Lewis Hamilton takes comfortable Belgian GP win to move to within two of Michael Schumacher's record 91 victories

Phil Duncan
·28-min read
Hamilton extended his lead to 47 points with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix - Getty Images
Hamilton extended his lead to 47 points with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix - Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory at the Belgian Grand Prix and then admitted he would have been sent to sleep by his own dominant display.

The British driver and his all-conquering Mercedes machine are in a class of one this season and his emphatic victory here at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit marked the 89th of his career and fifth from seven in a campaign where he is now almost certain to match ­Michael Schumacher’s championship record.

Hamilton led every lap around the 4.3 miles of asphalt that make up this iconic motor racing venue to take the chequered flag 8.4 seconds clear of Valtteri Bottas and move 47 points ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished third, and 50 clear of his Mercedes team-mate. As well as matching Schumacher’s seven titles, Hamilton is now on the verge of equalling the German’s race-victory record, too. A win at Monza on Sunday followed by victory at the Tuscan Grand Prix a week later would take him level with Schumacher.

The great German rewrote Formula One’s record books by winning 72 of his 91 races and five consecutive titles while driving for Ferrari at the turn of the century.

Hamilton’s own stranglehold on the sport is turning into a carbon-copy of Schumacher’s dominant, but tedious, run. “I cannot speak for the fans now, but having been a fan and growing up through different eras, the Schumacher era for example, I know what it is like,” said Hamilton.

“I was a teenager back then. I would have woken up, eaten my bacon sandwich, watched the start, gone to sleep and then got up again to watch the end of the race. If I was watching as a fan today, I would have done the same thing and just tuned in for the highlights.

“I can imagine that it was definitely not the most exciting race for those watching.”

Aside from George Russell’s dramatic exit, after his Williams car was struck by a flying wheel from Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo on lap 10, the latest ­instalment of this one-sided championship will not live long in the memory.

After racing to his 93rd career pole – qualifying half-a-second faster than anybody else – Hamilton would have been well aware that the sole threat to victory would arrive on the opening lap. But after he left Bottas behind on the short run down to La Source before comfortably keeping the Finn at arm’s length on the long march up through Eau Rouge, along the Kemmel Straight and into Les Combes, the following 43 laps resembled something of a procession. “Fans need to understand this is not our fault,” added Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W11 leads Valtteri Bottas of Finland driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W11 and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB16 and the rest of the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 30, 2020 in Spa, Belgium - Clive Mason - Formula 1

“As drivers, we come through the ranks and we earn the positions we have.

“We come in to each weekend devoted and give absolutely everything to perform at our best.

“The decision-makers who ­design the cars and set the rules are the ones to apply the pressure to, to do a better job.

“I am hopeful that is what will happen in 2022 when the regulations change and we have a new type of car, and we will see a different form of racing, where we can follow closely and have closer races.”

While Verstappen is driving out of his skin to keep up with Hamilton, Bottas is no match for his team-mate. Indeed, instead of challenging for the lead on the opening lap and again at the ­restart, after the safety car was deployed following Russell’s accident, he was found wanting. Bottas was more concerned about keeping Verstappen behind than taking on Hamilton.

The 31-year-old said he still ­believes he can challenge Hamilton for the title, but he is now the equivalent of two wins behind in the championship race.

Over at Ferrari, their torrid year is getting worse as each race goes by. Sebastian Vettel swore at his team over the radio, urging them to bring him in for a second change of rubber, before taking the flag in 13th. Charles Leclerc won from pole here last year, but finished 14th after he had to stop for a second time following concerns over his engine. Vettel and Leclerc ended the race 62 and 64 seconds respectively ­behind Hamilton.

This whirlwind season will now head to Monza for Ferrari’s home race.

Fortunately, for the failing Italian team it will be staged without fans.

03:12 PM

Okay, that's it from me today

Thanks for joining me. The race was a bit of a dull one out front with some decent moments behind them. But nothing can stop Lewis Hamilton at the moment. A seventh title seems a formality as does his breaking of Schumacher's record 91 Grands Prix victories. 

I'll be back next week for the action from Monza on Friday. 

02:59 PM

F1 is a bit of a hard sell at the moment

Mercedes are in a league of their own but Bottas just cannot take the fight to Hamilton and Verstappen, the other man who might, does not have the car to do that. 

02:54 PM

Verstappen says his race was pretty boring

Yeah. It was for the rest of us, too. Hamilton said that not everyone wants to see two Mercedes out front. He's right. Mercedes are just a fantastic team.But it's up to the other teams to sort it out. Or the organisers to do something about it. 

02:52 PM

Updated constructor standings

02:49 PM

Five times out of seven races we've had a Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen podium

But not necessarily in that order. 

Winner British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas (C), second Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing (L) and third Finnish Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes-AMG Petronas (R) celebrate on the podium after the 2020 Formula One Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain, 16 August 2020. Formula One Grand Prix of Spain, Montmelo - Alejandro Garcia/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

 F1 in 2020. Crushingly predictable. 

02:48 PM

Updated driver standings

 Hamilton extends his lead to 47 points after just seven rounds. 

02:46 PM

Some consolation for Bottas

That's the first time he's finished ahead of Verstappen since the second race of the season...

02:43 PM

Meanwhile at Maranello...

 It's Monza and Mugello next...

02:41 PM

Belgian Grand Prix Classification

  1. HAM 25pts
  2. BOT 18
  3. VER 15 
  4. RIC  13
  5. OCO 10
  6. ALB 8
  7. NOR 6
  8. GAS 4
  9. STR 2
  10. PER 1
  11. KVY
  12. RAI
  13. VET
  14. LEC
  15. GRO
  16. LAT
  17. MAG

A bit of a lacklustre day for Racing Point. Just three points. Great day for Gasly.  

02:39 PM

LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE 2020 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Never in doubt. Never in doubt. It's his 89th Grand Prix victory...

Bottas second, Verstappen third, Ricciardo a superb fourth with another point for fastest lap at the very death. Brilliant performance. Ocon fifth, Albon sixth, Norris seventh. 

02:38 PM

FINAL LAP

Not sure there's anything to say about the front three other than, yeah, that's where we are. Hamilton supreme. Bottas no match. Verstappen getting the most from a car that's a long way off the Mercedes. 

Ocon gets past Albon on the Kemmel Straight and up into P5! Nice work. Now Albon vulnerable to Norris...

02:37 PM

Lap 43 of 44 - Hamilton cruising to victory here

The real drama will be Albon/Ocon/Norris but that may also come to nothing... 

It's not been the greatest race. 

02:35 PM

Lap 42 of 44 - Norris joining the Albon/Ocon fight

As Ocon locks up into turn one. Ocon gets DRS and nearly gets through but Albon defends well in the middle of the track! Nice driving. He's been on the medium tyres for as long as everyone else has been on the hards, so is doing very well indeed. 

02:33 PM

Lap 41 of 44 - Hamilton: "I don't like the feeling in this right tyre"

We've heard this before. Not sure we are going to see a failure. He's seven seconds ahead of Bottas. There are four laps left. He surely has enough pace to spare to back off even further. 

Top 10:

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. ALB
  6. OCO
  7. NOR
  8. STR
  9. GAS
  10. PER

02:31 PM

Lap 40 of 44 - Ocon vs Albon the battle to watch now

Ocon has to pull out of a move into Les Combes. Gasly gets Perez for P9. Great race for the Frenchman here, who has been back at Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri for a year now. And how well he has performed in this time. 

02:30 PM

Lap 39 of 44 - Mercedes worried about the tyres?

Bottas told to avoid kerbs on the front right. Think that is hugely precautionary, though. It's his turn to lock up at the final chicane, too. 

02:28 PM

Lap 38 of 44 - Hamilton loses a second to Bottas

Well, nearly. Largely due to missing the final chicane and running wide. Tyres are on the edge a bit but he's surely going to be okay from here. Ferrari watch: Vettel 13th, Leclerc 15th. 

02:26 PM

Lap 37 of 44 - Hamilton extends his lead to 6.5s

Verstappen 5.5s behind Bottas. Sums it all up really. Has been totally devoid of action, jeopardy or interest for the podium positions, unfortunately. Okay race in the rest of the pack but, really, a lot of the overtakes have been DRS assisted. 

02:24 PM

Lap 36 of 44 - Perez in P10, attacking Kvyat

A bold move around the outside of the Russian at Les Combes. Next up is Lando Norris, but he is 8.6s up the road. Think Albon might be able to go through to the end here. His pace is dropping off a bit, though, with Ocon, Stroll and Norris all closing in. 

02:22 PM

Lap 35 of 44 - Running order

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. ALB
  6. OCO
  7. STR
  8. NOR
  9. KVY
  10. PER
  11. GAS
  12. RAI
  13. VET
  14. GRO
  15. LEC
  16. MAG
  17. LAT

02:21 PM

Lap 34 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 5s

Verstappen 4.7s behind him. It has been a trouble free afternoon for Hamilton. Apart from that one time where he thought he lost power. 

02:20 PM

Lap 33 of 44 - Perez up into the points

Where do you think he overtook Raikkonen? Do I even need to tell you? No. But I will. It was the Kemmel straight. Slow clap. Has a single overtake happened anywhere else today?

02:17 PM

Lap 32 of 44 - Vettel locks up as Gasly passes him for P12

Miserable, miserable afternoon for Ferrari. 13th and 16th on the road here. 

German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari (L) and Monaco's Formula One driver Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari (R) in action during the 2020 Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium at the Spa-Francorchamps race track in Stavelot, Belgium, 30 August 2020. Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium, Stavelot - John Thys/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

02:16 PM

Lap 31 of 44 - Ricciardo going well in P4

Albon slipping back. 

02:13 PM

Lap 30 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 4.4s

Verstappen 3.3s away from him. That Austrian GP win in July seems like an awful long time ago for Bottas. 

02:12 PM

Lap 29 of 44 - It's working quite well for Perez here

Despite the slightly odd-seeming strategy. He mugs Vettel on the straight and goes up to P11. I think fifth could be possible for him. 

02:10 PM

Lap 28 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 3.9s

Verstappen a further 2.7s behind. 17 laps to go. Can't see it getting hugely interesting from here, unfortunately. Hamilton sets the fastest lap.  Albon 3.6s behind Ricciardo, but isn't making any great inroads for fourth place. And he will have to stop again, almost certainly. 

02:08 PM

Lap 27 of 44 - Gasly stops

And comes out last but one. Leclerc, in last, sets the fastest lap... hmmmm. 

Bottas told to give it everything he has. What is that? He's nearly four seconds behind Hamilton. 

02:05 PM

Lap 26 of 44 - Running order

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. ALB
  6. OCO
  7. GAS
  8. STR
  9. NOR
  10. KVY
  11. RAI
  12. VER
  13. GRO
  14. PER
  15. MAG
  16. LAT
  17. LEC

Gasly get swallowed up on the Kemmel Straight by Ocon. Good day for Renault. Think Albon is going to need to stop again, bolt on some softs and then hope for a lot of late action.  

02:04 PM

Lap 25 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 3.9s

Yeah. Yeah. One of those ones for Bottas. He's going to be quite despondent if Verstappen finishes ahead of him. Leclerc comes in for a pit stop, which is pretty slow. He's out in 17th and last on the track. 

02:03 PM

Lap 24 of 44 - Gasly would come out last if he were to stop here

So he has been disadvantaged by the timing of the safety car. Albon gets past him on the straight via the aid of DRS. Verstappen is closing in on Bottas here, just 1.1s behind him now... he will have a pit stop ahead of Ricciardo in the next seven or eight laps. 

02:01 PM

Lap 23 of 44 - Ricciardo putting a lot of space between himself and Gasly

Albon not close enough to try and move and is coming under pressure from Ocon behind. 

Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia steers his car during the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 - Stephanie Lecocq, Pool via AP

01:59 PM

Lap 22 of 44 - Top 10

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. GAS
  6. ALB
  7. OCO
  8. STR
  9. NOR
  10. KVY

01:57 PM

Lap 21 of 44 - Forgot how powerful DRS is on the Kemmel Straight

Ricciardo gets past very easily. We're approaching half distance and Hamilton is serene out front. 2.9s now but I do not think Bottas has a shout here. Albon not really making great strides into Gasly's lead ahead of him. 

01:55 PM

Lap 20 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 2.6s

Verstappen 1.4s behind the Finn. 

Here's the end of Russell's race in moving picture form. 

Ricciardo and Albon could get interesting. As could Gasly and Ricciardo. In fact let's just say Gasly, Ricciardo and Albon is about to get interesting. For fourth place.  

01:53 PM

Lap 19 of 44 - Ferraris battling

Oooh! Leclerc tries one through the outside of Les Combes but has to pull out. Vettel nearly had his team-mate's front wing off. All over 12th place...

01:52 PM

Lap 18 of 44 - Running order

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. GAS
  5. RIC
  6. ALB
  7. PER
  8. OCO
  9. STR
  10. NOR
  11. KVY
  12. RAI
  13. VET
  14. LEC
  15. GRO
  16. MAG

OUT: GIO, RUS

DNS: SAI

Perez pits at the end of the lap. Strange one. Very strange. He's going to go to the very back. Another few laps wouldn't have hurt. 

01:50 PM

Lap 17 of 44 - Ricciardo up to fifth

Screaming past Perez on the straight. Not sure what Perez's strategy will be from here. Yet to stop, still on the soft tyres from the start and will drop to the back. Maybe give it another seven or eight laps and go onto the mediums. 

Perez gets taken by Albon at the final chicane as the Thai driver moves up into P6. Hamilton leads by 1.5s.

01:48 PM

Lap 16 of 44 - Hamilton: "Loss of power..."

That sounds emphatic. But is it? He isn't really slowing but could it be something to do with energy deployment? I'm not sure. He doesn't look too sluggish at all. Apparently it was energy management, according to his team, so it was to do with a lack of power at the end of the straight. 

Top 10:

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. GAS
  5. PER
  6. RIC
  7. ALB
  8. OCO
  9. STR
  10. NOR

01:46 PM

Lap 15 of 44 - Race restarts

Bottas caught napping a little by Verstappen, who gets a very good restart. Not sure he's going to be close enough to effect an overtake at the end of the straight, though. Perez VERY close to Gasly, though...

Verstappen ends up closer to Gasly behind him than Bottas in front. Albon on the mediums will need to make a charge through the field here. I think it might end in tears...

Hamilton pulls 1.3s on Bottas by the end of the lap...

01:43 PM

Lap 14 of 44 - Cars going to have to do 30 racing laps or so

On one set of hard tyres. Should be fine, I think. Pirelli said 28 laps on them would be fine. Safety Car in at the end of this lap. Hamilton leads Bottas and Verstappen with Gasly and Perez (neither of whom stopped) behind. Ricciardo then Albon and Ocon. 

01:40 PM

Lap 13 of 44 - Safety Car period continues

Here's an image of the wreckage. 

01:38 PM

Perez did not pit under the SC

Or he has not. Everyone else who has has gone onto the hard tyres. Gasly on the hard tyres has stayed out on them. 

01:38 PM

Lap 12 of 44 - Running order under the SC

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. GAS
  5. PER
  6. RIC
  7. ALB
  8. OCO
  9. STR
  10. NOR
  11. KVY
  12. VET
  13. RAI
  14. LEC
  15. GRO
  16. MAG
  17. LAT

OUT: GIO, RUS

DNS: SAI

01:37 PM

Giovinazzi lost it at the Fagnes chicane

And must have collected George Russell on the way. No, Russell took evasive action, hit the stray wheel and went into the barriers on the other side of the track. Strange one. He had a big crash at Pouhon here last year. A flurry of pit stops going on, Mercedes double stack and Bottas nearly loses out to Verstappen but stays ahead in the end. 

01:34 PM

Lap 11 of 44 - Leclerc tries a quick pit stop

Under the SC but it is anything but. Yet to see a replay of the crash. I cannot believe they gave not red flagged this. There is so much debris here. 

01:33 PM

SAFETY CAR

A BIG, BIG SHUNT. THIS SHOULD BE A RED FLAG. 

Hope the drivers are okay. It's Giovinazzi and George Russell. Both drivers out of the cockpit okay...

01:32 PM

Lap 10 of 44 - Ferrari failing to escape from the Alfa Romeos

Just 2.5s separates Leclerc in 12th from Raikkonen in 15th. George Russell not too far off the back of that fight in 16th. 

01:30 PM

Lap 9 of 44 - Bottas 1.6s behind Hamilton

And Verstappen a further 3.5s behind. Ricciardo is a further seven seconds adrift. Hmmm. Albon, by the way, behind both Renault cars. It's imperative that he finishes above one of not both Renault cars. Hamilton just toying with Bottas here, I think. 

01:28 PM

Lap 8 of 44 - Verstappen now 4.9s off the leader

He's doing a good job. Gasly on the hard tyres is having a brilliant race right now. He's in P8 and looks pretty quick. Should be able to run pretty long on these. 

01:27 PM

Lap 7 of 44 - Hamilton leads Bottas by 1.7s

Leclerc locks up on his soft tyres going into turn one and is going to be picked off by Kvyat about half-way down the Kemmel Straight. Worrying indeed. And more than a little embarrassing. 

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 - POOL REUTERS

01:25 PM

Lap 6 of 44 - Full running order

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. OCO
  6. ALB
  7. STR
  8. GAS
  9. PER
  10. NOR
  11. LEC
  12. KVY
  13. VET
  14. GIO
  15. RAI
  16. RUS
  17. GRO
  18. MAG
  19. LAT

DNS: Sainz

Norris bags Leclerc on the straight. Not a good day for them, they are easy pickings for... well, everyone that doesn't have a Ferrari power unit in the back of it. 

01:23 PM

Lap 5 of 44 - Verstappen 2.3 or so behind Bottas

But this is entering a familiar pattern. He's comfortably ahead of Daniel Ricciardo but will soon be in that no-man's land between Mercedes and the rest of them. 

01:22 PM

Lap 4 of 44 - Leclerc going backwards in the order now

As Perez eats him up. He's now down in P10. Hamilton now just over a second ahead of Bottas. Close to DRS range. Could do with Bottas making a race of this one... he just sets the fastest lap. 

01:20 PM

Lap 3 of 44 - Lightning start by Leclerc on the soft tyres

In eighth currently, up from 13th. Hamilton already out of DRS range of Bottas. Leclerc is passed by Gasly on the Kemmel straight, though. A replay shows Perez squeezing Gasly into the wall going into Eau Rouge. Not sure if the stewards will look at that one...

01:18 PM

Lap 2 of 44 - Top 10

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. OCO
  6. ALB
  7. STR
  8. LEC
  9. GAS
  10. PER

Perez and Gasly have an almighty battle at the start of the lap through Eau Rouge and Raidillon with Gasly putting a superb move on the Mexican. Gasly holds the place as Perez threatens. Bottas already slipping off the back of Hamilton...

01:16 PM

THE 2020 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX IS GO!

Hamilton holds the lead into turn one as Ricciardo tries to go around the outside of Verstappen but can't do it. Verstappen gets a massive tow on the straight.... but so does Ricciardo, who tries to go up the inside of the chicane... he can't hold the place! Great driving...

Hamilton imperious with his start, Bottas didn't really challenge him a great deal. 

01:14 PM

Time to get moving!

The lights are on...

01:12 PM

Long old lap here

Long old run to the chicane at Les Combes, too. Short run to the first hairpin corner. Could be tasty...

01:11 PM

Formation lap underway

Everyone away cleanly. 

01:09 PM

Starting tyre types

  1. HAM Medium (M)
  2. BOT M
  3. VER M
  4. RIC Soft (S)
  5. ALB S
  6. OCO S
  7. SAI (WILL NOT START)
  8. PER S 
  9. STR S
  10. NOR S 
  11. KVY M
  12. GAS Hard (H)
  13. LEC S
  14. VET M
  15. RUS M
  16. RAI M
  17. GRO M
  18. GIO M
  19. LAT M
  20. MAG M

01:06 PM

Before I get too optimistic

The most likely outcome is Hamilton/Bottas/Verstappen at the end of the first lap. And then Hamilton running away with it. Five minutes until lights out...

01:01 PM

Worth remembering any potential undercut here is massive

As it's the longest lap on the calendar at around 7km. Could be interesting if Verstappen or Ricciardo splits the Mercedes – or better – and keeps it there...

12:56 PM

Strategy today

Don't think we'll see too much divergence from the front, perhaps a bit more in the midfield. That's if it's dry and there is not a safety car. 

12:55 PM

A minute's silence to remember Anthoine Hubert

Who lost his life after an accident at this race track a year ago.

12:50 PM

Starting Grid

  1. HAM
  2. BOT
  3. VER
  4. RIC
  5. ALB
  6. OCO
  7. SAI (WILL NOT START)
  8. PER
  9. STR
  10. NOR
  11. KVY
  12. GAS
  13. LEC
  14. VET
  15. RUS
  16. RAI
  17. GRO
  18. GIO
  19. LAT
  20. MAG

Sainz's grid spot will just be left empty, but obviously everyone from 8th down will move up a place in effect before the lights go out.  

12:43 PM

Yep, that's it for Sainz, confirmed by his team

 His record at Belgium in six seasons in F1: DNF, DNF, 10th, 11th, DNF, DNS. 

12:40 PM

Just when you think things can't get any worse for Carlos Sainz

His lap to the grid ended with his car back in the garage and him out of it after a plume of white smoke or fluid was seen coming out of the back of it... Not long left for McLaren to get it all sorted and judging by his body language as he headed back to the paddock I think that could be his race done. He has had some rotten luck this year.

12:38 PM

Just over 30 minutes to go until lights out

Hamilton out front aside, it has been a fairly interesting weekend so far. Not sure this race will be any worse than the terrible Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago. It can't be, surely?

12:37 PM

Constructor standings

12:24 PM

Can't believe this Hakkinen/Schumacher move was 20 years ago

My heart was going at about 250bpm just watching it, can't imagine what they were like. Ice cold, no doubt. 

12:18 PM

17 races confirmed for 2020

That's not a bad effort, really, considering the whole Covid-19 pandemic. Here's what the rest of the year will look like, starting from the race today. 

  • Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps August 30
  • Italian Grand Prix, Monza, September 6
  • Tuscan Grand Prix, Mugello, September 13
  • Russian Grand Prix, Sochi, September 27
  • Eifel Grand Prix, Nurburgring, October 11
  • Portuguese Grand Prix, Algarve, October 25
  • Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola, November 14
  • Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul Park, November 15
  • Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, November 29
  • Sakhir Grand Prix, Bahrain, December 6
  • Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, December 13

As you can see it's pretty well packed with new or returning tracks, six of them in total if you count the new outer layout that will run for the Sakhir Grand Prix. That will be an interesting one...

12:13 PM

Current driver standings after six rounds

12:06 PM

Lewis Hamilton's stunning pole position lap

12:00 PM

Final positions and times after qualifying

  1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 41.252secs
  2. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:41.763
  3. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:41.778
  4. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:42.061
  5. Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:42.264
  6. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:42.396
  7. Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:42.438
  8. Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:42.532
  9. Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:42.603
  10. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:42.657
  11. Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:42.730
  12. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:42.745
  13. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:42.996
  14. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:43.261
  15. George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:43.468
  16. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:43.743
  17. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:43.838
  18. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:43.950
  19. Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:44.138
  20. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:44.314

11:48 AM

Can anyone beat Lewis Hamilton at Spa-Francorchamps today?

You would have to be a pretty brave man to bet against it given yesterday's performance in qualifying, where he took pole position by half a second over team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Bottas at the moment is looking like a well beaten man and was only just ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Still, starting second here gives the Finn an opportunity to get the slipstream from Hamilton ahead — if he doesn't get ahead at the first corner, anyway — in the long, flat-out run from La Source, down the Kemmel straight and into the chicane at Les Combes. 

And let's not forget Verstappen in third and Daniel Ricciardo in fourth. The Renault has been particularly slippery around this track this weekend and has been a rocket in the first sector. There's an outside chance of either of those getting in the mix early on. In truth, though, the Mercedes is likely to be too strong over the rest of the lap for it to be too much of a concern. But you never know.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton gestures in homage to late US actor Chadwick Boseman, as he stands on his car after securing his 93rd pole position during the qualifying session at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa on August 29, 2020 ahead of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix. -  AFP/ FRANCOIS LENOIR

Whilst Mercedes were celebrating another front-row lockout their previous rivals Ferrari were enduring an utterly miserable day at a track where they were the ones who locked out the front row in 2019. Here's what Phil Duncan had to say about their 13th and 14th places in qualifying yesterday. 

After Sebastian Vettel finished rooted to the foot of the timings in final practice, Ferrari had been staring at one of the most humiliating afternoons in the Italian team's long history.

However, very much against the odds, both scarlet cars survived the embarrassment of being knocked out in Q1.

Instead, Leclerc, who won from pole here last year, will start 13th - one spot ahead of team-mate Vettel in what is proving to be a season to forget for the Scuderia.

"F--- there's not much more I can do," said a despondent Leclerc on the radio.

This could be the lowest point of their season. A season with many, many lows already.  Anyway, the Belgian Grand Prix gets going at 2.10pm BST but we'll be here with all the build up until then before kicking on with the live updates from the race. There's a bit of rain in the area today but it doesn't look to be affecting the race track. 

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