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Belgian GP

2023 Formula 1 Belgian GP

Belgium
Jul 27, 2023 to Jul 30, 2023
Spa-Francorchamps, BE
Live text
Formula 1 Belgian GP

F1 Belgian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race

Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix

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Verstappen pumps in a fastest lap of 1m52.130s to begin his hunt of Leclerc in second. Perez's lead is at 2.4s, but knowing Verstappen is getting closer will worry him.
With significant damage to his Ferrari, Sainz is the driver now tumbling backwards. Russell makes a move to relegate Sainz to P10.
Norris pits to ditch his soft tyres and fits a set of hards. He will go long now and be praying for no rain.
That pressure pays, as Verstappen gets by Hamilton for third place at Les Combes on lap six.
"Ferrari has been off at Turn 9 every lap," Hamilton reports over team radio, tracking Leclerc while under pressure from Verstappen.
But Stroll now moves up to P9 as Norris goes backwards. Albon, Stoll and Russell have all taken the McLaren driver in quick succession. 

Norris is P10 and is clinging on to the final point.
A lap later Sainz loses sixth to Tsunoda, carrying a big hole in the right sidepod of his Ferrari.
Perez leads by 2.2s at the start of lap five with Leclerc and Hamilton still ahead of Verstappen.
Albon is continuing to make progress inside the top 10, climbing past Stroll.
Alonso takes fifth place off Sainz down the Kemmel straight, and Sainz is being swalloed up by the pack with his damage.
The first corner incidents won't be investigated by the stewards. Racing incidents, on we go.
Sainz has lost "5% of aero balance" in his hit with Piastri, so he's carrying a lot of damage runnning in fifth place.
Green flag
Piatsri's car has been moved to a safe position and the green flags are shown.
Replays of the start show Piastri trying to squeeze up the inside of Sainz, who locked up, and there's not enough space for the Australian so he is pushed into the wall by the Ferrari.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags as Piastri stops on the track on the exit of the Fagnes chicane.
George Russell has dropped out of the top 10 in the drama of the start and trails Albon by half-a-second after losing a place on the Kemmell straight.
Verstappen has cleared the early danger and is up to fourth at the end of lap one. Perez leads by 1.2s from Leclerc, then comes Hamilton, Verstappen and Sainz who is carrying damage from the first corner clash with Piastri.
Bad news for the Australian fans at the start as Ricciardo appears to have been caught up with Piastri and has dropped to P19, with Hulkenberg - who started from the pit lane - ahead.
Lights green
Leclerc gets away well from pole but he can do nothing to hold back Perez who powers by on the Kemmel straight to lead! Further back at La Source Piastri has been squeezed into the wall and is dropping down the order.
Chaos at the rear of the field as the pack attempted to clear the ailing Piastri.
Leclerc lines up in his pole position grid slot, so just seconds to go until the race is on...
No trouble on the formation lap, we're just missing Hulkenberg as he sits in the pitlane waiting to get going.
The formation lap is under way as Leclerc leads the field around.
In short, the top four all start on softs, plus Verstappen, in sixth.
Tyres! The majority will start on the soft tyres, but Piastri, Norris, Russell, Alonso, Stroll, Tsunoda and Hulkenberg all start on the mediums.
A 40% chance of rain for the race, but unless a downpour comes out of nowhere, it'll be a dry start.
Just under 10 minutes to go until the start of the race - still time to get those snacks and drinks ready for a barnstormer of a start.
National anthem time! Antoine Delie performs a prog-rock rendition of the Belgian anthem while wearing a massive national flag as a cape. Very Eurovision-y.
The grid is keeping a close eye on the sky given the wet stuff is never too far away at Spa. If, and it is a big if, it stays dry throughout, here's what Pirelli predicts will be the key race strategies:
 
Breaking news
Here's the latest on a turbulent few weeks at the French squad: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/a-team-in-chaos-or-part-of-a-masterplan-whats-going-on-at-alpine-f1/10501582/
While at Alpine, this weekend has become a farewell race for Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane after the pair were told their services are no longer required.
Breaking news
So, Verstappen is set to fight from the mid-pack to try to win the Belgian GP. He did that exact feat last year starting 14th, so there is a sense of deja vu. Here's a closer look at the challenge ahead of Verstappen: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-danger-verstappen-faces-alongside-deja-vu-in-his-latest-spa-fightback/10502026/
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

The news from the pitlane is positive for Hulkenberg, Haas has identified an ignition coil issue that can be fixed so he can make the start.
The other grid revisions to note are Magnussen has dropped three places and will start 16th having blocked Leclerc during Friday's qualifying session. Oh, and a certain Verstappen chap has dropped five spots for a gearbox change and starts sixth.
The good news for Haas is Hulkenberg was due to start the Belgian GP from the pitlane anyway due to breaking parc ferme rules - the German was already set to start last so the impact was minimal - so they can investigate the issue in the garage.
The drivers are already making their way to the grid ahead of the race start in just under 40 minutes. But there is worrying scenes down at Haas, as Hulkenberg reports an engine problem on his reconnaissance lap.
Sun
Good afternoon one and all! Guess what - it is dry at Spa-Francorchamps!

By: Autosport Staff

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