27/08/2022
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying the air temperature is 15.1 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20.3 degrees. It remains, cool, overcast and damp. The risk of rain is 30%.
We've missed out the words ' all important' because although this session is important, such are the number of grid penalties which mean the likes of Verstappen and Leclerc will start from the back, it is almost impossible to predict what's going to happen or who will end up where.
In this morning's practice session, Perez and Sainz were both well placed, which is just as well for as it stands they remain their teams' main hopes.
The cooler conditions mean that Mercedes is unable to get the best out of its tyres, which suggests the German team might not be in a position to capitalise on those penalties.
Then there's the weather, with rain possible both this afternoon and tomorrow.
All-in-all this really is one session where anything can and probably will happen, consequently rather than over analyse it might be best to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Adding to the fun and games, the start of the session is delayed as repairs to the safety barriers are required following a crash during one of the support races.
Eventually, race control confirms that Q1 will get underway at 16:25 (local time).
The lights go green and Latifi (mediums) leads the way. He is subsequently joined by Schumacher, who is on softs.
As Latifi begins his first flying lap, he and Schumacher are the only drivers on track.
In fact, Latifi pits without posting a time and as Schumacher posts a 47.929, this is the signal for the rest to head out. Soon all 20 drivers are on track, all on softs.
Russell and the Bulls trade fastest sectors.
Hamilton crosses the line at 46.703, but this is soon beaten by Magnussen and then Russell (46.269).
Perez goes quickest with a 45.377, ahead of Leclerc and Norris, only to be eclipsed by Sainz (45.050) and then Verstappen (44.581).
"Make sure we don't give anyone a tow," Hamilton is warned.
Russell expresses his dissatisfaction with Tsunoda's antics.
Ocon goes fifth and Alonso sixth, as Hamilton slips to 15th.
Russell's second flying lap sees him fail to improve, while Hamilton goes eleventh with a 46.308.
The Mercedes pair head back to the pits to prepare, like their 18 rivals, for the final assault. Stroll, Latifi, Schumacher and the Alfa pair comprise the drop zone.
The Bulls and Ferrari drivers don't look as though they will run again.
Ricciardo is warned of the possibility of "queuing" in S3, however, no issue for Latifi who was first out.
Lots of PBs in S1 but no purples.
Latifi goes 13th but is it enough.
Stroll goes tenth, Schumacher 13th, while Bottas pits. Zhou goes seventh, as Vettel goes 15th.
Ricciardo goes 5th with a 46.033, but is demoted by his teammate who posts a 45.475.
In quick succession, Russell goes fifth, Albon sixth and Hamilton seventh.
However, Ricciardo has his time deleted, as does Tsunoda.
Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Sainz, Perez, Leclerc, Russell, Albon, Hamilton, Norris, Ocon and Alonso.
Hamilton is first out for Q2, followed by his Mercedes teammate. Next out is Perez, followed by Sainz, Schumacher and Norris.
Out front, Hamilton is obviously posting purples, but behind Verstappen is a lot quicker.
Hamilton crosses the line at 46.622, while Russell posts 46.284.
However, Verstappen, on used softs, goes top with a 44.723, ahead of Perez (44.794), Sainz, Norris and Alonso.
A 45.475 sees Ocon go fourth, as Leclerc begins his first flying lap.
Ricciardo has yet to appear.
Despite a tow from his teammate, Leclerc can only manage sixth (45.637).
"The car is jumping like crazy in the apex of slow corners," warns Leclerc.
It wasn't just Verstappen on used rubber for that run, quite a few other drivers were on old rubber, consequently we should see some surprises on the final run.
Ocon leads field back out, Ricciardo finally heading down the pitlane also.
The Bulls sit tight, clearly happy with their 0.6s advantage.
Alonso is getting a two from his teammate, and overtakes on the run up to Les Combes leaving him in free air.
Albon goes quickest in S1, courtesy of a tow from the Mercedes pair.
Alonso goes fifth, Gasly eighth and Zhou ninth.
A 44.551 sees Leclerc go top, while Ricciardo goes eighth.
Hamilton goes fifth and Russell sixth, while Albon goes tenth, thereby demoting Ricciardo to the drop zone.
Gasly baffled by Williams speed on the straights.
Quickest is Leclerc, ahead of Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Ocon, Alonso, Norris and Albon.
We lose Ricciardo, Gasly, Zhou, Stroll and Schumacher.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Spa here.
Albon is first out for Q3, followed by Perez, Verstappen, Alonso, Sainz and Ocon.
Last out is Leclerc who immediately complains: "What are these tyres?" "Sorry, a mistake," he is told, his team having fitted him with used softs instead of new.
Albon posts 46.369, but Perez responds with a 44.462 and Verstappen a 43.665.
Sainz splits the Bulls with a 44.297 as Leclerc continues to query his team's tyre choice.
Ocon goes fourth, ahead of Norris, Russell, Albon and Hamilton.
Leclerc crosses the line at 44.553 to go fourth, 0.888s down on Verstappen.
Alonso pitted without posting a time.
Now clearly out of sync, Leclerc makes his way back to the pits but will he make it back in time to change tyres ad get out again for his final run.
He enters the pitlane with 2:40 remaining, as Albon enjoys a clear track, way, way ahead of Sainz who heads a queue of rivals.
Norris won't run again, and nor will Leclerc, both, of course, have penalties.
Sainz almost trips up over Alonso who almost trips up over Ocon. Hamilton is just behind.
Meanwhile, Leclerc is back on track... but only to assist his teammate with a two.
It's a scrappy, wild lap from Sainz, who aborts in the second sector.
Alonso goes sixth, while Hamilton can only manage seventh. The seven-time champ asks the gap to Verstappen, when told it is 1.8, he slowly replies: "One point eight seconds?" his voice incredulous.
Russell goes eighth, ahead of Albon.
So, on paper Verstappen has pole - or is certainly the quickest driver - ahead of Sainz, Perez, Leclerc, Ocon, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Albon and Norris.
Ricciardo is eleventh quickest, ahead of Gasly, Zhou, Stroll, Schumacher, Vettel, Latifi, Magnussen, Tsunoda and Bottas.
While that would be interesting enough, the penalties - and possibly those to come - should really spice things up.
As it stands, it appears Sainz will start from pole ahead of Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Albon, Ricciardo, Gasly, Stroll and Vettel,
Latifi will start eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Tsunoda, Bottas, Verstappen, Leclerc, Ocon, Norris, Zhou and Schumacher.
"P2 is not the worst place to be around here," says Perez, "I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
"It will be very important to get a good start and try and do our own race, I think that will be key tomorrow."
"Happy to be starting on pole" adds Sainz, "but not so happy with the gap to Max and Red Bull.
"We need to keep digging," he continues. "Still a bit puzzled to see this big gap, makes me wonder what's going to happen in the race."
"It was an amazing qualifying," grins Verstappen, "but also the whole weekend, the car's been working really well and it all came together in qualifying.
"Very happy with my lap," he adds, "it's great to be here, amazing track. With a car like this, it would be a shame not to be on the podium."
Check out our Saturday gallery from Spa here.