 1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 5. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 7. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 8. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 9. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 10. Felipe Massa Ferrari 11. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 12. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 13. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 14. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 15. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 16. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 17. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 18. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 19. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 20. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 21. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 22. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault

Both Ferrari drivers head back out for the pits for another lap around to the grid.

A period of intense, heavy rain doused the 7.004km circuit last night so we start today with a green racetrack, which could leave the drivers facing difficult grip levels in the opening stages of the race.

It has been dry so far today, but there is further rain approaching the circuit from the east. No pinpoint accuracy on times - as this is Spa - but as it stands the band is less than 50 miles from the track and there is a decent shout for showers during the second half of the race.

There is a light south-westerly breeze and air temperature is expected to reach 19 degrees Celsius.

Here's how the standings look after the summer break: World Championship standings, round 10: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Vettel 172 1. Red Bull-Renault 277 2. Raikkonen 134 2. Mercedes 208 3. Alonso 133 3. Ferrari 194 4. Hamilton 124 4. Lotus-Renault 183 5. Webber 105 5. Force India-Mercedes 59 6. Rosberg 84 6. McLaren-Mercedes 57 7. Massa 61 7. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 24 8. Grosjean 49 8. Sauber-Ferrari 7

Both Mercedes drivers roll down the pitlane and practice a start before joining the circuit for their reconnaissance lap.

Hamilton

Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for coverage and rolling updates from round 11 of this year's FIA Formula 1 world championship - the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa-Francorchamps.

Lewis Hamilton starts on pole position for the fourth time in a row this afternoon, alongside world champion and points leader Sebastian Vettel. They will duke it out at the lights on the shortest run of the year to the La Source hairpin. Behind them we have Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg on the second row of the grid, with Paul di Resta fifth and Jenson Button in sixth position in the McLaren.

Further down the field we have a lot to look forward to - particularly in the early laps. Giedo van der Garde is up in an astonishing 14th, with Marussia drivers Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton just behind. They played the weather perfectly yesterday in qualifying, leaving faster drivers in their wake. Expect to see a lot of action in the second half of the field over the first few laps.

Hamilton prevails in frantic Spa qualifying

The weather is iffy and we will go into more detail on that shortly. Tyres, fuel load and track conditions will also play a major role in determining the outcome of today's 44-lap race.