F1 qualifying LIVE: Lewis Hamilton targets first pole position of the year at the Belgian Grand Prix

We’re underway at Spa-Francorchamps – 18 minutes for Q1!

The Williams of Nicholas Latifi – who qualified 10th last year in the wet – is out first. Both the Canadian and team-mate Alex Albon have been showing impressive straight-line speed in practice, can it make a difference in qualifying?

We’re just two minutes away from action in Q1 at Spa-Francorchamps!

Max Verstappen was on pole last year but even if he finishes first today, the Red Bull driver will be at the back of the grid due to an engine penalty.

Also taking penalties this weekend: Leclerc, Norris, Ocon, Schumacher, Bottas, Zhou.

Will it be confusing to track in qualifying? Quite possibly, aye….

Qualifying will start at 3:25pm (BST) following the repair of the barrier at Spa-Francorchamps!

So only 10 minutes away from some action out on the track in Belgium!

Lewis Hamilton is looking intensely at his Mercedes W13 in the garage. He’s failed to fire in practice but can he get it together in qualifying? The seven-time world champion is still looking for a top-three finish in qualifying this year…

It’s dry at Spa-Francorchamps for qualifying this afternoon – for the time being.

Remember last year’s dramatic qualifying session in the wet? Lando Norris’ heavy shunt and George Russell’s memorable second place in a Williams? Let’s hope the rain stays away this time round…

Still no update of a start time for qualifying here…

The qualifying start time has been pushed back here, with the start of the session delayed as the marshalls look to fix a broken barrier out on track…

The crash took place in the Porsche Supercup race which took place before qualifying, following a collision between two cars.

1. Max Verstappen – 258 points

2. Charles Leclerc – 178 points

3. Sergio Perez – 173 points

4. George Russell – 158 points

5. Carlos Sainz – 156 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 146 points

7. Lando Norris – 76 points

8. Esteban Ocon – 58 points

9. Valtteri Bottas – 46 points

10. Fernando Alonso – 41 points

11. Kevin Magnussen – 22 points

12. Daniel Ricciardo -19 points

13. Pierre Gasly – 16 points

14. Sebastian Vettel – 16 points

15. Mick Schumacher – 12 points

16. Yuki Tsunoda – 11 points

17. Guanyu Zhou – 5 points

18. Lance Stroll – 4 points

19. Alex Albon – 3 points

20. Nicholas Latifi – 0 points

21. Nico Hulkenberg – 0 points

Red Bull boss Christian Horner insists big and historic races should remain on the Formula One calendar with the future of the Belgian Grand Prix uncertain. Formula One returns after the summer break this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, but the future of the race is not clear as it enters the final year of its current contract.

There have been suggestions that Spa might lose its spot on the 2023 calendar, as F1 attempts to squeeze in as many races as possible while catering for new venues such as Las Vegas, potentially South Africa and the possible return of China.

With the long-term future of the Monaco Grand Prix also far from concrete, Horner told Sky F1 that it was imperative that Formula One protected traditional venues from falling off the busy globetrotting schedule.

“Spa, for sure… it’s one of those historic races,” Horner said. “Monza, Silverstone, Spa, they’re the big and historic ones, we should ringfence those and protect those.”

Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali says the Belgian Grand Prix could survive the chop from next season’s calendar. The future of the race staged at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps venue – last year canceled after just two rain-hit laps behind the safety car – is mired in doubt as F1 chiefs continue to expand the sport’s schedule. A record 24 races have been mooted for next year.

But speaking ahead of this weekend’s grand prix in Belgium, the first following F1’s four-week summer shutdown, Domenicali said: “I saw a comment that Sunday’s race in Belgium would be the last, but I would be very cautious on that. Discussions are still on.

“We are working and discussing with other promoters to see if they are ready for a full commitment on next year but the balance is to find a mix of races with one third in Europe, one third in the Far East and the other third in America and the Middle East.

“We have always said that the traditional races, even though they cannot bring the same money as the others, have full respect from us, and you will see that is respected this year but also in the future.”

A debut race on the Las Vegas strip has already been confirmed for 2023, while the return of the South African Grand Prix in Kyalami is also a prospect. However, it is unclear if the Kyalami venue, last used by F1 19 years ago, will be up to scratch for next season, handing a potential reprieve to Spa.

Lewis Hamilton has raised the prospect of ending the leanest spell of his Formula One career by winning Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. The second half of the season starts in Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, kicking off a run of nine races in a dozen weeks. Hamilton is 112 points behind runaway championship leader Max Verstappen following a poor start to the season for the seven-time world champion and his Mercedes team.

But the British driver headed into the summer shutdown off the back of five consecutive podiums – including back-to-back runner-up finishes at the most recent rounds in France and Hungary.

Hamilton’s hopes of ending his 14-race losing streak could also be aided here if Red Bull’s Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz elect to take on new engines, demoting them to the back of the grid.

And asked if he feels he is getting closer to a win, Hamilton, 37, said: “I definitely do. We have been improving and we have become consistent in recent races. The team is pulling together, making great progress and we are continuing to push.

“The car has become more of a racing car, and not what it was at the beginning of the year. That is positive, and the last race [Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell finished third] was the best showing that we have had so far.”

Audi will join Formula 1 from 2026 as a power unit supplier, following an announcement on Friday morning. New F1 power unit regulations for 2026 – featuring increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels – have been designed to make entry into the sport more attractive for newcomers and the German manufacturer are the first confirmed new entry for four years’ time.

Audi say they will announce a decision on which team they will be “lining up with in 2026 by the end of this year”, with the company expected to take a controlling interest in Swiss-backed Sauber (currently racing as Alfa Romeo) and enter as a full manufacturer.

Just hours after Audi’s announcement, Alfa Romeo announced it will end its Formula 1 ties with Sauber from the end of next year. “I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula 1, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, at a launch at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.