Less then an hour before today's race, our photographer, John Marsh, called to say that despite a few black clouds in the distance it looked like being a dry race. Sadly, and no disrespect to John or his valuable array of cameras, it looks like he was right.

That said, we are still assured of a thrilling - if short - sprint to the first corner, with Michael Schumacher flanked by the two Renaults - masters of the fast start - with David Coulthard right behind. However, with some of the fastest drivers further back down the grid, it remains to be seen whether we'll see fireworks or the entire field head off down to Eau Rouge intact.

Adding to 'the mix' is the fact that none of the drivers had any 'dry' running on Saturday. Therefore, many of them will be starting the race with a wet set up, unable to change anything until the first pit stop.

Having wrapped up the 2004 constructors' championship two weeks ago in Hungary, Ferrari and Michael Schumacher could today secure his seventh drivers' title, appropriately the Italian outfit's 700th Grands Prix.

As the cars prepare for the warm up lap, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees.

The field heads off on the warm up lap, everyone gets away cleanly.

The Renaults shoot off into the lead as Schumacher fluffs it, Coulthard also gets past the German. However, there's mayhem as predicted but not at La Source.

As the cars exit the corner there's an incident then a further clash down the hill and again as the field exits Eau Rouge. Webber, Sato, Bruni and Pantano all appear to be out, though Raikkonen was involved in the incident at the exit of La Source, clashing with Massa. Button, Massa, Baumgartner, Barrichello, Heidfeld and Panis all pit as the rest of the field lines up behind the safety car.

Pantano, Bruni and Sato walk back to the pits, their race over almost before its begun.

Interestingly, Raikkonen appeared to be involved in the first incident, but hasn't stopped for repairs, he's now running fifth.

As the field continues behind the safety car, both Massa and Barrichello return to the pits.

With two laps completed, Trulli leads from Alonso, Coulthard, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Montoya, Fisichella, Pizzonia, Klien and Zonta.

The pit crew continue to work on Barrichello's Ferrari and Massa's Sauber. Both rejoin 'the race', and attempt to catch up with the rest of the field. If Barrichello's problem hasn't been sorted, the championship is over.

At the end of lap 4, the safety car pulls of and the race is underway. Raikkonen passes Schumacher on the run down the hill to Eau rouge, the German clearly caught on the hop. Montoya closes in on the German, as Trulli and Alonso head off into the distance.

Schumacher is struggling and at Bus Stop the Colombian makes his move, the Ferrari driver unable to do anything about it. On the run up to Les Combes Raikkonen passes Coulthard to take third.

The Finn is setting a blistering pace, posting the fastest lap of the race thus far. Trulli leads from Alonso, Raikkonen, Coulthard, Montoya and Schumacher. Fisichella is closing in on the German, who hasn't given up on Montoya.